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Table Games Craps: Drinking For (Almost) Free

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by Polemarch28, May 19, 2012.

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  1. Polemarch28

    Polemarch28 Tourist

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    I'm sure this strategy has been discussed before, but thought I would offer it up for discussion anyway.

    My girlfriend is still learning to play craps, and I was trying to think of a good way for her to get accustomed to the game without having to constantly coach her the whole time. In the process, I realized that this strategy was most likely also one of the easiest ways to drink for ALMOST free - and in any case, cheaper than ordering drinks from a bar at a strip casino. In addition, if you can find a casino that rates odds, then this is also a way to get some minimal comp action - enough to most likely offset any losses on the game.

    Girlfriend:

    Play pass line for $10. When a point is established, back up with $10.

    Experienced Player:

    Play don't pass line for $10. When a point is established, back up with:

    4 or 10: $20
    5 or 9: $15
    6 or 10: $12

    The result of ALMOST every situation will be an exact push. Whatever one player wins, the other player loses. The net result in almost every situation will be that together you exactly break even.

    All along the way? You are drinking for free, besides any tips to the cocktail waitress. And the girlfriend is learning the game at no charge. Which includes, getting to shoot the dice.

    (Assuming it is a bar 2 table)

    The only costs that come with this plan occur on the unlikely chance that the shooter rolls a 2. When this happens, the girlfriend will lose her bet, and the experienced player will push. If you are playing at a $10 table, this will mean a $10 loss.

    The odds of that happening are 1 time for every 36 come out rolls. In your average hour at the table, this is likely to happen less than once. Even when it does occur, you are losing far far less than the cost of drinks at a strip casino.

    This works no differently at a bar 12 table - other than knowing which number to root against.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

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    It would work until she loses her first bet and you win and she gets pissed off at you and then wants to leave.


    The theory is fine, not sure it is really worth the effort just for drinks.

    Which brings me to another point, something I don't know about craps...

    When you are shooting, you have to have a bet on the pass line. Is a bet on the Don't Pass satisfactory to let you have the dice also? Guessing it is.
     
  3. Polemarch28

    Polemarch28 Tourist

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    Well, we'd chat ahead of time, so she would be in on it. I'd assure her to just keep following the plan :)

    Yes, you can shoot from the don't. It's perfectly legal. Other players at the table may not like it very much though, because they are superstitious and somehow believe that it makes a difference in how you roll. Of course it doesn't.
     
  4. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    I can think of a few issues with this:

    With gambling you never really know whats going to happen. You can estimate the outcome based on probability but the numbers you are dealing with are not such long shots that they can't happen far above or below expectation.

    Is your girlfriend up for this and going to want to play craps?

    Is your girlfriend going to want to stand around a crowded craps table for an hour or so just so you can get some free drinks?

    She is still a girlfriend, not a wife? Whats she going to think about this when you explain it to her? Is she going to think you are a deadbeat or a tightwad?

    At a bar you can get a drink whenever you want, but on the casino floor, table or slot machines, you really have no idea how often the waitress is going to be coming around. Getting great service in the past is no indication that you are going to get great service this time around.


    Overall just seems like a lot of effort and aggravation just to try and save a few bucks on some drinks. I'd just rather play what I want to play, how I want to play it, have fun and enjoy myself and then get drinks when the waitress comes around or if she isn't then go to the bar or visit the casino's gift shop and buy something there.
     
  5. Polemarch28

    Polemarch28 Tourist

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    It was really more of a theoretical example. In reality, my girlfriend and I will probably be playing blackjack. The point was to share a concept that some people might benefit from. But no, when I am in Vegas, I'm not even close to a tightwad - I'm doing whatever I feel like.

    Also, probability has almost nothing to do with what I suggested. The pass and don't pass bets always offset each other, except when the bar number comes up on the come out roll - so it's a pretty safe bet.
     
  6. y2mulder

    y2mulder Low-Roller

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    Yeah, a monster roll hits and you want to blow your brains out because you threw $500 in the furnace playing the donts for a free drink.

    Dont laugh. I have seen it.
     
  7. Falcon_Rob

    Falcon_Rob Flying Winnebago

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    You mentioned tipping the waitress, which is good. But remember that the dealers work for tips as well. Obviously you're not going to stand there for hours getting "free drinks" while making the dealers work for nothing.

    So here's what you need to do to make sure you have as nice of time drinking at the craps table as you would leisurely sitting in the lounge/bar. First, you must root against the 12 on the come out roll. If it happens to hit twice in an hour (not saying probable, but it is possible), you'll need to drink $20 worth of drinks to make up for it. Second, you need to make sure to tip the waitress. Third, you need to make sure you and your girlfriend don't stand next to each other. If you do, the boxman/pit boss will see exactly what you're doing in no time and very well might back you off the table...especially if its busy. Fourth, bring two high folding stools from home since craps is a stand-up game and, of course, you want to enjoy your free drinks while taking a load off. Fifth, don't order very strong or stiff drinks because you and/or your girlfriend don't want to get drunk and accidentally forget to make a bet, thus taking the chance of not cancelling out your bets (craps is a very fast paced game). Sixth, as mentioned, tip the dealers or they WILL point out the fact you two have no action just in case the boxman hasn't caught on! Seventh, both you and your girlfriend should be prepared to look like a jackass by completely shutting down your betting every time one of you needs to leave the table to use the restroom, cell phone, etc. This also comes into play if its busy as the box will back you off.

    So yes, good plan sir. I'd say it's totally worth it!!:nworthy:
     
  8. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    And this is the biggest reason why I can't enjoy craps anymore. For some reason I have no issue dropping 1k on blackjack, but I would be pissed off if I just played the pass line and someone rolled for 30+ minutes while I was on the table.

    I still play craps, but I just can't bring myself to play just the pass line.
     
  9. Chuck2009x

    Chuck2009x VIP Whale

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    The main problem with this is that you are going to have to be coaching her on every roll anyway, in addition to tracking your own bets. That's going to slow things down more than simply coaching her.

    The box will see what you're doing, so you won't get rated, and you can't hedge 100% anyway.

    You can both get drinks anyway.

    Just coach her without playing opposite. She'll be getting more attention from you (and when she wins, you'll be more enthusiastic than if you hedge), you won't slow things down as much, you'll get rated, and you can get the "free" drinks.
     
  10. RPMCanes

    RPMCanes VIP Whale

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    Or how about calling your hardways off when you have $50 on the Hard 8 and it hits? TWICE????
     
  11. jhpa

    jhpa VIP Whale

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    Are free drinks really that important? I drink while I am having fun. It adds to the enjoyment of whatever else I am doing. It is not the purpose of my being. Standing for a couple of hours being bored out of my mind, watching other people gamble just so I can get - maybe - $40 in free (minus $1 each for a tip) drinks? I don't get it.

    You are in Vegas to gamble. If you are that short of money and all you want to do is drink, go to a liquor store, buy a bottle of booze and sit in your home in your living room and drink it.

    :poke:
     
  12. Polemarch28

    Polemarch28 Tourist

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    Keep in mind, this was originally posted in the Frugal/Cheap forum. I'm not the one that moved it to Gaming...

    The idea was to provide a fun little scheme for people who wanted almost free drinks, but who aren't really gamblers.

    I'm quite the opposite of this - I'm a RFL player for the most part, and don't have any problem getting drinks - but the idea was to give people on a tighter budget a fun little game to play.
     
  13. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    It's a great way to survive a choppy table, preserve bankroll, and get drinks.

    However, even at a fun table, it can get boring.

    I saw a young couple do this once. They were surviving the choppiness of the table but were always being aware of the trends that develop from time to time. When it seemed that a lot of numbers were rolled between established points they would place bet agressively and press hard.

    I rolled for about twenty minutes that time, rolling all kinds of numbers, many of them repeat hardways before finally sevening out, never making my point. They were making place bets and hardway bets and pressing aggressively.

    They made a decent sum. The young girl gave me a green chip and thanked me.

    You and your girlfriend should try it. Might spice things up a bit. Good luck.
     
  14. Polemarch28

    Polemarch28 Tourist

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    On our next trip, I am actually going to coach her on making her own craps bets, but I am probably going to bet "right" with her - and most likely, I'll give her a stack of my chips to bet with. Playing at the level I usually play at is beyond her reach financially, so I'll most likely give her a simple instruction to start like "Bet the pass line with one green chip, and when a point is established, back it up with two green chips".

    As time goes on, I will probably teach her the don'ts as well. And when we start to feel trends or have hunches, we'll bet them together. I would never want to hedge with her, honestly, because we both like to gamble, and would rather win or lose than just play for a push.

    The purpose of the thread was more of a way to get someone who doesn't usually play craps familiar with the game, as well as get some free drinks while doing it. But, again, for us - it's more of a theory than a reality.
     
  15. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    sounds like a lot of wasted time and super boring for nothing but a couple of $8 drinks.
     
  16. 4dazeoff

    4dazeoff Low-Roller

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    my wife stands next to me at the craps table and i order us both drinks ( she is not playing) and never had an issue. i always tip accordingly. i explain the game when the table is uncrowded so she can learn the basics. if you're worried she can't play at your financial level why don't you just go to a lower limit table and she can bet table minimums ($5-$10) and you can bet your normal level. shouldn't be too hard to coach/keep track of both of your bets unless you're doing a lot of drinking! ha ha! good luck!:beer:
     
  17. jmsvss

    jmsvss Low-Roller

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    i think your plan sounds fine as long as girlfriend is willing and, based on my interpretation she is. So GO, have a great time and YES grab a few "free" drinks.
     
  18. sabre

    sabre Low-Roller

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    This strategy would cost you WAY more than just playing the pass line with or without odds. You can reduce your variance by offsetting bets, but it comes at a cost of a greater theoretical loss.
     
  19. trex323

    trex323 Low-Roller

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    LOL. That's a good one.
     
  20. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

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    Your analysis is correct, and the drinking for free certainly has a $$ value. But the fact that you are gambling with a pattern where you can NEVER win ANYTHING would be too annoying for me to try.
     
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