Roulette Orphans Bet

Part of the huge appeal of roulette is the multitude of betting options on offer - this includes a large number of French bets, such as the ‘Orphans’ bet (Orphelins). Belonging to the category of call or announced bets, it allows you to bet on numerous numbers at the same time.

Type	Description	Placement
Call Bet	A bet on numbers not covered by other named bets	Multiple placements, covering the orphaned numbers.

What is an Orphans Bet in Roulette?

The Orphans or Orphelins bet covers the numbers not included in either the Neighbours of Zero or Thirds of the Wheel bets. Placing an Orphans bet will cover the following eight numbers on the roulette wheel:

1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34

Read our dedicated article on what orphan numbers are to learn more about this subject.

How to Play Roulette Using an Orphans Bet

The Orphans bet is a five-chip-bet, which consists of the following placements:

One chip straight up on 1
One chip on four split bets - 6/9, 14/17, 17/20, 31/34

Note that for this bet there is only one placement combination.

When to Place an Orphans Bet?

Placing an Orphans (Orphelins) bet in roulette can be strategic in several situations:

Covering Specific, Unconnected Numbers: This bet covers 8 numbers that are not connected on the wheel and fall outside the Voisins du Zero and Tiers du Cylindre sections. It's useful when you want to cover specific, isolated numbers.
Seeking High Payout Potential: Orphans bets include straight-up bets and split bets, offering a mix of high and moderate payouts. This can be attractive if you're looking for a strategy with higher risk but potentially higher rewards.
Diversifying Your Bets: Incorporating Orphans bets into your overall strategy can diversify your coverage on the wheel, spreading your risk across different sections.
Playing European or French Roulette: This bet is more common and practical in European and French roulette due to the single zero, which makes the payouts and house edge slightly more favorable compared to American roulette with the double zero.

Is Orphans Betting Profitable for Roulette?

The Orphans bet is a simple betting strategy that allows players to cover a fair amount of the roulette wheel with a single bet. Your win probability for an Orphans bet is as follows:

European Roulette - 21.6%

The house edge remains constant at 2.7%, with the straight up bet offering odds of 35-1 and the split bets offering odds of 17-1

When it comes to placing these bets, let’s say you bet £1 on each part of an Orphans bet. If the ball were to land on 1, you would win your straight up bet and with it £35, as well as your £1 wager.

Roulette Version	Numbers Covered	Total Chips Used	Odds of Winning	Payout
European	1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34	5 (4 splits, 1 straight up)	Varies by number bet on. Roughly 1 in 4.25 spins will hit an Orphans number.	Splits: 17 to 1, Straight up: 35 to 1
American	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

Is there a specific strategy based on Orphans Bet at roulette?

This bet is often confused with a strategy, it is often called orphans numbers strategy. But this is a confusion, because the strategies are based on sequences of moves that follow one another, whereas in this case it is just a complex bet.

Pros of Orphans Bet:

Covers areas of the wheel that are not included in other call bets
With a mix of bets, it offers diverse ways to win

Cons of Orphans Bet:

The initial chip outlay is quite high
May seem like quite a complex bet for inexperienced players

Conclusion

Though some might consider the Orphans bet quite a complicated one for beginners, it is simple enough to place and offers an exciting way to cover different areas of the wheel at the same time. While the numbers covered might take some getting used to, it is an exciting bet that can deliver substantial returns.

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