Any craps players here?

[NuclearNed]

This past summer I decided to spend the time to learn to play craps. I had always been intimidated by this game, but now that I understand the rules I simply can't get enough. I've done some reading about the game and studied the odds of the different bets, but I'm looking for a good overall strategy.

Does anyone care to share?

 

[BillGates]

Play the pass line + the highest odds you can afford (or the house allows). Place bets on 6 and 8 aren't horrible either if you're looking for a bit more action.

 

[BillGates]

I should note that the bets I mentioned above aren't the most exciting but they are safe bets.

 

[JS80]

pass + odds + come + place on all + odds + hard 10s + hard 8s

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: BillGates
Play the pass line + the highest odds you can afford (or the house allows). Place bets on 6 and 8 aren't horrible either if you're looking for a bit more action.

Yeah - that's generally what I've read on different sites. I've been tinkering around with developing a system of progressively covering your bets while simultaneously expanding your influence on the table. It seems like the logical thing to do, especially if you have a really lucky shooter.

I've been playing on Sierra's Hoyle Casino, which seems to be pretty close to real Las Vegas casino craps.

 

[brtspears2]

Pass line + odds. If the table is hot and shooter isn't crapping out, try some come bets + odds, and a place 6 and 8 are always good. Avoid the bets the stickman in the middle tries to get you to do. Be nice, bet a buck or two on a hardway for the dealers if you win a few passes.

 

[spidey07]

Fine....after walking away from vegas up 6000 bucks....

Here's a basic strategy that anybody can play. There are probably about 12 strategies out there. Pick one and stick to it. There are many books on the subject, but this one is easy.

1) min pass line, max odds on your pass bet. Look for a table that allows at least 5x odds.
2) min come bet, then max your odds on it. Tell them to "leave it up" if your come numbers pay.
3) Have two come bets on the numbers with max odds.
4) Sit back and don't bet anymore.

Second "easy" strategy...
1) min pass line, max odds
2) play 6 and 8 half of your max odds pass bet
3) won't win you a lot of money but should keep you in the game.

I sometimes play "all the hards" which can pay well but you have to use your gut to see how the table is going and don't combine this with other stratagies. My favorite bet is a "quarter YO!", only because it is so fun to bet and it pays handsomely when it hits. Only do this with "play" money.

Biggest thing is if the table gets cold, back down.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Fine....after walking away from vegas up 6000 bucks....

Here's a basic strategy that anybody can play. There are probably about 12 strategies out there. Pick one and stick to it. There are many books on the subject, but this one is easy.

1) min pass line, max odds on your pass bet. Look for a table that allows at least 5x odds.
2) min come bet, then max your odds on it. Tell them to "leave it up" if your come numbers pay.
3) Have two come bets on the numbers with max odds.
4) Sit back and don't bet anymore.

Second "easy" strategy...
1) min pass line, max odds
2) play 6 and 8 half of your max odds pass bet
3) won't win you a lot of money but should keep you in the game.

I sometimes play "all the hards" which can pay well but you have to use your gut to see how the table is going and don't combine this with other stratagies. My favorite bet is a "quarter YO!", only because it is so fun to bet and it pays handsomely when it hits. Only do this with "play" money.

Biggest thing is if the table gets cold, back down.

This is very good strat. Remember, craps is streaky as hell.

 

[tomywishbone]

Pass line w/full odds. Have a little fun with the hard-6 & hard-8.

Careful. The math with eventually kill you... but you know that. :beer:

Take a few minutes and check this site out. The Mad Professor (listed on the left) is a very fun read. "Walking with a Vegas Ghost" is a great story.

Viva!

Edit: I pulled the link. I'll find a btter one.

 

[sciencewhiz]

http://wizardofodds.com/craps

 

[tomywishbone]

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
http://wizardofodds.com/craps

Great link. Shackleford is rock solid:thumbsup:

 

[Doboji]

Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: Doboji
Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

Agreed - thats good advice for any gambling.

 

[jakedeez]

Actually the follow up bet on a point in craps is the only bet in a casino that does not have a house advantage due to the payout rate. Often casino employees will refer to it as the houses "gift to the player" while there is also no player advantage it is the best bet against the house you can make. (aside from well informed sports betting)

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Doboji
Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

Not really. When I'm at a table I'm out to make money - and there are times when I'e lost my entire bankroll within a few hours. But of course only bankroll with what you can lose. From what I've read and experienced a bankroll of 500 bucks keeps you in the game on blackjack/craps. You HAVE to be able to absorb the inevitable bad strings. The "feel" of the table can influence your play, and well it should. JS80 said it best - it's a streaky. Bet big when it's on, back down when it is not.

If you are going to play then one should assume that their bankroll will not come back. With this attitude you can play.

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Doboji
Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

Not really. When I'm at a table I'm out to make money - and there are times when I'e lost my entire bankroll within a few hours. But of course only bankroll with what you can lose. From what I've read and experienced a bankroll of 500 bucks keeps you in the game on blackjack/craps. You HAVE to be able to absorb the inevitable bad strings. The "feel" of the table can influence your play, and well it should. JS80 said it best - it's a streaky. Bet big when it's on, back down when it is not.

If you are going to play then one should assume that their bankroll will not come back. With this attitude you can play.

If you win at Craps it's because you are extremely lucky, or haven't played enough to lose. It's simple mathematics the house has the edge, and WILL win over time. Everyone plays to win.. but play enough and you will lose. If you're playing to make money... you're better off just throwing your money into an ING account and earning your 4%...

-Max

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Doboji
Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

Not really. When I'm at a table I'm out to make money - and there are times when I'e lost my entire bankroll within a few hours. But of course only bankroll with what you can lose. From what I've read and experienced a bankroll of 500 bucks keeps you in the game on blackjack/craps. You HAVE to be able to absorb the inevitable bad strings. The "feel" of the table can influence your play, and well it should. JS80 said it best - it's a streaky. Bet big when it's on, back down when it is not.

If you are going to play then one should assume that their bankroll will not come back. With this attitude you can play.

If you win at Craps it's because you are extremely lucky, or haven't played enough to lose. It's simple mathematics the house has the edge, and WILL win over time. Everyone plays to win.. but play enough and you will lose. If you're playing to make money... you're better off just throwing your money into an ING account and earning your 4%...

-Max

House "edge" is 0.18%. That's a freaking rounding error. All you need to do is find a streak and you're good. Most importantly, it can last you a long time AND you gain utility from the play.

 

[Doboji]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: Doboji

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Doboji
Yeah... only play what you are willing to lose....

Pray to god alot....

/thread

Not really. When I'm at a table I'm out to make money - and there are times when I'e lost my entire bankroll within a few hours. But of course only bankroll with what you can lose. From what I've read and experienced a bankroll of 500 bucks keeps you in the game on blackjack/craps. You HAVE to be able to absorb the inevitable bad strings. The "feel" of the table can influence your play, and well it should. JS80 said it best - it's a streaky. Bet big when it's on, back down when it is not.

If you are going to play then one should assume that their bankroll will not come back. With this attitude you can play.

If you win at Craps it's because you are extremely lucky, or haven't played enough to lose. It's simple mathematics the house has the edge, and WILL win over time. Everyone plays to win.. but play enough and you will lose. If you're playing to make money... you're better off just throwing your money into an ING account and earning your 4%...

-Max

House "edge" is 0.18%. That's a freaking rounding error. All you need to do is find a streak and you're good. Most importantly, it can last you a long time AND you gain utility from the play.

Hey don't get me wrong... Craps is my favorite gambling game... but if you're looking to make money, invest it.... don't gamble it. If you're playing for fun, ok... if you're playing to make money... be prepared to be very dissapointed.

BTW last time I went to Vegas I won $800 bucks playing craps... I still expect that if I play enough I will end up more down than up.

-Max

 

[Jadow]

I play craps quite a bit, and the best way to play is also the most boring. While everyone else is making money and having fun, you're standing around hoping to get the point and nothing else.

Bet the pass line, and max out as much as you can behind the pass line, don't play less than 10x odds.

Now every once in while, you can bet on some of the numbers, I throw 6 or 12 dollars on 6 and 8 once in awhile, but that's it.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: tomywishbone

Originally posted by: sciencewhiz
http://wizardofodds.com/craps

Great link. Shackleford is rock solid:thumbsup:

Yeah, if you want to give the casino your money in the slowest possible way, that's a great read.

Remember, casinos are taxes on people too stupid to understand math. EVERY bet favors the house and no system on earth gives the player the advantage. All the glitz and the glamour and the bright lights and free drinks and the scantily clad waitresses are paid for by people who are too stupid to understand math. If you play in a casino you will lose. The more often you play the more you will lose. The bigger you bet the more you lose.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Doboji

If you win at Craps it's because you are extremely lucky, or haven't played enough to lose. It's simple mathematics the house has the edge, and WILL win over time. Everyone plays to win.. but play enough and you will lose. If you're playing to make money... you're better off just throwing your money into an ING account and earning your 4%...

-Max

Max, I won't argue your point. All I can say is I've been very lucky for maybe the last 10 years. I posted some very easy (and probably the most basic strategies there are in terms of "safe" play).

The house does indeed have the edge. But I really have played a lot of blackjack/craps. Probably play 30+ nights per year.

I'm not trying to prove you're wrong or anything because you are indeed correct. I'm just saying if you get up on the house and depending on the table you can make some money. My SO will sometimes look over at me when we're playing and say "It's time for you to work isn't it?" "Yep, work time. Let's make some money"

However if NuclearNed follows the BASIC strategy that I posted he will stay in the game a good amount of time. And he may even make some money.

 

[spidey07]

And I'm gonna bump this again so that hopefully some serious craps players can chime in and correct me.

I am no expert at craps. Just a player. Would love to hear from others that play a lot. The house take is...what? 1.4%?

I asked a BJ dealer "what's your take for the night" and he said "around 15%". WTF!!!!
"stupid play" was his answer.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: spidey07
And I'm gonna bump this again so that hopefully some serious craps players can chime in and correct me.

I am no expert at craps. Just a player. Would love to hear from others that play a lot. The house take is...what? 1.4%?

I asked a BJ dealer "what's your take for the night" and he said "around 15%". WTF!!!!
"stupid play" was his answer.

The house take is 1.4% on the best craps bet, closer to 15% on the riskiest. I'd say that a craps table takes 6-8% of all action. What I can't understand is why anyone would care. The best a player could do is find the bet that loses his money the slowest. Whether you play the pass line or play blackjack perfectly it works out the same way: a narrow house advantage, but still a house advantage. It wears down everyone over time. The stupider people just lose faster than the good players, but they ALL lose.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
The house take is 1.4% on the best craps bet, closer to 15% on the riskiest. I'd say that a craps table takes 6-8% of all action. What I can't understand is why anyone would care. The best a player could do is find the bet that loses his money the slowest. Whether you play the pass line or play blackjack perfectly it works out the same way: a narrow house advantage, but still a house advantage. It wears down everyone over time. The stupider people just lose faster than the good players, but they ALL lose.

That's why you adjust your bets.

I know it defies all odds/logic. But go up when it's hot, go down when it's not.

-edit-
I've given NuclearNed something to work. Let's hope he plays it.

 

[NuclearNed]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
The house take is 1.4% on the best craps bet, closer to 15% on the riskiest. I'd say that a craps table takes 6-8% of all action. What I can't understand is why anyone would care. The best a player could do is find the bet that loses his money the slowest. Whether you play the pass line or play blackjack perfectly it works out the same way: a narrow house advantage, but still a house advantage. It wears down everyone over time. The stupider people just lose faster than the good players, but they ALL lose.

That's why you adjust your bets.

I know it defies all odds/logic. But go up when it's hot, go down when it's not.

-edit-
I've given NuclearNed something to work. Let's hope he plays it.

I'll definitely give it a shot.