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Table Games Craps "strategy"

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by blissfulignoramus, Mar 17, 2016.

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  1. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

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    I would like some input on how to approach playing craps. I put the word "strategy" in quotes because I am not looking for a beat-the-house-strategy, I am looking for one that gives me a good chance of walking away a hundred or two or five ahead every so often, and at worst walk away losing $200.

    I have something that works for me playing blackjack, but I've never played a lot of craps. Last time I went to Vegas I think I played three sessions, which is probably a record for me. I bought a phone app (Aw Craps!) and have come upon something that seems to work for my approach, but would like some input. Here is how it works:

    1. I start with $200. I play until it's gone, or until I crap out and am up at least $100. This is my basic blackjack approach too.
    2. I assume that most of the tables I am interested in playing are going to be $5 min and 3/4/5 odds. I put $5 on the pass line, and put maximum odds on the point ($15 to $25).
    3. I also place minimum inside place bets (5 through 9) on everything but the point. I know the odds on 5 and 9 are kind of lame, but I like the fact that placing three or four numbers gives some fun runs of small wins.
    4. I start to press when I am $50 up by putting $7 on the pass line and continuing to max the odds bet. At $100 up, I go to $10 on pass, and then increase by $2 or $3 at each $50 increment I am up, continuing to max out the odds. When I am up $150 or more (the point where I am probably assured of winning), I double the place the bets as well.

    Is there something I am missing? Anything a conservative low-roller like me might consider doing differently or in addition to this? When I am losing and down to my last chips, I tend to throw them on the hard-ways, etc., since I won't have enough for a pass line bet, full odds, and the place bets. I might make a new rule that if I'm down to my last $25 or less, I walk.
     
  2. x3x

    x3x Tourist

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    Let me tell you about the iron cross. Bet a unit on the field, 5, 6, and 8. Any number other than 7 wins. I only have my bets working for the first 3-4 rolls of the shooter. Then off until next come out roll.

    For your strategy, you can maybe do $10 units. Or maybe even $25.

    When I first did this, I was at the Wynn. I started with my whole bankroll out on the table. $1000 each on the field, 5, 6, and 8. I hit a lot of fields and a few 2's and 12's. And every time I said all my bets off, the shooter would 7 out. With 30 minutes I was up like $15k. The suits came down and were on the phone the whole time. I ended up cashing out early. But I always wondered if I had kept playing longer.

    I tried to recreate it the next time, and shooter rolled a 7 on the next roll. So $4k gone with one roll.
     
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  3. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    ''Let the game come to you,"
    *
    Bet heavy when the table gets hot,
     
  4. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    Upping your bets as you win is pretty standard way to play. As you know, in the long run it means you have more money going against the house edge, but flat betting can sometimes get boring, IMHO. What I do is play $5 pass, max odds, and then if I'm up I add either come bets with odds (three point molly style), or place the 6/8 for $6, pressing them after two wins. If I fall below my buy-in I go back to just $5 pass/odds. You didn't mention it above, but I assume if you start to lose you reign in your bets in the reverse order, correct?

    Another option is to do pass/come with single odds, and then as you win you press up just your odds portion. That way as you win you are actually lowering the total house edge. This is best on a table with 5x, 10x, or more odds, and when you have a low bankroll.
     
  5. vsop

    vsop VIP Whale

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    Since your initial bankroll is $200, you may want to only put 1x or 2x odds behind the pass line as opposed to max odds and add to the pass line odds bet with the winnings from your place bets....hopefully, extending the life of your bankroll in case you run into consecutive "two rolls, no coffee"
     
  6. benbrownjr

    benbrownjr Low-Roller

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    I play what is called the it on cross. On the come out roll I place a pass line bet and a field bet so every number is covered. When the point is established I place odds then place bets on the 5, 6, & 8. Now all numbers except 7 are covered. I then press the place bets every other hit. If 12 comes up I may use the win to cover 4, 9, & 10 th as the way I get paid on the place & the field and press more aggressively.
     
  7. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    Follow Steps 1 and 2 in your outlined strategy. Forget everything else.
     
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  8. Craps_Player

    Craps_Player High-Roller

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    For the OP, the strategy that X3X demonstrates here isn't bad! You obviously would adjust your bets for your bankroll, but this is a kind of "Regression" system, where you make one hit, and then you start reducing your bets immediately so that what you have left on the table is less than the initial win. It will keep you in the game for longer (unless you are unfortunate to get a 7 out on the first roll after the point is established). You would also be able to control the level at which you want to play at by determining at what point you walk (i.e. it's not the kind of play where you tough it out until the shooter sevens out). You wouldn't need to play the pass line and keep your money 'active' until a decision is made on the current play (point or 7 out).


    Actually...I really like this kind of play, and I'll try it myself when I'm in Vegas next month. Works on choppy and cold tables as well.
     
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  9. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    My favorite way to play is to take a $5 pass line, and place the 6/8 for $12 each... (I typically take $10 odds behind the line).
    Then, I same bet that combo twice, then press each of them, then same bet the combo twice, taking them both down after that.
    So - ideally, $14+$14+$28+$28+my $48 bet down. I end up with $132 from my $24 initial bet, net win of $108. Then I wait for the outcome of my line-bet....then begin again.

    My loss risk is $39 per come-out. All I need is the 6 and/or 8 to come up 4 times total before the 7...then, even losing my line bet, I make $93. My place-bet money-risked is covered with just two-hits.

    (If the point is a 6 or 8, I go $20 odds & a $24 place bet, same-betting until the point is made or 7 comes.)
     
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  10. blissfulignoramus

    blissfulignoramus 3:2, nothing else will do

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    Interesting suggestions. I will think about all of this.

    The problem with my strategy is that I am exposed for >1/5 of my initial bankroll every time to a crapout. I'd like it to be closer to 1/10, but at a $5 table,I want to max out my odds bet. You've given me some food for thought here.
     
  11. Craps_Player

    Craps_Player High-Roller

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    If you want to do this, then take the suggestion from one of the players on this thread....just play the pass line and the odds. If you want to make it interesting in case the shooter keeps rolling, is have one or two come bets with full odds as well....However that's going to take you up to around half your bankroll. If you want to play easy, then pass line bet, then one come bet, then another come bet, then start adding odds if you hit your numbers.
     
  12. smerrian

    smerrian View from Bally's

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    You are playing too high for your bankroll. If you have $50 out on every roll then when the table hits 3-4 bad rolls in a row you'll be out of money...and it OFTEN does hit a string of bad rolls. For a $200 buy-in try $5 pass line with 2x or 3x (at most) odds, one come bet will then total 2 numbers and when one of these hits place a $12 bet on the 6 or 8. With that bankroll you don't have to play full odds. The house edge between 3x and 5x odds is very slight and when betting red chips is almost negligible in (basically a few pennies). So don't put such a high percentage of your bankroll at risk on a single roll. Result: Pass line, Come bet, when one wins a $12 6 OR 8...and only play 2x or 3x odds. This should get you to your goal.
     
  13. topcard

    topcard Here's to $10 3:2 two-deck, $5 Craps, and $5 UTH!

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    Come-bet players frequently cite the 'true odds' feature of their bet, once it goes to a number and they take odds.
    While that is true, it is a strategy that, by its very nature, requires at least two hits of that number (before a 7) in order to be paid.
    A place-bet pays for itself on the very first hit of that number. All subsequent hits are pure profit.

    Let's say the 8 comes up 4 times before the 7. Let's examine this for a place bettor and a come bettor:

    Point is set...we'll say it's a 10.
    Come bet for $5. (with $25 in odds, once a number is hit).
    Place bet for $30.
    The sequence of rolls just happens to be four 8s in row.

    Come - 8-roll #1 - the $5 goes to the 8 with $25 in odds. Pays zero.
    Place - 8-roll #1 - Pays $35.

    Come - 8-roll #2 - pays $40, and comes down.
    Place - 8-roll #2 - Pays $35.

    Come - 8-roll #3 - the $5 goes to the 8 with $25 in odds. Pays zero.
    Place - 8-roll #3 - Pays $35

    Come - 8-roll #4 - pays $40, and comes down.
    Place - 8-roll #4 - Pays $35.
    7-out
    Come - Pays $5
    Place - Loses $30

    Now, let's add all of that up:
    Place bettor - 4 x $35 minus $30 = +$110
    Come bettor - +$85.
     
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  14. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    If you want to level out the big swings of craps, just start playing the don't with two don't come bets. If they all get hit, sit out until the shooter sevens out. You should be able to play longer than on the pass, and you stand a good chance of making some money.
     
  15. vsop

    vsop VIP Whale

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    I agree with your take on come bets v. place bets...IMO, come bets don't make sense unless the odds are at least 5X and you are betting the max odds, otherwise, the place bets would pay more for the equivalent amount of money at risk...oh, in your example, I believe the come bet payout for $5 flat bet and $25 odds on an 8, would be $35 total...which would equal the payout on a $30 place bet on an 8, but as you stated the come bet has to hit twice before getting paid.
     
  16. SnakeDoctor

    SnakeDoctor Tourist

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    With 200, I would place the 6 and 8 alongside your pass line (plus odds) bet.
     
  17. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

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    You are discounting the advantage the come bet has on the come out roll. The 7 will pay on the come out roll.
     
  18. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

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    If you want to minimize your risk of ruin, then play the don't pass (or the pass if you like worse odds but want to be with the others) and no odds. The odds could cripple you if the first 3 or so shooters don't make the point. If you are winning you can add a few don't come (or come bets) to the mix.
     
  19. Casinobum

    Casinobum Low-Roller

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9o4JHbHaTs

    Tried this early one morning at the Fremont $3 table, it's a don't come hedge system...broke even to much thinking for me...I'll stick with pass /odds place 6&8 and a come bet or two I'm to damn old to think that much anymore..most systems involve a hedge bet and wind up being a wash IMHO...Now if you really want to find out if this works on the cheap find a $1 bubble craps machine and give it a go.
     
  20. Sniff009

    Sniff009 Low-Roller

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    On a $10 table - I use a "building method" where I will play pass plus odds and then 6/8 at 1 unit each. If 6/8 are the point then, I will go 1.5 on the place bet. If 6 is point and 8 hits, I put $10 each on 5/9 and then keep the buck. 5/9 go quickly to a quarter, then I collect then when it hits again, I go $25 increments, till $100, then move to $50 etc. I like getting back to numbers dealers use a lot so it minimizes their mistakes. So for me, it's 30, 42, 60, 90, 120, 180, etc. It's really fun when you're at a good table and realized you only started with about $50 and the rest is 'house' money.
     
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