Roulette Thirds of the Wheel Bet

Roulette Thirds of the Wheel Bet

Published Date · June 30, 2023 · Last Updated · July 5, 2024 ·Read Time · 4 mins

The huge popularity of roulette can be attributed to the multitude of betting options available - this includes ‘Thirds of the Wheel’, which is also commonly known as ‘Tiers du Cylindre’. Falling within the call or announced bets category, it is similar to Neighbours of Zero, Orphans, Zero Game and Neighbours bets.

What is a Thirds of the Wheel Bet in Roulette?

Thirds of the Wheel or Tiers du Cylindre is a popular roulette wager that covers roughly a third of the wheel. It covers a total of 12 numbers located on the opposite side of the wheel from zero:

  • 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33

Type
Description
Placement
Call Bet
A bet on a specific set of 12 numbers, distinct from Dozens
Multiple placements, covering the series of 12 numbers.

How to Play Roulette Using a Thirds of the Wheel Bet

This is a six-chip bet, with each chip placed on a different Split bet, which each covers two numbers. The splits are as follows:

  • 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30 and 33-36

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

When to Place a Tiers du Cylindre Bet?

  • Seeking to Cover a Large Section of the Wheel: Tiers du Cylindre covers a substantial portion of the wheel (12 numbers), increasing your chances of winning compared to single number bets or smaller combinations.
  • Using a Balanced Strategy: This bet can be part of a balanced betting strategy, providing coverage for a significant portion of the wheel and balancing risk and reward.
  • When You Prefer Traditional Bets: Tiers du Cylindre is a classic roulette bet, often used by players who enjoy traditional and well-established betting strategies.
  • Playing in European or French Roulette: This bet is more common and practical in European and French roulette due to the single zero, making it slightly more favorable compared to American roulette with the double zero.

Is Thirds of the Wheel Betting Profitable for Roulette?

As Thirds of the Wheel bets consist of six different Split bets, the payouts available on each one is 17-1.

With this bet covering 12 of the 37 numbers on the European Roulette wheel, the win probability is approximately 32.4%. The house edge stands at 2.7%.

If you were to place a £1 Tiers du Cylindre bet and the ball lands on 27, you would win £17, as well as having your £1 of your initial £6 stake returned.

European Roulette
American Roulette
Number of pockets
37 (0 to 36)
38 (0, 00, 1-36)
Thirds of the Wheel numbers
12 numbers
Not traditionally used
House Edge
2.7%
5.26%
Probability of winning
32.43% (12 out of 37)
N/A

Payout

17 to 1 (on each split)
N/A

Is there a strategy based on Tiers du Cylindre bet at roulette?

There can be confusion between this bet, the third of the cylinder, and the third of the cylinder strategy, when in reality we are talking about the same thing. It's not really a strategy because it is not based on a repetition of moves that follow one another. And there is no real strategy based on this bet. However, it can be combined with other bets:

How to Apply:

  • Place a third of the cylinder Bet: Place your chips on the 6 split bets indicated: 5-8, 10-11, 13-16, 23-24, 27-30 and 33-36
  • Combine with Other Bets:
    • Even-Money Bets: Place a bet on red/black, odd/even, or high/low to cover a broader section of the table and increase your chances of winning.
    • Straight-Up Bet : Place a chip on a number that is not already covered by the bet on the third of the wheel.

Pros of a Thirds of the Wheel Bet:

  • Covers a significant portion of the roulette wheel
  • Offering payouts of 17-1, the returns can be quite substantial

Cons of a Thirds of the Wheel Bet:

  • The risk is higher due to the high chip outlay
  • This type of bet might be too complex for beginners

Conclusion

The Thirds of the Wheel bet may seem a little complex for beginners, but it offers an intriguing mix of risk and reward to roulette players. Without question, it requires a comprehensive understanding of the game and a player who is willing to take on a higher level of risk to land those 17-1 wins.

Test this bet at the best casinos to play roulette.

Author

Tim Williams

Head of Content