Craps Strategy for the Right Bettor begins with learning suitable strategy if you want to fit in with the 98% of rollers that bet with the shooter. A Right Bettor is a player that wagers with the shooter, hoping that s/he will win the roll.
A small 2% of players known as Wrong Bettors bet against the shooter, hoping that s/he will lose the roll. This type of player is usually not welcome at the table.
Buying In
Buy in at a five-dollar minimum table. (There’s usually $5 tables available during non-peak hours). Choose a table that offers at least double odds because the odds bet pays off in true odds, which has no House Edge.
It’s wise to buy in for at least 20X the table minimum as you want to have at least three numbers working for you during each roll. When you are ready to play, place your money on the table. Ask for 20 five-dollar chips and 20 one-dollar chips. ($120 total).
There are concave grooves at the edge of the table for racking your chips. Rack your five-dollar chips and place ten one-dollar chips on each side. Keep a watchful eye on your chips even amidst the roars of the crowd. Sometimes predators circle the crap tables hoping that the excitement of the game will distract the players long enough to swipe their chips. Sadly, these are the times we live in.
Right Bettor Strategy
When the dealer announces that a new game is about to start by shouting “Comin’ out”, place a five-dollar chip on the Pass Line. Also place three one-dollar chips on the table toward the dealer and say, “three-way craps.” He’ll put one dollar each on the 2, 3, and 12. This will keep you in the game on the come-out roll with the following possibilities:
If the shooter rolls:
7 or 11 – you win 5, lose 3
2 or 12 – you lose 7, win 30
3 – you lose 7, win 15
4, 5, 6, or 8, 9, 10 – you lose 3 (the five dollars stays on the pass line.) 4 through 6 and 8 through 10 are known as point numbers.
For example, if a 4 is rolled, your five dollars is still active. The 4 becomes the point number. In order for you to win your wager, the 4 must be rolled again before a 7. No other number matters, no matter how long it takes.
The Odds Bet
Once the point is established, always take double odds with your point number. Place ten dollars behind your $5 Pass Line wager for 2X odds. If you win, the payout is in true odds. There are three ways to win with 4 as a point number: 1, 3; 3, 1 or 2, 2. There are six ways to lose with a 7: 4, 3; 5, 2; 6, 1 – or 3,4; 2, 5; 1,6. In other words, there is 2:1 payoff if the 4 comes up before the seven. If so you’ll win twenty-five dollars: five dollars for your Pass Line wager and twenty dollars for your odds bet. Here are the true odds for all the point numbers:
Point Number True Odds
4 and 10 – 2 to 1
5 and 9 – 3 to 2
6 and 8 – 6 to 5
Place Betting
After you’ve placed your odds bet, let’s assume the point is 4, put twelve dollars on the table and tell the dealer to Place the 6 and 8. The dealer will place six dollars on each number. Each time a 6 or 8 are rolled before a 7 or your 4 and you’ll be paid seven dollars. While the place bets are not true odds, it is still a nice payout. You may want to press up one time (double the bet) to have twelve dollars on each number.
If 6 or 8 is the point number, avoid the place bet on that number and place twelve dollars on the other number.
The objective is to invite Lady Luck to drop her 6’s and 8’s before your point number is made or the dreaded 7 is rolled.
Remember that the 6 and 8 can be rolled more than any other number except the 7. This is why the strategy can be beneficial to you.
While there are many other bets on the layout known as proposition (prop) bets, these are one roll only bets that have a very high casino advantage. Stay away from them.
Good Luck with the Right strategy!