Those testy fives and nines . . .

[heavy]

Pick up any book on craps and look up the house advantage on the various bets and they'll tell you you should not place bet the five and nine because the house edge (4%) is too great to overcome. Instead many recommend you "buy" the five and nine. Considering that most casinos want you to bet a minimum of $20 to buy a number, the $1 commission on a $20 buy bet works out to 5%. Now let's think about payoffs.

A $21 Place Bet on the five or nine (admittedly an incorrect bet) will pay $29 - that'a $7 times four $5 units or $28 - plus even money for the extra dollar for $29 total. Buy the five or nine for $20 (plus $1 vig) pays the same thing - $30 minus the $1 commission - for a total of $29. So the advantage is where?

Let's step up to the $25 level and place the five or nine for $25 compared to a $24 buy plus $1 commission. The $25 place bet payd $35. The $24 buy bet pays $36 minus the $1 commission - or $35. Damn, that didn't help either?

What's worse - it appears that the 4% house edge is the same as the 5% commission. Is anyone confused yet?

Where the hell is ACPA when you need him? Oh, I know what he's going to say. He'll tell you that the buy bet thing only applies where the casinos collect the vig after the win. Of course, good luck with that if you're not playing in Tunica.

Thoughts?

[Americraps]

So a $31 place bet 5 pays $43, Buy the 5 for $30 plus $1 and you get $45, making the profit $44.

[wild child]

How about a $5 PUT BET on FIVE with $80 ODDS = $125 on payout ?
( $80 x 1.5 =$120 + $5 PUT BET ) KNOW ?

Placing the 5/9 for $80 = $112
( $80/$5 = 16 x 7 = $112) KNOW ?

Would not buying 5/9 cost $4 per $20 wagered ?
( $80 wagered pays $120{$80=1.5= $120 - $4 = $116 net ) KNOW

For the $ at RISK,seems a better wager than "buying the 5/9 " KNOW ?

Your better dealers will usually point this out especially if you occasionally TOKE a white chip or two..

Just me saying

W C

[acpa]

You didn't need me.

noah

[heavy]

It all depends on where the casino figures the breakage. If you can do a $30 buy without paying the extra $1 vig then there's an advantage. But if they break it at $30 then you're back to square one again. To make it worse - breakage is often calculated differently by different box people in the same casino. I've played in properties where the breakage was at $26 on one table and $31 on the table next to it. Crazy.