Roulette Corner Bet: How to Place It and What 8:1 Returns
A roulette corner bet covers four adjoining numbers with one chip placed where their boxes meet. Any of the four numbers can win. A standard £1 corner makes £8 profit and returns £9 after the original stake is added back.
What Is a Corner Bet in Roulette?
A corner bet is an inside roulette bet on four number boxes arranged as a 2 by 2 square. It is also called a square bet, four-number bet or carré. Place one chip on the exact point where all four boxes meet. If the ball lands on any covered number, the bet wins at 8:1.
For example, the numbers 17, 18, 20 and 21 form a valid corner. The boxes share one central intersection on the layout even though those numbers are not consecutive in normal counting order.
Where exactly should the chip go?
Centre the chip on the four-way intersection. If the chip sits inside one number, it becomes a straight-up bet. If it sits on one shared line, it becomes a split bet. The interface should highlight four numbers before you confirm the wager.
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What Does an 8:1 Corner Bet Payout Return?
The 8:1 figure is the profit paid on a winning stake. The original stake is returned separately. A winning £10 corner therefore produces £80 profit and £90 in total.
| Stake | Profit at 8:1 | Stake returned | Total returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| £1 | £8 | £1 | £9 |
| £5 | £40 | £5 | £45 |
| £10 | £80 | £10 | £90 |
| £25 | £200 | £25 | £225 |
Which Four Numbers Can Form a Corner?
The four boxes must form one 2 by 2 square on the 1 to 36 number grid. A standard layout has twelve vertical number groups and three rows. There are eleven gaps between neighbouring groups and two row junctions, giving 22 normal corner positions.
| Number group | Standard corner? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 2 / 4 / 5 | Yes | Four adjoining boxes form a 2 by 2 square. |
| 17 / 18 / 20 / 21 | Yes | All four boxes share one central intersection. |
| 31 / 32 / 34 / 35 | Yes | This is another ordinary 2 by 2 position. |
| 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | No | These four numbers do not form one square on the layout. |
| 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 | No, separate bet | This is the European First Four, which also covers four pockets and pays 8:1. |
| 0 / 00 / 1 / 2 / 3 | No | This is the American five-number bet, covering five pockets at 6:1. |
The 22 count covers ordinary 2 by 2 corners on numbers 1 to 36. It does not count the separate European First Four position.
See the complete roulette wheel and table layout for every inside and outside placement.
Is the First Four the Same as a Corner Bet?
The First Four is mathematically equivalent to a European corner in coverage and payout, but it is not a normal 2 by 2 corner. It covers 0, 1, 2 and 3 using a special position beside the zero area. Both bets win on four of 37 pockets and pay 8:1.
| Bet | Numbers covered | Normal 2 by 2 square? | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard corner | Any valid four-number square | Yes | 8:1 | 2.70% European / 5.26% American |
| First Four | 0, 1, 2, 3 | No | 8:1 | 2.70% |
| American five-number | 0, 00, 1, 2, 3 | No | 6:1 | 7.89% |
Corner Bet Odds on European, French and American Roulette
A corner always covers four pockets, but the wheel size changes the hit chance and expected loss. The standard 8:1 payout does not improve when an American wheel adds 00.
| Wheel | Winning pockets | Hit chance | True odds against | Payout | House edge | Expected loss per £100 wagered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European | 4 of 37 | 10.81% | 8.25:1 | 8:1 | 2.70% | £2.70 |
| French | 4 of 37 | 10.81% | 8.25:1 | 8:1 | 2.70%* | £2.70 |
| American | 4 of 38 | 10.53% | 8.5:1 | 8:1 | 5.26% | £5.26 |
*La Partage and En Prison apply to qualifying even-money bets, not corner bets. They do not reduce the edge on a corner.
Corner Bet Versus Straight-Ups and Splits
A corner is a convenient one-chip way to cover four numbers equally. It is not mathematically superior to equivalent straight-up or split placements using the same total stake and the same four pockets.
| Placement | Total staked | Numbers covered | Total returned if covered number wins | Net profit | European hit chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £4 corner on 17/18/20/21 | £4 | 4 | £36 | +£32 | 4/37 = 10.81% |
| Four £1 straight-ups | £4 | 4 | £36 | +£32 | 4/37 = 10.81% |
| £2 corner on 17/18/20/21 | £2 | 4 | £18 | +£16 | 4/37 = 10.81% |
| Two £1 splits covering the same four numbers | £2 | 4 | £18 | +£16 | 4/37 = 10.81% |
The equivalent split example assumes two non-overlapping splits, such as 17/18 and 20/21. Different coverage or unequal stakes produce different outcomes.
What Happens When You Place Several Corner Bets?
More non-overlapping corners increase the number of covered pockets but reduce the net profit made by an ordinary hit because every additional corner adds another losing chip when only one corner wins.
| Non-overlapping corners | Total stake | Unique numbers covered | European hit chance | Net result if one corner wins | Result if none wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 unit | 4 | 10.81% | +8 units | −1 unit |
| 2 | 2 units | 8 | 21.62% | +7 units | −2 units |
| 4 | 4 units | 16 | 43.24% | +5 units | −4 units |
| 5 | 5 units | 20 | 54.05% | +4 units | −5 units |
This assumes equal one-unit stakes and no overlap. Every individual corner still carries the normal wheel edge, so the expected loss applies to the full total wagered.
How do overlapping corner bets change the result?
Take two £1 corners: 14/15/17/18 and 17/18/20/21. They overlap on 17 and 18, so the two bets cover only six unique numbers instead of eight.
| Winning result | Winning corner bets | Total returned | Net result after £2 total stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 or 18 | Both corners | £18 | +£16 |
| 14, 15, 20 or 21 | One corner | £9 | +£7 |
| Any other number | None | £0 | −£2 |
The Romanovsky strategy uses two specific corner bets as part of a larger eight-unit layout. Its complete placement and outcome table belongs on the dedicated strategy page rather than here.
Common Corner Bet Mistakes
Placement mistakes
- Leaving the chip inside a number: this registers as a straight-up rather than a corner.
- Stopping on one shared line: this creates a split covering two numbers.
- Choosing four consecutive numbers: counting order does not matter; the boxes must form a square.
- Confusing First Four with a normal corner: the payout is the same, but the zero-area placement is separate.
Maths mistakes
- Treating 8:1 as the total return: a £1 win returns £9 because the stake also comes back.
- Ignoring overlap: two corners may cover six, seven or eight unique numbers depending on placement.
- Moving corners because a zone looks cold: previous spins do not change the next result.
- Assuming combinations improve value: adding outside bets changes the settlement pattern, not the wheel edge.
Before playing: check the exact wheel, inside-bet minimum and total stake shown by the table.
How We Checked the Corner Bet Maths
We counted the normal 2 by 2 intersections on a standard 1 to 36 layout, recalculated the European and American hit chances, and separated payout profit from total return. We also checked equivalent straight-up and split coverage, non-overlapping corner totals and the two-corner overlap example.
The page deliberately separates a normal corner from the European First Four and the American five-number bet. The roulette odds guide provides the wider payout and probability reference for every standard wager.
Roulette Corner Bet FAQs
What is a corner bet in roulette?
It is one chip placed where four adjoining number boxes meet. Any of those four numbers can win, and a standard corner pays 8:1 profit.
What does a £1 corner bet return?
A winning £1 corner makes £8 profit and returns the £1 stake, producing £9 in total.
How many corner bets are on a roulette table?
There are 22 normal 2 by 2 corner positions on the 1 to 36 grid. The European First Four is an additional four-number zero-area wager, not one of those 22 ordinary corners.
Is the First Four a corner bet?
It has the same four-number coverage, 8:1 payout and 2.70% European house edge, but it uses a separate position covering 0, 1, 2 and 3 rather than a normal 2 by 2 square.
Does La Partage apply to a corner bet?
No. La Partage applies to qualifying even-money bets when zero lands. A French corner normally retains the standard 2.70% single-zero house edge.
Is one corner better than four straight-up bets?
No, not when the same four numbers and equal total stake are used. A corner is simply a convenient one-chip way to create equal four-number coverage.
Can two corner bets overlap?
Yes. Shared numbers can make both corners win, but overlap reduces the number of unique pockets covered. Check the highlighted numbers before confirming the total stake.
What is the American five-number bet?
It covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3, pays 6:1 and carries a 7.89% house edge. It is not a corner bet.
18+ and Safer Gambling
Corner bets hit more often than straight-ups but remain negative-expectation casino wagers. Set a fixed spending limit before playing, count the full value of every chip and do not increase stakes to chase previous misses. Free support is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.