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What is Banca Francesa?

Banca Francesa is a popular dice game that originates from Portugal. In this guide, we cover the game’s rules and how you can increase your chances with a basic strategy.

Banca Francesa is a dice game that originates from Portugal. In native Portuguese, Banca Francesa has also been referred to as Dados Portugueses. If you are interested in playing then keep reading as here we cover the rules of the game and explain a basic strategy that could improve your chances of winning.

How to Play Banca Francesa

The good news about Banca Francesa is that it is incredibly straightforward to play. Even if you have never tried the game before. Banca Francesa is placed with three regular six-sided dice. Once all bets have been placed, the croupier rolls the dice and depending on their total sum, the round is either won, lost or nullified.

In Banca Francesa, the semi-circular table has three separate zones on it. The three zones are Grande, Pequeno and Ases. Below, we have included the numbers that are found in each zone:

Grande: This zone includes the numbers 14, 15 or 16
Pequeno: This zone includes the numbers 5, 6 or 7
Ases: This zone includes the number 3

Once the dice have been rolled, the three numbers showing are summed. For instance, if the player bet on the Grande zone and the three dice land on 6, 5 and 3, the total is 14. That number belongs to the Grande zone, meaning the player has won. The only way in which the Ases bet can be won is if the three dice all land on 1.

One of the main reasons why Banca Francesa is so popular is because many rounds will end with a null result. If the dice total amounts to 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17 or 18, the round is nullified. In this scenario, all bets are returned to the player, who can decide to re-bet on the same zones or change their bet.

Banca Francesa Payouts

In Banca Francesa, both Grande and Pequeno have a 49.2% chance of winning. The Ases bet is a lot more difficult to win, as it only has a 1.6% chance of happening. In total, there are 31 different combinations to form the Grande and Pequeno numbers. The Ases only has one method of winning (three 1s).

As both Grande and Pequeno have almost a 50/50 chance of winning, the payout for the two zones is even money. For Ases, the payout is a far more rewarding 61:1.

A Basic Strategy for Banca Francesa

In Banca Francesa, the most common strategy that is used by most players is to wager on either Grande or Pequeno. Regardless of which end you choose; most players will still always place a smaller bet on Ases. In doing so, they will have a slightly increased possibility of winning.

One thing that you should be wary of is that a majority of rounds will end with a null result. In total, there are 216 different possible outcomes when rolling three dice. Of those 216 outcomes, you can only win from 63 combinations. The 63 combinations include 31 variations each for Grande and Pequeno, and the one possibility for Ases.

As the chances of winning on either Grande or Pequeno are almost completely even, players can make the most of various betting systems. The most popular betting system to use for even money bets is the Martingale. We give you a demonstration of this easy to learn strategy below.

The Martingale Betting System

The Martingale betting system is arguably the most popular and easiest strategy in the world. To use the Martingale, all you have to do is double your bet after every loss. By doubling your bet, you cover the amount spent on losses when you do eventually win.

When using the Martingale, you start by deciding on an initial bet. It is recommended to set a stake that is not too big, as you will need a large bankroll to cover your losses. It is recommended to use a starting stake of €1 (or less) for the betting system.

If you win your bet, you continue to bet with €1. After you lose, you will double the bet to €2. If you lose four times in a row, you will double the bet to €4 before placing an €8 wager to cover your losses. The Martingale system uses the following sequence when betting with €1.

1 – 2 – 4 – 8 – 16 – 32 – 64 – 128 – 256 – 512 – 1024 – 2048

Based on the sequence above, you can clearly see that even with a low starting stake, the bankroll required for this strategy is incredibly large. If you lose ten consecutive rounds, you will need to place a €512 bet just to cover your losses.

When using the Martingale strategy for Banca Francesa, it is important to stick to the sequence, even if there are null rounds in between wins or losses.

To Conclude

Banca Francesa is a hugely enjoyable game that takes very little time to master. Not only is it great fun, but it also allows you to explore different betting systems that take advantage of the even money payouts. Why not spend some time playing today to see if the dice are on your side.