Tiers du Cylindre Bet in Roulette

Updated on

June 12, 2026

The tiers du cylindre bet covers 12 numbers sitting on the opposite side of the European roulette wheel from zero. You place it with a single click on the racetrack layout or by calling it out to the dealer. It's a classic French called bet that focuses on one chunk of the wheel instead of random numbers across the grid.

You'll learn which numbers tiers covers, where your chips go, what your odds look like, and how it stacks up against other called bets like voisins du zéro and orphelins.

What is a tiers du cylindre bet?

Tiers du cylindre is a called bet you'll find in European and French roulette. It covers 12 numbers on one section of the wheel. The French phrase translates to "thirds of the wheel," which describes exactly what the bet does: it targets roughly one-third of the wheel's pockets, all clustered on the side opposite zero.

What makes tiers different from standard roulette bets? Instead of dropping chips on individual numbers across the main grid, you place tiers on the racetrack layout. The racetrack is an oval section on European and French tables. It shows the wheel's number sequence exactly as it appears. One click or one call to the dealer covers all 12 numbers at once.

If you think about the wheel in chunks instead of scattered grid positions, you'll probably like tiers. The bet treats the wheel as a physical object with hot and cold zones, not just a random number generator. Whether that perspective holds any mathematical weight is debatable, but the appeal is real.

Which numbers does the tiers bet cover

Tiers covers 12 numbers running in one unbroken section of the European wheel:

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

If you look at a European roulette wheel and find zero at the top, the tiers numbers occupy the bottom third. On the wheel, they're all together in one section. But on the betting grid? They look scattered everywhere.

You're covering 12 out of 37 pockets, which gives you about a 32% shot each spin. That's not a guarantee of frequent wins, but it does mean you're in the game more often than with a straight-up single number bet.

How to place a tiers du cylindre bet

Placing a tiers bet works differently from dropping chips on red or black. You won't find a dedicated "tiers" spot on the main grid. Instead, the bet lives on the racetrack section of the table layout.

At a live table, you can announce "tiers" to the dealer, who then places your chips on the correct positions. Online, clicking the tiers section of the racetrack handles everything automatically. The interface drops your chips on all six split bets automatically.

Here's something to watch for: American roulette tables usually skip the racetrack layout completely. If you want to play tiers, stick to European or French variants.

Chip requirements

Tiers du cylindre costs you 6 chips per bet. Each chip covers two numbers sitting next to each other on the wheel. Your 6 chips cover all 12 numbers in that sector.

The cost per spin adds up. Playing $1 chips means $6 per round. With $5 chips, you're risking $30 each time the wheel spins. Before you start playing tiers round after round, check that your bankroll can keep up.

Split bet placements on the racetrack

Your 6 chips land on six specific split positions:

5/8: One chip covers both numbers
10/11: One chip covers both numbers
13/16: One chip covers both numbers
23/24: One chip covers both numbers
27/30: One chip covers both numbers
33/36: One chip covers both numbers

Each split pays 17:1 if either number hits. Don't worry about memorizing the pairings. The racetrack does that for you. But understanding how it works helps you know what you're actually betting.

Tiers du cylindre odds and payouts

The math behind tiers is straightforward once you break it down. You're covering 12 out of 37 pockets on a European wheel. That's a 32.4% chance of winning each spin.

When you win, only one of your six split bets pays out. That winning split pays 17:1. You get 17 chips plus your original chip back. The other five chips on losing splits go to the house.

Outcome	What happens	Net result (6-chip bet)
Win	One split pays 17:1	+12 units profit
Lose	All 6 chips lost	-6 units

Here's the part that trips people up: the house edge stays at 2.7% on European roulette regardless of bet type. Tiers doesn't change the underlying odds. It's just a different way to spread your bets across the wheel. The casino's edge stays the same no matter if you bet tiers, voisins, or straight-up numbers.

Tiers du cylindre vs other called bets in European roulette

The racetrack has other sector bets besides tiers. Each one covers a different chunk of the wheel and costs different amounts to play. Knowing the differences helps you pick the right bet based on how much of the wheel you want to cover and how much you're willing to spend per spin.

Voisins du zéro

Voisins du zéro means "neighbors of zero" and covers the largest wheel section. The bet covers 17 numbers around the zero pocket. You'll need 9 chips to play it. The numbers wrap around both sides of zero. Players who think wheel sections can run hot during a session tend to like this one.

Orphelins

The orphelins bet picks up the 8 numbers left uncovered by tiers and voisins. The name means "orphans" in French, which fits since the numbers sit in two small clusters that don't belong to either major sector. Orphelins costs you 5 chips.

Jeu zéro

Jeu zéro focuses tightly on the 7 numbers closest to zero. Think of it as a smaller, more concentrated version of voisins du zéro. You only need 4 chips, which makes it the cheapest called bet on the racetrack.

Called bet	Numbers covered	Chips required	Wheel coverage
Tiers du cylindre	12	6	32.4%
Voisins du zéro	17	9	45.9%
Orphelins	8	5	21.6%
Jeu zéro	7	4	18.9%

Strategies for playing tiers du cylindre

No betting pattern changes the house edge. That's worth repeating. But some approaches can help stretch your bankroll and keep you playing longer. That matters if you're here for fun, not to make rent money.

Flat betting with tiers

The simplest approach: bet the same amount on tiers every spin. If you're playing $1 chips, you spend $6 per round consistently. No escalation, no chasing losses.

Flat betting keeps your wins and losses pretty steady. You won't see huge swings up or down. Good choice if you want longer sessions without blowing your whole bankroll on a bad streak.

Combining tiers with the d'Alembert system

The d'Alembert system changes your bet size based on what just happened. Lose a bet? Bump your next one up by one unit. Win? Drop it back down by one.

With tiers, you'd bet 6 chips, bump to 7 after a loss, then drop back to 6 after a win. You're adding one chip to each split when you increase. The increases are softer than Martingale doubling. But long losing streaks will still hurt.

Layering tiers on straight-up bets

Some people play tiers and throw straight-up bets on favorite numbers outside that section. You're covering more of the wheel but still keeping an eye on your favorite numbers.

The trade-off is a higher cost per spin. You're paying for the 6-chip tiers bet plus whatever straight-up bets you add. Check that your bankroll can handle both bets before you try this.

Pros and cons of the tiers du cylindre bet

Like any roulette bet, tiers du cylindre has upsides and downsides.

What works well:

Efficient coverage: One bet covers 12 numbers without placing chips individually
Sector-based play: Appeals to players who track wheel patterns or dealer tendencies
Quick placement: A single click or announcement handles everything

What to consider:

Higher per-spin cost: Six chips add up, especially at tables with higher minimums
No edge reduction: The house advantage stays at 2.7% regardless of bet type
Limited availability: American roulette tables rarely include the racetrack layout

FAQs about the tiers du cylindre bet

What does tiers du cylindre mean in English?

The phrase translates directly to "thirds of the wheel," referring to the roughly one-third portion of the European roulette wheel that the bet covers.

Can you place tiers du cylindre bets at online crypto casinos?

Yes. Any online casino offering European or French roulette with a racetrack layout supports tiers du cylindre. Most crypto roulette tables include the racetrack feature.