The "Step-Up Safety Net" (SUSN) System

 This system uses a controlled positive progression, where bets increase after wins, combined with strict bankroll management to limit losses and protect your funds. It’s simple to follow and adaptable to both blackjack and 3-card poker.

Rules

1. Set Your Base Unit:
   • Start with a base bet equal to 2% of your total bankroll. For a $500 bankroll, your base unit is $10.
   • This keeps bets small relative to your funds, reducing risk from the outset.
2. Step-Up After Wins:
   • After each win, increase your bet by one base unit. For example:
     • Start with $10, win → next bet is $20.
     • Win again → next bet is $30.
   • Cap the increase at three steps (e.g., $10 → $20 → $30 → $40). After the third win, reset to the base bet ($10).
3. Reset After Losses:
   • After any loss, immediately return to your base bet ($10). This avoids escalating bets when luck turns against you, unlike Martingale.
4. Safety Net Limits:
   • Win Goal: Stop playing when your bankroll increases by 20% (e.g., $100 profit on a $500 bankroll).
   • Loss Limit: Stop if your bankroll decreases by 10% (e.g., $50 loss on a $500 bankroll).
   • These limits lock in profits and cap losses, ensuring you walk away with something or avoid a deep hole.
5. Session Bankroll Check:
   • Before starting, commit to a session bankroll (e.g., $500). Recalculate your base unit only if you start a new session with a significantly different bankroll (e.g., after hitting a win goal or loss limit).
6. Game-Specific Tips:
   • Blackjack: Use basic strategy to lower the house edge to around 0.5%. The step-up progression works well here because winning streaks are more feasible with a near 50-50 win rate (excluding pushes).
   • 3-Card Poker: Follow optimal strategy (e.g., play Queen-6-4 or better). Since the house edge is higher (around 2-3%), the conservative reset after losses helps manage variance.

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Example in Action

• Bankroll: $500
• Base Bet: 2% of $500 = $10
• Win Goal: $600 ($500 + 20%)
• Loss Limit: $450 ($500 - 10%)

Blackjack Scenario:

1. Bet $10, win → Bankroll = $510, next bet $20.
2. Bet $20, win → Bankroll = $530, next bet $30.
3. Bet $30, win → Bankroll = $560, next bet $40 (third step).
4. Bet $40, win → Bankroll = $600, reset to $10 and stop (hit 20% win goal).
5. If at any point you lose (e.g., bet $30, lose → Bankroll = $530), reset to $10.

3-Card Poker Scenario:

1. Bet $10, lose → Bankroll = $490, next bet $10.
2. Bet $10, win → Bankroll = $500, next bet $20.
3. Bet $20, lose → Bankroll = $480, next bet $10.
4. Continue until hitting $600 or dropping to $450.

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Why It’s Better and Safer Than Martingale

• Gradual Increases: Bets grow by a fixed unit ($10) after wins, not exponentially after losses, avoiding the massive bet sizes of Martingale (e.g., $10 → $20 → $40 → $80 → $160).
• No Loss Chasing: Resetting to the base bet after a loss prevents digging deeper during a losing streak, a key flaw in Martingale.
• Capped Progression: Limiting increases to three steps keeps bets manageable, even during a hot streak.
• Safety Net: The 20% win goal and 10% loss limit protect your bankroll, ensuring you stop before losing too much or giving back all profits.
• Low Starting Bet: Using 2% of your bankroll as the base unit stretches your playtime and reduces the chance of ruin.

Comparison to Martingale

Feature	Martingale	SUSN System
After Loss	Double bet	Reset to base bet
After Win	Reset to base	Increase by 1 unit (max 3 steps)
Risk	High (exponential loss)	Low (controlled growth)
Bankroll Safety	None	Win/loss limits
Bet Size Growth	Unlimited	Capped at 4x base

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Limitations

• House Edge Persists: This system doesn’t overcome the casino’s advantage (0.5% in blackjack with basic strategy, 2-3% in 3-card poker). Over time, you’ll still lose on average.
• Relies on Streaks: The step-up benefits from consecutive wins, which aren’t guaranteed, especially in 3-card poker with its higher variance.
• Discipline Required: You must stick to the reset and stop rules, or the safety benefits diminish.

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Final Thoughts

The Step-Up Safety Net (SUSN) system is a practical, low-risk alternative to the Martingale. It’s better because it leverages winning streaks without reckless bet escalation, potentially lengthening your playtime and securing small profits. It’s safer due to its conservative resets after losses, capped progression, and built-in bankroll safeguards. For blackjack, pair it with basic strategy; for 3-card poker, use optimal play.