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Table Games Craps for the first time

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by macwjp, Sep 22, 2014.

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  1. macwjp

    macwjp Low-Roller

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    Played craps for the first time over the weekend at a Casino a couple hours from where I live and had a ball, lost my buyin but had fun doing it :) Watching the game was always a little intimidating as I couldn't quite figure it out so I never felt confident enough to give it a try. A pit boss at my local casino (who has worked in many casinos across North America) talked me through some of the simpler points about craps and that along with a near empty table gave me the courage to give it a whirl. Bought in for $100 played pass line with odds plus 2 units on 6 and 8. Got to roll 3 or 4 times as there were only a couple of people at the table. Table was not hitting many points and 7 was coming up with frequency. Like I said I had a lot of fun doing this though and I am looking forward to hitting a hot table in Vegas in Novemeber when my wife and I are there.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2014
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Its a fun game. I still remember years ago watching two of my buddies play craps in Tunica. We had gotten killed at blackjack. So we walked to a craps table, but I didn't know the rules and felt intimidated. I then watched each of my friends turn ten dollars into two hundred dollars in 15 minutes. And I remember thinking, I really need to learn how to play this game, lol
     
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  3. Dr3aMCaster

    Dr3aMCaster Tourist

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    If you play this game with proper strategy, it has the best odds and has the lowest house edge. The house edge becomes something like 1.1%. Much lower than any other game in the casino. I think BJ is second lowest at 1.4%.
     
  4. chonglosaxon

    chonglosaxon MIA

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    Your wrong.

    BJ is a .5%-1% expectation HA game. If you count cards correctly, it is a Player Advantage game.

    Craps is fun as hell though.
     
  5. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

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    Splitting hairs but a BJ game that pays 3/2 with normal for today rules (H17 ect) is only around .6%. It gets much worse if you play 6/5.

    Craps is a great game. Low house edge and with the free odds carrying a 0% house edge it makes it one of the best games. Especially considering the 1.4% edge is only taken on the pass line wager.
     
  6. vsop

    vsop VIP Whale

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    The pit boss gave you a nice, quick game plan/strategy....pass line bet w/odds and place bets on two numbers....stick with that for now, but do yourself a favor and do a search online to learn how the pay outs are derived on winning bets for the pass line w/odds and for place bets......e.g.: there are 6 different ways/combinations for a seven to be rolled....there are 4 different ways/combinations for a five or nine to be rolled, therefore, the "true odds" are 6:4 (or 3:2), so, your payout for the pass line odds bet or come odds bet on a five or nine would be 3 units for every 2 units bet ....note, place bet payouts are NOT based on true odds, that's why if you had a $10 place bet on the five or nine, the payout for the place bet would be $14, which essentially represents a 7:5 payout, instead of $15 (3:2 true odds)....
     
  7. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Definitely one of the more exciting games in the casino.
    When walking through a casino and hear a loud roar/cheer 99 times out of a 100 its at the craps table.
     
  8. djen

    djen Low-Roller

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    That is the way I started, 6, 8 and pass line. That is a pretty good way to start out, though if the dice are against you, you can go through a buy in quite quick. Though I have learned, the tide can change quick and bring your chip count right back. It is a fun game to play and to watch.
     
  9. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    I read this somewhere: "Craps is like shooting the rapids with a bunch of strangers..." :thumbsup::beer:
     
  10. Dr3aMCaster

    Dr3aMCaster Tourist

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    Yes, if you know how to count cards then the odds are in your favour in BJ however trying to get away with it before getting thrown out is a different story...
     
  11. Bazzito52

    Bazzito52 Low-Roller

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    Well, actually, the place bet payouts are based on the true odds, just like the combined pass line with odds are. Here's how they are figured.

    For the 6 and 8: 1 unit is paid at even money (1:1) and 5 units are payed out at the true odds of 6:5. So the winning payout is 1+6 on a 6 unitt bet, or 7 to 6.

    For the 5 and 9: 1 unit is paid at even money (1:1) and 4 units are paid at the true odds of 3:2. So the winning payout is 1+6 on a 5 unit bet, or 7 to 5.

    For the 4 and 10: 1 unit is paid at even money (1:1) and 4 units are paid at the true odds of 2:1. So the winning payout is 1+8 on a 5 unit bet, or 9 to 5.

    You see, the "true odds" portion of the place bets are hidden in the proposition in a way that they aren't for the pass line bet plus odds. You never hear them say "The pass line plus odds pays 11 to 10 for the 6 and 8."

    So your example of a pass line bet on the five or nine should include the even that they paid on the pass line in addition to the 3:2 odds that are paid on the odds portion. So a player getting a $15 payout for a $10.00 odds bet would also be getting even money for a $5.00 line bet - or $20.00 for $15.00. A $15.00 place bettor would be getting $21.00 on the same decision.

    Anyway, thats how the place bet payouts are derived.

    And make no mistake! The pass line plus odds is a better bet with less house edge! The place bettor doesn't get 9 chances out of 36 to win even money on the comeout (7 & 11) as opposed to 5 chances out of 36 to lose their pass line bet on the comeout (2 - 3 & 12).
     
  12. PayTriple

    PayTriple VIP Whale

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    Thanks Bazzitto52.
    I've read a LOT of books on craps, but never had the place bets explained this way before.
     
  13. Crambone

    Crambone Gnaeus Pompey Magnus

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    Thanks for the Place payout explanation. Always wondered how they figured that.

    It's 8 chances to win on a Come Out with 4 chances to lose:
    6 ways for a Seven + 2 ways for the Eleven Yo
    1 way for each of the Two and Twelve and 2 ways for the Three.

    Just throw a Whirl out there to cover your ass. Might as well work the Hard Ways while you're at it.
     
  14. Dr3aMCaster

    Dr3aMCaster Tourist

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    This is what I suggest for any beginners.

    Although place bets are easy, you cannot take odds on them and the payout is lower than if you were to do a come bet.

    The experts say to do the following:

    Pass line with odds (most casinos i've been do do 1-3x, some higher)
    2 come bets with odds

    Unlike place bets, you can take odds on your come bet if it reaches a number on the board (4,5,6,8,9,10).

    I like the come bet because you can consider it a pass line bet where the next roll is a come out roll for the come bet. 7 or 11, you win and 2,3,12 is craps. So if the button is on and the shooter sevens out, at least you made a little money on the come to cover any other losses.

    3 / 12 numbers you lose, any of the other 9 numbers you either make money or you're covering a point.

    May seem a little confusing but I'm a low roller. My payroll was $100 every time i went to the tables. I played in total about 4 hrs worth of craps while I was in Vegas and made about $800 with this strategy alone.
     
  15. engicedave

    engicedave VIP Whale

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    (Hi, yes, I'm back....long time no see.....)

    Welcome to craps and it's addictive nature....LOL.....It's fun, and with basic play, you can stretch your bankroll.

    I started learning and playing craps about a year ago at a local casino boat here in Florida, $5 minimums

    Here's a few things I have learned, there's no "wrong way" to play, because everyone has their way. I think all the middle stuff is crazy betting, because it's longshot, but big payoffs. But it's not wrong, it's just the way some people like to play. They like that high risk/reward play. Some like to go slow, like you did, a pass with maybe 2-3x odds and a place on 6/8....normal, regular everyday play, nothing unusual. Some buy place bets all across. Some play don't.
    None of it is "wrong," and that is what you need to remember while you find a way of play, or system, you are comfortable with.
    I did place bets, but you had to press the bet so many times to get to a point of really collecting, you had to pray for long rolls every time, and it doesn't happen often.
    So now I do come bets. I started with the prescribed pass with two come bets, usually at 2-3x odds, but then didn't like "the waiting" of my three numbers of all the numbers to come up, especially while watching others make money or press up.
    So now I do come bets until full and leave a nickel in the come, with 3-4x odds, so every time any number hits, I am "up and off" on that number and collect anywhere from $24 - $35 every time a number hits.
    Upside, I don't have to do a lot of pressing to get to earning $25+ a roll, and the number only has to hit once to get the come bet on it, no pressing. Downside, I have a lot out when the bases are full.

    Now, here is what I consider an upside to come bets others see as a down side, if you have a bunch of numbers covered on come bets and the shooter makes his point, and now you're "off," if he rolls a 7 on that come out, your bets come down (you lose) BUT, you gets your odds back....that can be as much $100 if you have 4x odds on those come bets at a nickel each. I see that as "good" because it gets my money off the table (yeah, I can always take them down anytime anyway, I know), and it saves me that loss and it allows me to play longer or profit more, stretching my bankroll. Sure, I have to start over on the come bets, but big deal.

    Again, it goes back to no right and no wrong, but how you like to play and what makes you comfortable, but try new ways and watch and talk to other players.

    Have fun, and remember, the table can have wild swings, so have the bankroll for those down swings, and be prepared for that hot roll or table.

    Learning craps is like learning to swim, you have to actually get into the pool to learn to swim. So, you have put your foot in the water, now keep swimming and you'll learn all new ways to swim the more you do it
     
  16. PayTriple

    PayTriple VIP Whale

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    Well stated!
     
  17. macwjp

    macwjp Low-Roller

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    Thanks to everyone for the replies and information. Looking forward to getting a chance to try craps in Vegas in November.
     
  18. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    macwjp, nobody really mentioned it but sometimes it might be better to play the dark side, esp on cold tables. I think we encounter more colder tables than hot tables so sometimes it's better to play the don't. A lot of times I just check out the tables and if I don't have a good "vibe" (lots of 7 outs, etc.) then I will either move on or play the don't instead.
     
  19. engicedave

    engicedave VIP Whale

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    Another way to tell is look at everyone's rails (and attitude).

    If rails are empty and everyone only has a handful of nickels and pennies, that's a red flag
    If everyone is quiet and looks "less than energetic," that is a sign as well
     
  20. mrem3200

    mrem3200 VIP Whale

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    Very well said. I tried to learn by watching and just couldn't get it. But once I got the nerve to play I realized that it was not nearly as complicated as it looked and got hooked.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2014
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