Table Games craps experts help please

I have never played craps before live at the casino but have done some research and practiced online. But want to make sure I am playing a basic way that isn't making the house edge bigger than it needs to be. I am looking to play a strategy that is not super aggressive but not super passive either. I don't mind losing a little to give myself a chance to win big on a hot shooter. I am only playing because I am going out to vegas with other craps players so it would be fun to play at a table with them. I am usually a poker, bj and pai gow player so craps has always alluded me.

Here is how I will be playing. It will hopefully be a 5.00 min table. Play 5.00 on the pass line. Once a point is made I will put 20.00 on odds to back up my pass line bet and 5.00 on the come. If any number of 4,5,6,8,9,10 rolls I back up that bet with max odds and another 5.00 on come. If I'm running well I will do this until I have 3 numbers with max bets behind it. Until I am up I will probably only do 2 numbers with max odds behind it. From what I understand the max odds plays are 3,4 and 5x's. So 4 and 10 3x's. 5 and 9 4x's, 6 and 8 5x's. Hopefully the way I explained this makes sense. I have never been at an actual table so I don't know common terms.

Is this a decent strategy to play. I looked up strategies like the iron cross, 3 moly and others, but this seemed like a semi basic and not a super high risk strategy that can still profit nicely from a hot shooter. Any other suggestions would be nice. I will not follow the play of my friends. They are very bad gamblers and have clue of house edge correct way to play. If you know of any better basic strategies a youtube link on how to play it is easy for me to pick up.

Also, we will be there next week, where would be our best options for a 5.00 min table. We have a couple groups at cosmo and a couple at flamingo. So anywhere from linq down to NYNY is fine to play at.

 

It's definitely not a bad strategy. Just make sure you have a big enough bankroll to make those max odds bets. You don't have to take max odds, maybe start out by taking single or double odds and see how that goes.

Bankroll is key to the amount of your wagers. With the wagers you have in mind I would estimate your buy in to be in the range of $500.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

I was going to give it a 500.00 bankroll exactly. At least that is how much I am willing to lose on a game I don't know well to hang with friends. If I am not going to take max odds to conserve my bankroll, what denominations should I make them at. Since 6 and 8 are rolled more frequently should I do 3x's at those. 2xs on 5 and 9 and 1x on 4 and 10.

 

The lower end properties will be your best bet if you're searching for $5 craps. Margaritaville had half the table at $5 and the other half at $10 when I was there two weeks ago. I'd also check out the Linq, Ballys, Monte Carlo and NYNY. If you cross the bridge you could probably find some at Excalibur and maybe Luxor.

 

I just got hooked on come bets so that's pretty much the exact strategy I used.

You can either limit to 2 or 3 comes or just keep going if you want to really press.

I had one roll last time with 1k comes all the way across and another come out there hitting numbers left and right for 5-6k a roll.

That was fun. I'm going to try it again next time.

 

It's completely up to you on how high you want to go on your odds. I'd suggest to go as high as you can without feeling uncomfortable. If that's only 1x or 2x odds on the number then so be it. For a beginning player the only thing I would say is to make sure you bet the correct amount on odds in order to get a full payment.

 

If I bet the come at 5.00. And a 6 is rolled. I would have to bet either 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25. The only time I have to worry about the correct bet to get full payment is if I played like an iron cross and then I would put 6.00 on on 6 or 8. But in the strategy I'm using, I don't think I need to worry about the 6.00, 12, 18.00 bets on the 6 and 8. Or maybe I am wrong.

 

Warning, this game is like crack cocaine, especially when the table gets energized and your chip rack starts filling up. Your strategy seems pretty sound, and it looks as if you'll have enough bankroll to ride out the downswings. If you feel like mixing it up a bit, consider swapping out come bets with place bets on 6 or 8 every now and then. Above all, have fun, this is a party game! Best of luck at the dice table!

 

Your approach is exactly what you mentioned that you seek from the game - the minimum house edge for a social gambling event. Betting only the pass and come with full odds can only be beaten by doing much the same thing with the don't, but the difference percentage-wise is small, and the social impact of being a don't bettor can be large. Unless you play on a table with large odds allowed (3-4-5 is rather standard on the Strip), your strategy should be quite safe with $500 to potentially lose. Of course, your rating will be minimal with such a bet-level and strategy, but you're quite likely already aware of this. Enjoy!

 

That is the strategy I have been playing lately. I usually buy into a $5 table with $300 and have yet to be close to losing my whole buy in. But I am not one to play craps for long periods of time. I usually get tired of standing after about an hour. I think $500 would be a good buy in for a long session, but be prepared to lose it. Craps is a game where you generally lose fast and win slow. Dealers are generally very familiar with this strategy and will remind you if you forget to put down your come bet or forget to take odds. You should have no problem finding $5 tables at Linq, Flamingo, Bally's, Monte Carlo, and NYNY during the day. At night, especially on weekends, it may be difficult to find a $5 table even at those properties. If you do, it will be packed.

 

Also, regarding your search for $5.00 tables, the only property I can speak to is Monte Carlo, where they had $5.00 minimums in the morning, then bumped them to $10 in the afternoon. When the tables went hot, they'd increase the minimum to $15, but they're good enough to grandfather you in if you bought in at a lower denom.

 

I concur with the above. Since it's your first time playing -- and I'd say this to anyone who is new and/or intimidated by the game -- just put down a passline bet and keep your eyes and ears open. Watch the game and learn/understand what's happening with that one minimum bet in play. Especially if you can only find tables with a higher min than the $5 you mention. There's no need to put out three bets with odds the very first time you play the game, or any time for that matter.

If it's morning/during the day and the table isn't packed with a ton of action, strike up a conversation with the dealers, ask questions, and as you understand the rhythm and rules, then venture into more bets - passline w odds and ask, "is this the right amount for my odds?". Then a come bet, then a come bet w odds, etc.

Having said that, you do not have to bet the passline every shooter. I guess now that I think about it you could buy in and just watch (insert creepy voice, "I like to watch") and get the feel for it before putting any skin in the game (creepy pun not intended). I'm not saying you should buy in and stand there for 20 minutes without betting at all, use common sense.

I read a lot of posts here from people who are intimidated by craps. I want to say: just place a passline bet, remember what you've researched before playing, and watch - this will be the best way to get comfortable with the game.

Your come bet strategy is very common and can be a winner, but three bets w max odds can add up to a lot on the table, and if it goes the wrong way; well, if I lost the majority of my buyin when I played a game for the first time, I'd feel like a real dope and that I must have screwed something up, even if I was doing everything right.

I'd also add: if the dealers are helping you and they're friendly, throw a nickel on the pass next to your bet every once in a while, it will be noticed and appreciated. I've rolled $5 at MC and Cosmo in early AM/afternoons and a lot of the people at the table at that time of day are new to the game. I haven't ever had a bad/crabby/surly dealer at a craps table, and if I did? I'd leave. Life's too short and my BR is too small. Getting off topic but in my experience the dealers know you're there to have fun, they want you to win, and they are on your side and will do whatever it takes to help you. In my experience they are just as happy to see a $5 tip from a low roller as a black chip from someone else, or if they aren't, they do a good job at faking it.

 

Sweet!

Shifter, Nice, How nice?...Real Nice!

Voltron12:All these astute players above are on target.
Apparently you have done some research and know what you're doing The jargon terminology comes from experience.

I am definitely not an expert.
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism - to steal from many is research."
~ Steven Wright.

 

voltron, your strategy is pretty much the same as mine. As someone else has pointed out you can start with just a Pass line bet to get a feel for the game. I often do this myself during my first session of a trip.

edit to add: I've found $5 craps at Harrah's but the table is always packed. I've played a $10 table also at Harrah's near the exit to the Quad/Linq, it can be a really fun table late evening when the piano bar is going.

 

Your pass/come/come strategy is solid. Personally I do place bets but I'm giving up some doing that. I've seen $5 at Bally's on weekdays the past few times I've been there.

 

If you want to play for a while, and give yourself a legit shot, you'll need $500, and a $5 minimum table to play like this. Also, you'll only be able to back $20 on the 5,6,8 and 9. If you're playing at a 3x,4x,5, table, the max you'll back on the 4 & 10 will be $15. I would suggest taking that extra money and place it on the 6 and/or the 8 (with the max odds on the point that's already established) It pays slightly less to place, but you're controlling the outcome odds on your end. You'd hate to points at 4, 10 and 9, then 7 out.

Always remember this, every strategy is good until the 7 comes out.

 

Nothing wrong with your strategy. Math is solid.
But I still recommend going with place bets for new craps players....hell, I still play that way - & I learned to play 30 years ago.
Main reason is the number hits needed for the bet to pay for itself.
Come bet requires a number to be rolled once and then rolled again in order to be paid.
A place bet pays you beginning with the first time the number is rolled.
I 'same bet' any of my place-bet numbers until every place-bet I have on the table is paid for.
Then I start pressing.
No, I don't get the 'true odds' payout that you'll get on come/odds bet, but I will realize one more win than that player will.
Place bets are more conservative, but for new players, that's precisely what I think they would want.
When I play, I typically place-bet the 6/8 & 5/9 (minus whatever the point is, if not a 4/10).

My standard play at a $5 table goes like this: $5 line with 2x or 3x odds behind. $6 or $12 6/8 and $5 or $10 5/9. I do not ever place the 4/10.
Same bet until place bets are covered. Then press all numbers up by $6/$5 increments. Then same bet each number-group once. Press. Repeat.

Whichever way you go, good luck to you! I know you'll have fun!

 

I like your strategy; one pass line bet and come bets with odds. Lowest house advantage.

On the weekends, you may it difficult to find a $5 table on the Strip; I have only seen that at Margaritaville, Excalibur and PH (sometimes). On weekday mornings, you will find $5 craps tables all over the Strip.

 

I used to do pass w/odds and then at least one come w/odds. I now do pass w/odds and then place at least two numbers, sometimes three. Since you are a new player you could choose to go conservative for a while, build up a bankroll and then become more aggressive with your profit. Money management should also be part of your strategy. Play smart and risk your winnings more than you would your own bankroll. What I do like about playing the come bets more than the place bets is that if you get a 7 on your coming out roll (for your come bet) you (sort of) hedge your pass line bet. Hell your could do pass w/odds, place a number or two AND do come w/odds. Sure you win more and quicker when playing aggressive BUT you lose a lot quicker as well.. Nothing hurts more than seeing a table full of your bets getting swept up with a dreaded seven out.

 

The ultimate craps 'truism'!