Craps Play for Beginners - Part 2
by Gayle Mitchell
Let's move forward with your basic craps education to the odds
bet. Winning is even sweeter when you have backed up your pass-line bet with an
odds bet placed directly behind it. This odds bet is made only after a shooter
has established a point. But, you say, the layout has no space for an odds bet.
That's because the casino doesn't advertise odds bets. (And could that be
because a 10-times odds bet slashes the casino advantage to .2 of 1%? Just
double odds comes down to .63 of 1% for the casino.) The odds bets are
determined by a probability chart and are based on 36 combinations a pair of
dice can be rolled. For instance, the 7 can be rolled in six combos
(combinations); that's the highest combination probability. The 6 and 8 can be
rolled five combos, and the 5 and 9 can be rolled four combos, and the 4 and 10
can be rolled three combos each.
We will group the point numbers in sets, like this:
6 and 8 - 6 to 5 odds. Pays $6 for every $5 wagered. 5 and 9
- 3 to 2 odds. Pays $3 for every $2 wagered. 4 and 10 - 2 to 1 odds. Pays $2
for every $1 wagered.
The casino pays correct odds bets, unlike a pass-line bet that
pays even money. This information is important because, if you do not take the
correct odds with the right amount of chips, you will be paid even money only.
The whole idea behind taking odds is for bigger wins. If you don't memorize this
information, just ask the dealer, "What is the correct odds amount?", and follow
those instructions. The second optimum bet at a craps table is another two-step
with odds well under that low, low 1% advantage for the casino. It's the come
bet, which is boldly displayed on the layout. For this bet, you place the chips
near your position on the table, while the shooter is trying to repeat a point
number. Think of this bet as a delayed pass-line bet. Let's say 6 has been
established as the shooter number to win on the pass-line, and you want an
additional bet working for you. Okay, make that same bet as described in the
come bet area. If the next roll is a 9, you will be looking for 6 "on the line"
and a 9 "coming" before a 7 rolls. If the next roll is a craps, you lose the
come bet. A 7 or 11 wins outright, but remember the 7 wipes out the pass-line
bet. In this case, the dealer places the payoff directly beside your bet. It's
your responsibility to immediately pick up the chips. If your come bet is a
point number, the dealer will position that bet for you. Now comes the second
part--making the odds bet to lower the casino advantage. Position this bet near
the original come bet and, clearly, say to the dealer: "Odds on my come bet."
At any time, you can remove odds bets (but not pass-line or come bets). In the
last part of this Craps articles, we will discuss place bets, 'wrong' bets,
betting strategies and toss in some 'craps lingo'. See you at the table again,
real soon.
Gayle Mitchell is author of Casino Gambling Made Easier
books, booklets and strategy cards.
http://www.easycasinogambling.com
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