Betting Strategies for a Slow Post Day
Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:35 pm
Well, it's Easter and everyone seems to be out hunting chocolate filled eggs, cooking on the grill, enjoying the lake, or . . . whatever. I'm home in Texas for the weekend and with both of the girls grown and gone we're just hanging around the home place. I have a ton of "stuff" to take care of before I head back up to Nebraska tomorrow, but I thought while I had a few minutes I'd jump in and post a few thoughts on betting strategies - and a few "classic" strategies from the original betting strategy book I did back in . . . must have been around 2002.
Okay, admit it. We’re a superstitious lot. Even though we can do a fair job of influencing the dice, we still get distracted and toss those demon sevens at the worst of times. And if it’s not the distraction caused by the cocktail server tapping you on the shoulder or the new money on the table, it’s the box man taking the dice out of action for an inspection. Did he twirl the dice and blow on them? Probably trying to cool them off. Then there’s the stick man leaning in, the old gent on the end betting the Don’ts, and the drunk in the hook with his hands dangling right over your landing zone. Did someone say “seven” somewhere? With all of this working against us, it’s a wonder we EVER get past three rolls and out.
But let's pretend for a minute that we’re not superstitious. You’re obviously an intelligent person or you wouldn’t be attempting gain an advantage at craps by utilizing a precision toss. You LOVE playing the game, right? And that means you also enjoy betting on the chicken feeders. After all, from time to time one of them will managed to come up with a monster hand. Still, you may be wondering why it is that the chicken feeders you see in the casino seldom hold the dice for hours on end like they do in movies. Is it realistic to hold out hope that you’ll EVER be on the table when someone has an hour and a half roll? Let’s look at some statistics and see. It's been awhile since I ran these number but I think they're correct. Remember, I'm not including the Come Out roll in these "length of hand" calculations.
To begin, the average length of a roll AFTER a point is established, but before the number passes or the seven settles the bet, is just under 2.6 throws. It’s actually 2.57 tosses if you want to get specific. Now, if you toss out the trash numbers (craps and elevens) the average number of PAYING numbers that will show before a pass line winner or the seven settles the bet is just under 2.0 decisions.
Understanding the average number of rolls before a decision is the key to understanding why short rolls are the RULE rather than the exception. Once again, I’m rounding numbers to keep it simple. Adding all the decimal points really isn’t necessary to make the point.
Number of Tosses Before a Decision Probability of Occurrence
0 ............................................................ 34%
1 ............................................................ 22%
2 ............................................................ 15%
3 ............................................................ 10%
4 ............................................................ 7%
5 ............................................................ 4%
6 ............................................................ 3%
7 ............................................................ 2%
8 ............................................................ 1%
It just gets worse and worse from here. These averages speak volumes about the prevalence of short rolls in a random game. Fully one-third of the time the shooter will not hit any box numbers before the initial pass line bet is decided. The odds of a shooter tossing eight numbers before a decision is reached are only 1%. In other words, only 1 shooter out of 100 will toss an eight number hand in a random game.
So how do you bet THAT? Well, that IS the question. Let me toss out an example or two.
One way to do that is through one of the many variants of the “Hit and Down” play.
The Hit and Down move is a play that attempts to provide the crapster with a quick win based on the “average” game at craps. If we by-pass the come out roll, then you have a good chance of getting a hit on ONE number before the shooter tosses the seven. But which number do you bet? If you bet - say $44 inside including the point - you're essentially risking $44 to win $14. However, you do have twenty ways to win versus six ways to lose. All in all, it's probably not a bad play.
Let's say you collect $14 on the first toss. On average the shooter will get another decision in before the devil jumps out. Want to stay out there longer? You could do that - or you could regress to $22 inside - or take down the five and nine and leave the six and eight up for $12 each - or even regress down to a $6 six and eight. The point is - one you have that first hit you have options. The best option? I'd say it's probably one hit and down. But the second best option is probably to regress to the point that you have a guaranteed profit locked up if the seven shows on the next toss. So I'd regress to s $6 six and eight.
Let's say you're playing a $5 game and you like to play at a bit higher level. One of my favorite plays is $30 each on the six and eight. After one hit I'll regress to $34 inside - high on the six and eight. That's $5 each on the five and nine and $12 each on the six and eight - with a $1 profit in the rack. From there I might do an outside in press move off the five and nine onto the six and eight. For example, the five hits and pays $7. I'll take down the original place bet on the five and add it to the $7 payoff = then press it all onto the six, making it look like $24. The same happens with the nine when it rolls - pressing onto the eight. I still have my $1 profit in the rack - but this way I've moved quickly to $48 action on the most powerful numbers on the table. Now I'm positioned to win.
Of course, one time in six the seven will show on the first roll and the house will rake your chips. It’s times like those that demonstrate where “averages” come from. Some rolls are longer – and some are much shorter. Just remember - short hands are the rule rather than the exception.
Okay, admit it. We’re a superstitious lot. Even though we can do a fair job of influencing the dice, we still get distracted and toss those demon sevens at the worst of times. And if it’s not the distraction caused by the cocktail server tapping you on the shoulder or the new money on the table, it’s the box man taking the dice out of action for an inspection. Did he twirl the dice and blow on them? Probably trying to cool them off. Then there’s the stick man leaning in, the old gent on the end betting the Don’ts, and the drunk in the hook with his hands dangling right over your landing zone. Did someone say “seven” somewhere? With all of this working against us, it’s a wonder we EVER get past three rolls and out.
But let's pretend for a minute that we’re not superstitious. You’re obviously an intelligent person or you wouldn’t be attempting gain an advantage at craps by utilizing a precision toss. You LOVE playing the game, right? And that means you also enjoy betting on the chicken feeders. After all, from time to time one of them will managed to come up with a monster hand. Still, you may be wondering why it is that the chicken feeders you see in the casino seldom hold the dice for hours on end like they do in movies. Is it realistic to hold out hope that you’ll EVER be on the table when someone has an hour and a half roll? Let’s look at some statistics and see. It's been awhile since I ran these number but I think they're correct. Remember, I'm not including the Come Out roll in these "length of hand" calculations.
To begin, the average length of a roll AFTER a point is established, but before the number passes or the seven settles the bet, is just under 2.6 throws. It’s actually 2.57 tosses if you want to get specific. Now, if you toss out the trash numbers (craps and elevens) the average number of PAYING numbers that will show before a pass line winner or the seven settles the bet is just under 2.0 decisions.
Understanding the average number of rolls before a decision is the key to understanding why short rolls are the RULE rather than the exception. Once again, I’m rounding numbers to keep it simple. Adding all the decimal points really isn’t necessary to make the point.
Number of Tosses Before a Decision Probability of Occurrence
0 ............................................................ 34%
1 ............................................................ 22%
2 ............................................................ 15%
3 ............................................................ 10%
4 ............................................................ 7%
5 ............................................................ 4%
6 ............................................................ 3%
7 ............................................................ 2%
8 ............................................................ 1%
It just gets worse and worse from here. These averages speak volumes about the prevalence of short rolls in a random game. Fully one-third of the time the shooter will not hit any box numbers before the initial pass line bet is decided. The odds of a shooter tossing eight numbers before a decision is reached are only 1%. In other words, only 1 shooter out of 100 will toss an eight number hand in a random game.
So how do you bet THAT? Well, that IS the question. Let me toss out an example or two.
One way to do that is through one of the many variants of the “Hit and Down” play.
The Hit and Down move is a play that attempts to provide the crapster with a quick win based on the “average” game at craps. If we by-pass the come out roll, then you have a good chance of getting a hit on ONE number before the shooter tosses the seven. But which number do you bet? If you bet - say $44 inside including the point - you're essentially risking $44 to win $14. However, you do have twenty ways to win versus six ways to lose. All in all, it's probably not a bad play.
Let's say you collect $14 on the first toss. On average the shooter will get another decision in before the devil jumps out. Want to stay out there longer? You could do that - or you could regress to $22 inside - or take down the five and nine and leave the six and eight up for $12 each - or even regress down to a $6 six and eight. The point is - one you have that first hit you have options. The best option? I'd say it's probably one hit and down. But the second best option is probably to regress to the point that you have a guaranteed profit locked up if the seven shows on the next toss. So I'd regress to s $6 six and eight.
Let's say you're playing a $5 game and you like to play at a bit higher level. One of my favorite plays is $30 each on the six and eight. After one hit I'll regress to $34 inside - high on the six and eight. That's $5 each on the five and nine and $12 each on the six and eight - with a $1 profit in the rack. From there I might do an outside in press move off the five and nine onto the six and eight. For example, the five hits and pays $7. I'll take down the original place bet on the five and add it to the $7 payoff = then press it all onto the six, making it look like $24. The same happens with the nine when it rolls - pressing onto the eight. I still have my $1 profit in the rack - but this way I've moved quickly to $48 action on the most powerful numbers on the table. Now I'm positioned to win.
Of course, one time in six the seven will show on the first roll and the house will rake your chips. It’s times like those that demonstrate where “averages” come from. Some rolls are longer – and some are much shorter. Just remember - short hands are the rule rather than the exception.