A session strategy is a set of self-imposed rules that decide when to start, when to stop, and how deep to let a progression run. It is about discipline and exposure control, not about beating the wheel. Every rule below can be modelled first in the strategy simulator.
Base Bet
The base bet is the foundation of the session because it scales every later bet. Choosing it relative to your bankroll, as explained on the initial bet sizing page, sets how many losing steps the session can absorb before it fails.
Stop Loss
A stop loss is a predetermined amount you are willing to lose, after which you walk away. It caps the damage from a bad streak and prevents the open-ended risk that comes from playing on emotion. A stop loss is the most important single rule in any session plan.
Profit Target
A profit target is a set amount of winnings at which you stop for the session. It locks in gains before variance has a chance to reclaim them. Targets should be modest, because a large target requires longer exposure and gives deep streaks more chances to appear.
Maximum Progression Depth
Deciding in advance how many doublings you will allow, and never exceeding it, keeps the worst-case loss known and bounded. This depth should sit safely inside both your bankroll depth and the table maximum, a limit examined on the maximum steps page.
Short Session vs Long Session
Short sessions rely on luck and often end in a small win, which is where Martingale looks best. Long sessions expose you to the house edge and to deeper streaks, which is where it looks worst. Keeping sessions short is an exposure choice, not an edge, as the does Martingale work page explains.
Why Daily Profit Targets Are Misleading
Hitting a daily target repeatedly can feel like a winning system, but stringing together many sessions simply rebuilds a long session, where the edge and deep streaks reassert themselves. A run of good days is a small sample, not proof of profitability.
When to Stop Testing
Stop when you hit your stop loss or your profit target, whichever comes first, and stop immediately if you feel the urge to raise stakes to catch up. Consistency is what makes a test meaningful; deviating turns it into gambling on emotion. The link between depth and failure runs straight into the risk of ruin.
Responsible Session Framing
Treat any session as a bounded, educational exercise with money you can afford to lose. Session rules protect your bankroll from the worst outcomes, but they never change the underlying math, so the responsible framing on the responsible gambling page should guide every plan.