THE MINI-MARTINGALE

This is a Martingale that is limited to three stages. At the $5 level, a series of even money bets is $5-10-20. If you don't win by the third stage, you must write off the series as a loss.

A series costs $35. You only have three chances to win, and it will take seven wins to compensate for a series loss.

At a choppy table, a mini-Martingale could keep you winning indefinitely. But when the table pattern changes, you're gonna get a load of buckshot in your butt.

While this ain't the ticket to long-range success, you could do worse. Its like running a yellow light. If you don't do it too often you might be able to dodge the man for some time.