What do you guys do?

[mssthis1]

What kind of betting strategy do you guys use when you can't get a preferred shooting spot at a table but you want to hang around for a while to see if it opens up? As a precursor, making a doey, don't and waiting around is about as appealing to me as scooping hog manure.

All of the local joints around here only have 1 table or 1 table open, Losing money while waiting for a spot to open up is a leak in my game that I need to plug. I'm to the point where I'm considering taking a book with me since I like to read.

The last trip at least the table had good dealers and I even had one of them singing "The wheels on the short bus go round and round" with me when there was a dickwad moment, which was quite often on that particular night.

[London Shooter]

DP if nothing happening at the table, but I will let a shooter beat me twice.

If more positive, a small ATS bet suffices coupled with some DCs if a few ATS spots get lit up.

[SHOOTITALL]

My personal favorite is the "one hit - can't miss". It will keep you around B/E or you make a few bucks with out risking much. Any level works the same. Vig is ~ 3% if I remember right.

[mycoalsmith]

"One hit - can't miss" - what is that? I never heard of it.

[heavy]

Equal size bets on the Don't Pass, the six, and the eight. For example, $12 Don't Pass. Wait for the point to be established and place bet the six and eight for $12 each. One hit on either pays $14. At that point you cannot lose on that hand no matter what rolls. Hence the name - one hit can't miss.

[kumar]

Best is go to a $25 table[ hopefully less play however ones shot better be on otherwise one can drop a lot of money]

or

Avoid playing alone;have blockers that pass the dice

Playing the donts is not the solution since random shooters also make points

select casinos and times when multiple tables open

have a solid strategy for playing random shooters

[Maddog]

Yeah, it's all about my mood and how the table seems to be trending. If it feels cold (or my attitude is cold) I'll do a DP or two, might even get into a 3 step grand-martingale. If the table seems warm (or my attitude is warm) I'll go with a minimum bet on the 6 & 8 and then play around with trying to anticipate with my great powers of intuition a field bet (ha, it is just a flyer, but it gets me involved).

I'm even willing to just watch a table for awhile if I'm in the right mood. I'll just watch the interaction, how the dealers are treating players, how the players are working the game. Sometimes I like to watch and see if I can understand peoples betting patterns (most are pretty simple, but sometimes you get some weird stuff).

Bottom line is that if I'm just hanging out and don't really want to toss, I keep my bets simple and at a minimum level. I'm doing it for entertainment at that point. If I'm there to play and cannot get a spot I'm comfortable with, which would indicate the table is too full anyway, then I kick it at a VP or Blackjack table and wait for an opportunity. Or just leave if I can see it won't work out. I've had several trips to casino destinations where I've not played at all on some nights due to poor conditions.

[mssthis1]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

After talking it over with the better half we have decided to greatly curtail our gambling in the home market and take weekend trips to Vegas, Reno and Laughlin more often instead.

Since Iowa politicians decided to issue gambling licenses in a way that dispersed the casinos all over the state the gambling conditions here suck. The few casinos that have more than one table usually only have 1 open except for Friday and Saturday nights. After driving for an hour to find a full table it is another hour drive to get to another casino to check out their one table. That, and what used to be my ATM craps table is gone. Not only did they change the layout, they changed out the entire table and went to amber dice.

I'll be in Vegas Nov 10-14th if anyone want to hook up

[DONaTello]

Lately I have been experimenting with using the 5 count and then Placing the 6 and 8 until I get one hit on either and then turn them both off until the next point or shooter.

I do this to not be so obvious about only betting on myself. Keep in mind that no 'system' actually works. They only appear to work if you use them a the right time. Only improving the outcome through DI works.

The 5 count simply eliminates a large number of shooters and the most painful ones at that. One hit and off further reduces exposure.