Oscar’s Grind Strategy Guide for US Players

Posted on August 22, 2024

Oscar’s Grind Strategy Guide for US Players

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Oscar’s Grind is a cautious betting strategy that’s designed to win small amounts regularly. It can be used in a variety of casino games, including blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette. We will unpack the details of Oscar Grind’s strategy in this guide, how to use it on a variety of games, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of the system.

What Exactly is the Oscar’s Grind Strategy?

Oscar’s Grind strategy, also known as Hoyle’s Press, was first documented in Alan Wilson’s 1965 book The Casino Gambler’s Guide. It’s said to be based on a player named Oscar, who successfully used the method in a casino.

The system is a positive, progressive betting strategy based on the idea that wins and losses come in streaks. It’s a reasonably cautious betting strategy that aims to help players grind out many small wins over multiple cycles rather than hit big wins quickly.

Players start off a cycle by betting one unit, and the goal of each cycle is to win one unit. If you win the first hand, you have achieved your cycle goal and will begin a new cycle. If you lose the first hand, you continue the cycle by placing another one-unit bet. You only raise your bet when you win a hand, and it’s always a one-unit increase.

How Does Oscar’s Grind Work?

To give you a better understanding of how Oscar’s Grind betting progression system works, we’ll go through the steps you need to take before sitting down to use it. We will also run through an Oscar’s Grind example of what actions you take while you are wagering.

Set Your Bankroll

The first thing you need to do before you start playing games at an online casino is set your Oscar’s Grind bankroll. While Oscar’s Grind strategy is a cautious betting strategy, it does not guarantee a win and it doesn’t change the house edge. So, you have to accept that there’s a chance you will lose your entire bankroll. Only use disposable cash and set the amount at a number you would be comfortable losing.

Set Your Betting Unit

Whatever your bankroll, your unit size should be between 1-5%. The exact percentage is up to you. If you are very risk averse, go for a 1-2% total, but 3-5% is also a safe amount, and you should see that you gain profits faster. For example, if you have a $500 bankroll, your betting unit should be a maximum of $25; if you have a $100 bankroll, your unit should be $5 maximum.

Set a Session Goal

Before playing, set the total amount you want to win for your session. Your goal for each cycle is one betting unit, but you set your overall goal. The goal needs to be realistic. A sensible target is somewhere between 10% and 25% of your total bankroll.

Set a Stop Loss

In addition to a winning goal, you should also set an Oscar’s Grind stop loss limit. The way this system works means the stop loss limit might be a little higher than normal. Limiting your losses to about 20-50% of your bankroll is a sensible starting point.

Cycles

As previously mentioned, Oscar’s Grind system uses cycles, and each cycle aims to win one unit. You always begin a cycle betting one unit. If you win your first hand, the cycle is over, and you start a new one. If you lose the first bet of a cycle, you will bet one unit again. You only increase your wager size after a win, and it’s only increased by one unit.

Once you have raised your betting size, you do not decrease it after a loss. So, for example, if you lost your first five hands and won your 6th, you would increase your wager to two units on the 7th bet. You would still wager 2 units on your eighth bet if you lost the 7th. You only lower your betting unit if the bet takes you over your one-unit cycle goal.

For example, if you lose your first wagers, you would be down 3 units. Your fourth bet wins, taking you to a total loss of 2 units. After your win, you raise your stake to 2 units, and your 5th bet wins, meaning you break even. For your 6th bet, you need to adjust your stake back down to one unit because if you bet 2 units and win, you will exceed the one-unit goal.

Below, you’ll find an Oscar’s Grind strategy example across 20 bets.

Wager number
Cycle
Stake
Result
Cycle Win/Loss Total
Net Win/Loss Total

1
1
1 unit
loss
-1 unit
-1 unit

2
1
1 unit
loss
-2 units
-2 units

3
1
1 unit
loss
-3 units
-3 units

4
1
1 unit
win
-2 units
-2 units

5
1
2 units
win
even
even

6
1
1 unit
win
+1 unit
+1 unit

7
2
1 unit
win
+1 unit
+2 units

8
3
1 unit
loss
-1 unit
+1 unit

9
3
1 unit
win
even
+2 units

10
3
1 unit
loss
-1 unit
+1 unit

11
3
1 unit
loss
-2 units
even

12
3
1 unit
loss
-3 units
-1 unit

13
3
1 unit
loss
-4 unit
-2 units

14
3
1 unit
win
-3 units
-1 unit

15
3
2 units
win
-1 unit
+1 unit

16
3
2 units
loss
-3 units
-1 unit

17
3
2 units
loss
-5 units
-3 units

18
3
2 units
win
-4 units
-2 units

19
3
3 units
win
-1 unit
+1 units

20
3
2 units
win
+1 unit
+3 units

Joe Yarnold
Editor

Expert Insight

Oscar’s Grind is a simple progressive betting strategy that even newcomers can pick up quickly. There’s not much to remember, but a common mistake people often make is not reducing the bet size if a win would take you above the one-unit win goal of a cycle. Although it may seem counterintuitive to reduce a bet to not exceed your goal, it’s a critical element of the system, and not doing this decreases your chances of profitability in the long run.

How to Use the Oscar’s Grind Betting Strategy Online

Oscar’s Grind strategy is a versatile betting system that can be applied to many games. In this section, we break down how to deploy the strategy for blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat.

Oscar’s Grind Blackjack Strategy

Oscar’s blackjack grind seems straightforward because the payout is 1 to 1 if you beat the dealer. However, there are a few complications if you win with blackjack at an online casino. You are paid out at 3 to 2, which might see you exceed your one-unit goal, but it’s best just not to consider this and think of any win as an even payout.

Using Oscar’s Grind in blackjack is further complicated by the additional betting options such as splitting hands and doubling down, and in some instances, basic blackjack strategy dictates you should do these things.

It’s also important to note that Oscar’s Grind and card counting aren’t a good match. The essentials of card counting involve having a rough idea of the ratio of high cards to low cards in a deck and then increasing their bet size when the ratio of high to low cards is good. Using Oscar’s Grind blackjack system means you would be missing an essential element of counting cards.

Oscar’s Grind Roulette Strategy

The Oscar’s Grind roulette strategy involves sticking to even money bets, which are red/black, odd/even, and high/low. When playing roulette at online casinos, it could be applied to column bets, but it’s much riskier, and we would not advise doing that. You should never use Oscar’s grind roulette system when placing inside bets.

Oscar’s Grind Baccarat Strategy

Oscar’s Grind in Baccarat works best when placing bets on the player’s hand to win as it pays out even money. Using the system while wagering on the banker’s side is possible. However, using the Oscar’s grind strategy for online baccarat while betting on the bankers isn’t ideal as there is a 5% commission for winning bets on the banker side.

Oscar’s Grind Craps Strategy

When playing craps at online casinos, like always, Oscar’s Grind requires even money bets which in craps include the come/don’t come and pass/don’t pass the line bets. Big 6 and 8 also pay out at even money, but the house edge is around 9%, so it’s best to avoid wagering on this bet type.

Pros and Cons of Using the Oscar’s Grind Betting Strategy

There are advantages to the Oscar’s Grind betting strategy but it is by no means perfect. Here is a list of both the advantages and disadvantages of the system.

Pros

Flexible: The Oscar’s Grind system can be implemented in a variety of games at online casinos in the US, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and craps.
Reduced risk: Because you only raise your wager amount on a win, it is less risky than some other progressive betting systems, such as the Martingale system.
User-friendly: It’s a very straightforward system that even novices can quickly learn and implement easily.
Longevity: The cautious approach of Oscar’s Grind means it is very unlikely to work through your bankroll quickly, which means you will be at the table for a long time, giving you the chance to recoup any losses.

Cons

Gradual progress: While the cautious approach of the system can be seen as a positive, it also means that wins are small, and it takes a long time to build up substantial profits.
Requires winning streaks: While this system is safer than some others, there is still a chance of significant losses as it requires “winning streaks” to be effective. Going on a losing streak with a few wins mixed in can quickly deplete your bankroll.
Adjusting calculations: Although this is a simple system and there’s no need for a calculator for Oscar’s Grind, users do have to be careful adjusting bet sizes to ensure they don’t exceed their one-unit cycle goal.

Where to Try Out the Oscar’s Grind System

Oscar’s Grind betting system is simple and versatile. It can be used on a variety of games at any brick-and-mortar or offshore casino site. If you want to try out the system for yourself, we recommend visiting Wild Casino.

The platform has some great bonuses for new and existing players. There are many live and RNG games suitable for the Oscar’s Grind method, and the table limits provide a lot of flexibility. So, whether you want your betting unit to be under a dollar or $100+, there’s a table for you there.

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FAQs

Does Oscar’s grind work?

Yes. Oscar’s Grind is a popular betting strategy that has been used by many successful gamblers over the years.

Is Oscar’s grind a roulette strategy?

Yes, you can play roulette with Oscar’s Grind. You can bet on any even money bet when using Oscar’s Grind in roulette. However, the strategy is not limited to roulette and can be used on any casino game that offers even money bets, including blackjack, craps, and baccarat.

How do I use Oscar’s grind in craps?

When employing Osar’s Grind in craps, you use it on the even money bets. These include the pass and don’t pass line as well as the come or don’t come bets.

Is Oscar’s grind a progressive betting system?

Yes, Oscar’s Grind is a type of positive progression betting strategy. You increase your bet size each time you win a bet. However, you don’t increase your bet size if the successive win would take you over the goal of winning one betting unit.

Responsible Gambling

Responsible gambling is essential to avoid possible dangers linked with gambling problems and addiction, such as financial stress and mental health issues. If you suspect you may have a problem you should seek help as soon as possible. Here are some links to organizations that can assist you in tackling the problem.

Gam-Anon
Gamblers Anonymous
National Council on Problem Gambling

Resources

https://openlibrary.org/
https://books.google.com.au/
https://www.google.co.th/books/

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