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The Dos & Don’ts of Craps Part 2
We continue with Part 2 beginning with a Quick Betting Reference Chart.
Quick Betting Reference
For easy reference, below is a summary of the main features for the various bets in craps, including a basic description, payout, and corresponding house edge.
Betting Summary: Multiple Roll Bets
| Bet | Basic Description | Pays | Vigorish |
| Big Six | Six shows before seven | 1-1 | 9.09 |
| Big Eight | Six shows before seven | 1-1 | 9.09% |
| Buy 4 | Four shows before seven | 39-21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 5 | Five shows before seven | 29-21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 6 | Six shows before seven | 23-21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 8 | Eight shows before seven | 23-21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 9 | Nine shows before seven | 29-21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 10 | Ten shows before seven | 39-21 | 4.76% |
| Come | Delayed Pass Line Bet | 1-1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | Delayed Don’t Pass Bets | 1-1 | 1.37% |
| Don’t Pass | Betting against the point | 1-1 | 1.37% |
| Hard 4 | Roll 2-2 before seven/easy four | 7-1 | 11.1% |
| Hard 6 | Roll 3-3 before seven/easy six | 9-1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 8 | Roll 4-4 before seven/easy eight | 9-1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 10 | Roll 5-5 before seven/easy ten | 7-1 | 11.1% |
| Lay 4 | Seven shows before four | 1-2 | 2.44% |
| Lay 5 | Seven shows before five | 2-3 | 3.23% |
| Lay 6 | Seven shows before six | 5-6 | 4.00% |
| Lay 8 | Seven shows before eight | 5-6 | 4.00% |
| Lay 9 | Seven shows before nine | 2-3 | 3.23% |
| Lay 10 | Seven shows before ten | 1-2 | 2.44% |
| Pass Line | Betting on the point | 1-1 | 1.41% |
| Place 4 | Four shows before seven | 9-5 | 6.67% |
| Place 5 | Five shows before seven | 7-5 | 4.00% |
| Place 6 | Six shows before seven | 7-6 | 1.52% |
| Place 8 | Eight shows before seven | 7-6 | 1.52% |
| Place 9 | Nine shows before seven | 7-5 | 4.00% |
| Place 10 | Ten shows before seven | 9-5 | 6.67% |
Betting Summary: Proposition/Single Roll Bets
| Bet | Brief Description | Pays | Vigorish |
| Any Craps | 2, 3, or 12 on next roll | 7-1 | 11.1% |
| Any Seven | A one-roll on the seven | 4-1 | 16.2% |
| Field | 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 next roll | 2-1 | 5.56% |
| Hop (two numbers) | Any specified two numbers | 15-1 | 11.1% |
| Hop (one number) | Any pair of numbers | 30-1 | 13.9% |
| Horn | 2, 3, 11, or 12 next roll | By number | 12.5% |
| Horn (2 or 12 high) | 2, 3, 11, or 12, double on 2 or 12 | By number | 12.8% |
| Horn (3 or 11 high) | 2, 3, 11, or, 12; double on 3 or 11 | By number | 12.2% |
| World | 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 next roll | By number | 13.3% |
| 2 | Two shows on next roll | 30-1 | 13.9% |
| 3 | Three shows on next roll | 15-1 | 11.1% |
| 11 | Eleven shows on next roll | 15-1 | 11.1% |
| 12 | Twelve shows on next roll | 30-1 | 13.9% |
Basics Tips and Strategy
While there are plenty of strategies designed to fit the various playing styles, for beginners I suggest sticking with the “Do” side of the table, taking it slow until you have mastered to game basics. Here are some basic strategy tips to help you get started.
• Play the pass line. The pass line is the most fundamental bet in craps, and perhaps the best place to start if you’re a beginner. It’s simple and comes with the added benefit of offering a moderately low house edge of 1.41%. Regardless of your bankroll, play at the table minimum until you understand how the bet works.
• Take the odds. If you’re betting the pass line (or the come), be sure to take proper odds as this drastically reduces the house’s edge. For example, if you take full odds at a double odds table (2 times the pass bet) the combined edge for the pass line and odds is only 0.6%--quite a drop from the 1.41% you’re getting on the pass line alone.
• Avoid proposition bets. There are some craps players who use proposition bets as a hedge against another bet. They might, for example, bet a $3 Any Craps (7-1) to protect their $20 pass line bet on the come out roll. While the effectiveness of such strategy varies, for the beginner, there is one rule to follow concerning proposition bets: stay away. They house edge on each and every one of these best is poor at best, and downright horrible at its worst.
Once you’ve given craps a try, you’ll find that it really is one of the easiest and most entertaining games in a casino. And if you do it right and stick with the bets that offer the best odds, you’ll likely find yourself on the receiving end of some nice paydays.
J. Phillip Vogel’s Website is: www.theopn.com
© Copyright 2007 Online Casino Crawler This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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