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Labouchere strategy guide · Updated October 2026

Labouchere Roulette Strategy: Tracker, Calculator and Odds

The Labouchere system has you write a line of numbers, bet the first and last added together, cross them off when you win and add to the end when you lose. Clear the line and you've won its total. Play a line win by win in our tracker, then see how far your bankroll goes and how often 10,000 sessions reach your goal.

With 1, 2, 3 and $100, Labouchere cleared 91.9% of lines in our test, and turned $100 into $150 in 54.0% of sessions, the most of the eight systems we tested. The lines that failed cost $85 on average, so it still lost 2.7% of everything bet.

  • Free Labouchere tracker
  • 5 starting lines tested
  • Real table limits from 8 casinos

We earn a commission if you sign up through our casino links. It doesn't change the numbers: every figure on this page is calculated or simulated from the wheel's real odds.

Interactive

Labouchere Tracker: Play a Line Win by Win

Pick a starting line, a unit and a bankroll. Tap Win or Loss after each spin, or let the tracker spin for you, and it crosses off numbers, adds to the line and shows your next bet. Clear a line and a new one starts; it stops you when the next bet is more than you have left.

Starting line
Up to 10 whole numbers from 1 to 50, separated by commas.
Unit
Bankroll

Your line

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
Next bet $4 1 + 3, on red or another even-money bet

Bet 4 units on red. Win and you cross off 1 and 3; lose and 4 goes on the end.

    Where you stand

    Result so far
    $0
    Money left
    $100
    Left to win on this line
    $6
    the line's total: clear it and you're up $6
    Wins needed
    2
    if you don't lose again
    Play it with free chips in the simulator

    The rules

    How the Labouchere System Works

    Labouchere is a cancellation system, played on even-money bets such as red, black, odd, even, 1–18 or 19–36. Instead of a fixed sequence, you work from a line of numbers you choose. The line's total is what you set out to win, and each number is a piece of it.

    It's a negative progression, like Martingale: losses push the bets up. But a loss only adds one number to the line, and a win removes two, so a run of losses is spread over several wins instead of one big bet.

    1. Write a line

      For example 1, 2, 3. Its total, 6, is what you win when the line is cleared.

    2. Bet first + last

      Add the first and last numbers: 1 + 3 = 4 units. If one number is left, bet just that.

    3. Win: cross off. Lose: add on

      A win crosses off both numbers. A loss adds the amount you lost to the end of the line.

    How Labouchere moves your bet10 spins: 5 wins, 5 losses, 10 units ahead
    1. 4Win−2+4
    2. 2Loss+2+2
    3. 4Loss+2−2
    4. 6Win−4+4
    5. 2Loss+2+2
    6. 4Loss+2−2
    7. 6Loss+2−8
    8. 8Win−20
    9. 6Win−2+6
    10. 4Win−2+10

    Bets in units, starting from the line 1, 2, 3. Each loss adds the bet to the line; each win crosses off two numbers, so the line clears after a few wins in a row and a new one starts.

    A $1 Labouchere line, step by step

    Start with 1, 2, 3. Two losses, then three wins.

    1. Bet 1 · line 1 2 3$4Loses · −$4
    2. Bet 2 · line 1 2 3 4$5Loses · −$9
    3. Bet 3 · line 1 2 3 4 5$6Wins · −$3
    4. Bet 4 · line 2 3 4$6Wins · +$3
    5. Bet 5 · line 3$3Wins · +$6

    Two losses added 4 and 5 to the line. The first win crossed off 1 and 5, the second crossed off 2 and 4, and the last bet was the 3 on its own. Three wins cleared two losses, and the session is up $6, the line's original total. Then you start again with 1, 2, 3.

    Labouchere Calculator: Test Your Bankroll

    Starting line 1, 2, 3. See how far a losing run goes, where one win leaves you, and how often 10,000 sessions reach your goal. Change any number and it updates.

    Unit (first bet)
    Bankroll
    Stop when you're up

    Bets on red or black. The losing-run figures are exact; the session odds come from 10,000 sessions played in your browser, up to 1,000 spins each.

    With $100 and $1 units, Labouchere covers 11 losses in a row ($99). Bet 12 would be $15, with $1 left.

    Losses in a row 11 then your bankroll runs short (about 1 in 1,527 runs)
    Reached the goal 54.0% of sessions reached $150
    Ran short 46.0% couldn't place the next bet
    Average result −$9.56 per session, on $351 bet
    Labouchere vs Martingale in a losing run

    Gold: Labouchere's bets. Gray: what Martingale would bet. Red: the bet you can't place. Tap a bar for details.

    Your Labouchere betting chart
    BetStakeTotal lostWin hereNext bet
    1$4$4+$4$2
    2$5$9+$1$5
    3$6$15−$3$6
    4$7$22−$8$7
    5$8$30−$14$8
    6$9$39−$21$9
    7$10$49−$29$10
    8$11$60−$38$11
    9$12$72−$48$12
    10$13$85−$59$13
    11$14$99−$71$14
    12$15Can't place it: $1 left

    With $1 units. Total lost: if this bet loses too. Win here: where the run stands if this bet wins, and the next bet.

    In our test, the biggest single bet was $64. Every dollar bet on a European wheel loses 2.70 cents on average, whatever the progression.

    Tables that fit your Labouchere

    Single-zero live tables that take a $1 bet and go up to at least $14, so your bankroll runs out before the table limit does.

    • MyBookie12 of 13 tables fit · $0.10 to $10,000 Play now
    • Wild Casino6 of 11 tables fit · $0.50 to $12,500 Play now
    • BetUSAll 3 tables fit · $0.50 to $12,500 Play now

    From the limits posted on each casino's live tables, checked October 2026. The limit on red or black can be lower than the table maximum. Compare limits at 8 sites

    Compare Labouchere with 7 other systems in the strategy simulator

    Labouchere chart

    Labouchere Betting Chart

    Every bet in a losing run from the line 1, 2, 3, with $1 and $5 units, where one win at that bet leaves you, and the chance of losing that many in a row on red.

    Bet Line before the bet $1 units: stake $1 units: total lost $5 units: stake If this bet wins Chance this bet loses too
    1 1, 2, 3 $4 $4 $20 +4 units, next bet 2 51.4% (1 in 2)
    2 1, 2, 3, 4 $5 $9 $25 +1 unit, next bet 5 26.4% (1 in 4)
    3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 $6 $15 $30 −3 units, next bet 6 13.5% (1 in 7)
    4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 $7 $22 $35 −8 units, next bet 7 7.0% (1 in 14)
    5 1, 2, 3 … 6, 7 $8 $30 $40 −14 units, next bet 8 3.6% (1 in 28)
    6 1, 2, 3 … 7, 8 $9 $39 $45 −21 units, next bet 9 1.8% (1 in 55)
    7 1, 2, 3 … 8, 9 $10 $49 $50 −29 units, next bet 10 0.94% (1 in 106)
    8 1, 2, 3 … 9, 10 $11 $60 $55 −38 units, next bet 11 0.48% (1 in 207)
    9 1, 2, 3 … 10, 11 $12 $72 $60 −48 units, next bet 12 0.25% (1 in 403)
    10 1, 2, 3 … 11, 12 $13 $85 $65 −59 units, next bet 13 0.13% (1 in 784)
    11 1, 2, 3 … 12, 13 $14 $99 $70 −71 units, next bet 14 0.065% (1 in 1,527)
    12 1, 2, 3 … 13, 14 $15 $114 $75 −84 units, next bet 15 0.034% (1 in 2,974)

    "If this bet wins" assumes every bet before it lost. "Chance this bet loses too" is the chance of losing that many in a row from the start, on a European wheel (19 losing pockets out of 37).

    The formula behind the chart

    From 1, 2, 3, the bets in a losing run go 4, 5, 6, 7: one unit more each time, like D'Alembert, but starting at 4. After n losses you've lost 4 + 5 + … + (n + 3) units. Ten losses cost 85 units, and the next bet is 14.

    Mixed runs are the real danger

    Losses in a row are rare, but a line can also grow on a mixed run, because a loss adds a big number and a win only takes the two ends away. That's why about one line in 12 still ran out of $100 in our test, far more often than 11 losses in a row.

    Choose your line

    Which Labouchere Starting Line Is Best?

    We played five popular lines through 200,000 sessions each, with $100 and $1 units. A longer or bigger line wins more per cycle but clears less often. None of them changes the edge.

    One cycle, $100 bankrollHow often each line clears before your money runs out
    1. 1, 2, 3Wins 6 units per line
      91.9%clear · fail costs $85
    2. 1, 1, 1, 1Wins 4 units per line
      94.2%clear · fail costs $85
    3. 1, 2, 3, 4Wins 10 units per line
      87.4%clear · fail costs $84
    4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Wins 15 units per line
      82.3%clear · fail costs $84
    5. 5, 5Wins 10 units per line
      88.7%clear · fail costs $90

    One line played until it clears or the next bet is more than the money left, European wheel, 200,000 tries per line.

    Starting line Wins per line Line clears Spins per line $100 reached $150 Average result In short
    1, 2, 3 6 units 91.9% 5.5 54.0% −$9.56 on $351 bet The classic. Small first bet, quick cycles.
    1, 1, 1, 1 4 units 94.2% 7.5 53.2% −$12.16 on $444 bet Clears more often, but each cycle wins less.
    1, 2, 3, 4 10 units 87.4% 6.4 55.9% −$8.22 on $303 bet Bigger target, more cycles that fail.
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5 15 units 82.3% 7.8 54.9% −$8.03 on $294 bet Almost one cycle in five runs out of money.
    5, 5 10 units 88.7% 2.9 57.9% −$6.16 on $220 bet Fast and aggressive: starts with a 10-unit bet.

    "$100 reached $150" keeps playing new lines until the session is $50 up or runs short, up to 1,000 spins. Bigger lines need fewer bets to reach $50, so they lose less on average, but every average is still 2.7% of the amount bet. Try any of these in the tracker.

    The big claim

    "You Only Need to Win a Third of Your Bets": True, With a Catch

    Every win crosses off two numbers and every loss adds one, so you can clear a line while losing most of your bets. From 1, 2, 3, the line is gone once your wins are at least half of 3 plus your losses. As the losses pile up, the share of bets you need to win falls toward one in three.

    The catch is the size of the bets. Each number you add is the bet you just lost, so a long line holds big numbers, and the wins that clear it have to be big bets too. Your bankroll or the table limit usually runs out first.

    Losses along the way Wins needed to clear 1, 2, 3 Share of bets you must win
    3 3 50.0%
    7 5 41.7%
    13 8 38.1%
    27 15 35.7%
    57 30 34.5%

    Lines that cleared

    91.9%

    of 1, 2, 3 lines with $100 and $1 units, each winning 6 units.

    Lines that ran out

    8.1%

    each costing about $85: the rest of a $100 bankroll.

    Average per line

    −$1.37

    0.919 × $6 won minus 0.081 × $85 lost. Small, frequent wins; rare, big losses.

    One line played to the end, European wheel, 200,000 tries. The wheel doesn't care how many numbers are on your line: each spin wins 18 times in 37.

    Head to head

    Labouchere vs Martingale, Fibonacci and D'Alembert

    The same losing run, four systems, $1 units. Labouchere from 1, 2, 3 adds a unit each time, starting at 4. Martingale doubles.

    The next bet after a losing runMartingale doubles. Labouchere adds $1 to a bigger start.

    4 losses in a row

    • Martingale$16
    • Fibonacci$5
    • Labouchere$8
    • D'Alembert$5

    6 losses in a row

    • Martingale$64
    • Fibonacci$13
    • Labouchere$10
    • D'Alembert$7

    8 losses in a row

    • Martingale$256
    • Fibonacci$34
    • Labouchere$12
    • D'Alembert$9

    10 losses in a row

    • Martingale$1,024
    • Fibonacci$89
    • Labouchere$14
    • D'Alembert$11

    $1 units on an even-money bet. Each group is drawn to its own scale.

    Losses in a row Labouchere: lost / next bet D'Alembert: lost / next bet Fibonacci: lost / next bet Martingale: lost / next bet
    3 $15 / $7 $6 / $4 $4 / $3 $7 / $8
    5 $30 / $9 $15 / $6 $12 / $8 $31 / $32
    7 $49 / $11 $28 / $8 $33 / $21 $127 / $128
    10 $85 / $14 $55 / $11 $143 / $89 $1,023 / $1,024
    13 $130 / $17 $91 / $14 $609 / $377 $8,191 / $8,192
    15 $165 / $19 $120 / $16 $1,596 / $987 $32,767 / $32,768
    20 $270 / $24 $210 / $21 $17,710 / $10,946 $1,048,575 / $1,048,576

    Labouchere reached $150

    54.0%

    Average −$9.56 on $351 bet. Biggest bet $64.

    D'Alembert reached $150

    52.8%

    Average −$16.26 on $599 bet. Biggest bet $21.

    Fibonacci reached $150

    48.2%

    Average −$12.81 on $475 bet. Biggest bet $55.

    Martingale reached $150

    48.8%

    Average −$6.32 on $233 bet. Biggest bet $64.

    200,000 sessions each: $100 bankroll, $1 units, European wheel, up to 1,000 spins. Martingale bet the least in total and Labouchere the next least, so they lost the least on average; divide each average by its total bet and you get about 2.7% every time. Read the Martingale, Fibonacci and D'Alembert guides.

    Bankroll

    Labouchere Bankroll: How Many Losses Can You Cover?

    Losses in a row each bankroll covers from the line 1, 2, 3 before the next bet is more than you have left, ignoring table limits. Under each number: the chance of losing that many in a row on a European wheel.

    Bankroll $1 units $5 units $10 units $25 units
    $20 313.5% 151.4% — —
    $50 70.94% 226.4% 151.4% —
    $100 110.065% 313.5% 226.4% 151.4%
    $200 160.002% 61.8% 313.5% 151.4%
    $500 28under 0.001% 110.065% 70.94% 313.5%
    $1,000 41under 0.001% 160.002% 110.065% 61.8%
    $5,000 60under 0.001% 41under 0.001% 28under 0.001% 160.002%
    $10,000 60under 0.001% 59under 0.001% 41under 0.001% 25under 0.001%

    Losses in a row are the simplest measure. With Labouchere a mixed run grows the line too, so a line can run out of money well before this many straight losses.

    With $20

    $1 units cover 3 losses ($15), then $7 is needed with $5 left. In our test, $20 still grew to $30 in 55.0% of sessions.

    With $50

    $1 units cover 7 losses ($49), then $11 is needed with $1 left. $50 grew to $75 in 54.6% of our test sessions.

    With $100

    $1 units cover 11 losses ($99), then $15 is needed with $1 left. $100 grew to $150 in 54.0% of sessions.

    With $200

    $1 units cover 16 losses ($184), then $20 is needed with $16 left. $200 grew to $300 in 53.4% of sessions, the best of any system.

    Table limits

    Labouchere Table Limits at Real Roulette Sites

    A long Labouchere line can need a bet of 30 to 60 units, so the maximum matters more than with D'Alembert. For each casino, the single-zero live table that takes your unit with the highest limit, and how many losses in a row from 1, 2, 3 it allows.

    Casino Widest single-zero table $1 units: losses covered $5 units: losses covered $25 units: losses covered Play
    MyBookie $0.10 to $10,000 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    Wild Casino $0.50 to $12,500 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    BetUS $0.50 to $12,500 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    BetOnline $0.50 to $12,500 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    Ignition $10 to $3,000 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    The Online Casino $1 to $10,000 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    Cafe Casino $10 to $3,000 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play
    DuckyLuck $0.50 to $6,000 60last bet $63 60last bet $315 60last bet $1,575 Play

    From the limits posted on each casino's live tables, checked October 2026. "—" means no single-zero table we saw takes that unit. In our test the biggest Labouchere bet was $64 on $1 units.

    Best table for LabouchereA wide range. MyBookie has live tables from $0.10 to $10,000, so a long line won't hit the table maximum before your bankroll runs out.

    Play at MyBookie

    Recovery

    How Labouchere Recovers From a Losing Run

    After a losing run, each win crosses off the two ends of the line, the biggest number among them. Here's how many wins in a row it takes to get back ahead and to clear the line, and how likely that streak is on red.

    Losses in a row Units down Wins in a row to get ahead Wins in a row to clear the line Chance of clearing in a row
    2 9 2 3 11.5%
    3 15 3 3 11.5%
    4 22 3 4 5.6%
    5 30 4 4 5.6%
    6 39 4 5 2.7%
    8 60 6 6 1.3%
    10 85 7 7 0.64%
    12 114 8 8 0.31%

    Wins don't have to come in a row. Each loss in between adds another number to the line and another win you need. Clearing the line always leaves you up by its original total: 6 units for 1, 2, 3.

    The honest answer

    Does the Labouchere Strategy Work?

    Not as a way to beat roulette. Labouchere hit its goal more often than any other system in our test, and only Martingale lost less on average. But it still lost 2.7% of every dollar bet on a European wheel.

    What it does well is turn a losing run into a list you pay off a little at a time. If you like a system you can plan and track, it's a sound choice. Just set a limit on how long the line can get, because the rare line that runs away takes most of your bankroll with it.

    100 Labouchere sessions, $100 eachHow often $100 became $150, and what the rest cost
    Reached $15054sessions, winning $52 on average
    Ran short46sessions, losing $82 on average
    Average over all sessions−$9.56More sessions win than lose, but each loss is far bigger than a win.

    $1 units, European wheel, from 200,000 sessions in our strategy simulator.

    French with La Partage

    57.4%

    reached $150. Average result −$4.98 per session.

    European

    54.0%

    reached $150. Average result −$9.56 per session.

    American

    47.1%

    reached $150. Average result −$18.96 per session.

    200,000 sessions per wheel: $100 bankroll, $1 units, line 1, 2, 3, up to 1,000 spins, $5,000 table maximum. None of the sites we list has a French table, so European is the best wheel you'll find there.

    Variations

    Labouchere Variations

    Raise after wins

    Reverse Labouchere

    Add your winning bet to the line after a win and cross off two numbers after a loss. Bets grow in winning streaks, and each cycle risks only the line's starting total.

    Compare with Paroli

    Smaller bets

    Split Labouchere

    When the line gets long, split it into two shorter lines and play them one at a time. Each bet is smaller, but the same debt is spread over more spins.

    Try a shorter line in the tracker

    Stop-loss

    Capped Labouchere

    Set the longest line or biggest bet you'll accept. When you'd go past it, take the loss and start a fresh line. You give up the recovery but cap what one line can cost.

    Set a table max in the calculator

    Gentler

    D'Alembert

    Also climbs one unit per loss, but starts at one unit and only drops one unit per win. Smaller bets, longer sessions, and no line to keep track of.

    D'Alembert calculator

    Before you play

    Labouchere Tips for Real Money Roulette

    None of these beat the house edge. They help you keep the line short and the losses planned.

    1. Start with a short line

      A three- or four-number line keeps the first bets small. 1, 2, 3 starts at 4 units and cleared 91.9% of cycles with $100 in our test.

    2. Play a European or French wheel

      Labouchere reached its goal in 54.0% of our test sessions on a European wheel and 47.1% on an American one.

    3. Write the line down

      Labouchere is easy to lose track of after a few losses. Use the tracker on this page, or keep a note: cross off on a win, add on a loss.

    4. Set a cap on the line

      Decide in advance the biggest bet you'll place, or the longest line you'll carry. When you hit it, take the loss and start a fresh line.

    5. Bank each cleared line

      Each clear is a small win. Stopping after a few of them, or at a set goal, keeps the long losing cycle from catching up with you.

    6. Pick a table with a high maximum

      Bets grow with every loss. A long line can need a bet of 30 to 60 units, and a low table limit can stop you mid-recovery.

    7. Read the bonus terms

      Many bonuses exclude roulette or ban progressive betting patterns, which can void the bonus and its winnings.

    8. Practice free first

      Play a few lines with free chips in our roulette simulator before you use the system with real money.

    Real money

    Best Roulette Sites for the Labouchere System

    Labouchere needs a table with room to grow, because a long line can call for a bet many times your unit. These sites post the limits on their live tables. Pick a European wheel: none of them has a French table with La Partage.

    #1 MyBookie Single-zero tables from $0.10 to $10,000 200% up to $2,000 Read our MyBookie review Play now
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    #3 BetUS Single-zero tables from $0.50 to $12,500 250% up to $5,000 Read our BetUS review Play now

    Affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you sign up through these buttons. They open real money casinos, not our free tools. Ranked as on our best online roulette sites list; compare all 10 in our roulette site reviews.

    Labouchere Roulette FAQs

    What is the Labouchere roulette strategy?

    A cancellation system. You write a line of numbers, such as 1, 2, 3, and bet the first and last added together on an even-money bet like red. A win crosses both numbers off; a loss adds the amount you lost to the end. When the line is gone, you've won its total: 6 units for 1, 2, 3.

    Does the Labouchere system work?

    It wins small goals often, but it can't beat the house edge. In our test, Labouchere turned $100 into $150 in 54.0% of sessions on a European wheel, the best of the eight systems we tested. The sessions that failed lost $82 on average, and the average result was −$9.56: 2.7% of everything bet.

    Do you only need to win a third of your bets with Labouchere?

    Nearly. Each win crosses off two numbers and each loss adds one, so a long line clears once you've won a little over a third of your bets. The catch is that every loss makes the next bets bigger, so the line's total grows faster than your bankroll can cover it.

    What is the best starting line for Labouchere?

    There's no line that beats the edge. In our test, 1, 2, 3 cleared 91.9% of cycles with $100, while 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 cleared 82.3% but won 15 units each time. Longer, bigger lines reach a goal in fewer bets, so they lose less on average, but each failed cycle costs about the same: most of the bankroll.

    How much money do I need for Labouchere?

    With 1, 2, 3 and $1 units, the bets in a losing run go 4, 5, 6, 7 and so on. $100 covers 11 losses in a row before the next bet ($15) is more than you have left. Mixed runs grow the line too, which is why about one cycle in 12 still ran out of money in our test.

    What is the reverse Labouchere?

    You add the amount you won to the line after a win and cross off two numbers after a loss, so your bets grow during winning streaks. It risks only the original line's total on each cycle, but it doesn't change the house edge either.

    What happens if the Labouchere bet gets too big?

    Either the bankroll or the table maximum stops you, and the line can't be finished. Some players split a long line into two shorter ones to keep bets down. That makes each bet smaller but spreads the same debt over more spins.

    Is Labouchere better than Martingale?

    Its bets grow far more slowly: after 8 losses in a row Labouchere bets 12 units, Martingale 256. In our test it reached $150 more often (54.0% against 48.8%), but it lost a little more on average (−$9.56 against −$6.32) because it bet more in total. Both lose 2.7% of everything bet on a European wheel.

    Which wheel is best for Labouchere?

    French with La Partage, then European. In our test Labouchere reached its goal in 57.4% of sessions on a French wheel, 54.0% on a European wheel and 47.1% on an American wheel.

    Who invented the Labouchere system?

    It's named after Henry Labouchère, a 19th-century British politician and journalist who wrote about using it at roulette. It's also called the cancellation system or the split Martingale.

    Can I practice Labouchere for free?

    Yes. Use the tracker on this page to play a line win by win, then try it with free chips in our roulette simulator. Free chips have no cash value.

    More strategies and free tools

    Play for real

    How we worked it out, and references

    The losing-run figures and charts are exact for the standard Labouchere system on an even-money bet with the starting line 1, 2, 3: bet the first and last numbers added together, cross both off after a win, add the lost bet to the end after a loss, and start a new line when one clears. The session odds and the starting-line comparison come from the same engine as our strategy simulator: 200,000 sessions per result, $100 bankroll, $1 units, a $50 goal, up to 1,000 spins and a $5,000 table maximum, with zero losing in full except under La Partage. Table limits are from each casino's live lobby. Further reading: the Labouchere system at Wizard of Odds and Random Services on roulette probabilities.

    21+

    No system makes roulette safe

    Set a budget before you start, never borrow to keep a progression going, and stop when it's gone. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org for free, confidential help.