How to limit my exposure at craps

So I keep getting lured by the craps table with it's promise of having the best odds in the casino. Each time I limp away from the craps table, with big holes blown into my bank role (ironically, its the 'sucker' games like roulette that breathe second life into my bankroll). I think my biggest issue with craps is how exposed you get on each roll, and a bad run just murders you in ways that can shut down a person in 30 minutes.

Let's take a $5 minimum table with 3/4/5x odds for instance. I put $5 on the pass and a point is set (let's say it's 6). So I bet up the pass line ($15) and put $5 each on 6 and 8. Of course the roller immediately 7s out and $30 is gone in a flash. Of course its even worse if it was a 4 point or a $10 minimum table. Just get on a bad streak like that then big chunks of my $500-$1000 bankroll is toast.

I like the craps mentality (whole table versus the dealer, people rooting for each other, etc) and I am lured by the promise of good odds. Is there a way I can play craps, still get the good odds, but not be hosed for $30+ at a time when the table goes dry?

This is what appeals to me about roulette. I can spread a $10 bet throughout the inside of the table where it's likely I'll at least hit one of them (even though I might not win my $10 bet back). This allows me to stretch my money out longer (especially if I manage to hit a number exact to float me along for a while) all the while collecting on the free drinks.

With blackjack I can largely do the same and just tread water having a good time. Nothing saddens me more than just getting crushed in short order, since gambling is mostly a social thing for me (big reason why I don't touch slots or video poker). I don't mind losing, but I don't want to lose that fast. Is there a way I can do that with craps?

You have a choice: low HE with more variance, or higher HE with less variance. The way you increase the one without the other is with the free odds, as you know. Place bets on 6 and 8 [edit] and Line bets without odds is not too bad with the HE, and the variance is very low.

But the smart thing is to play the free odds. If you find you don't like the variance, a good suggestion seems to be to play 1x or 2x odds. This gets your HE below 1%, which is the main benefit, and perhaps the variance will be more under control for your temperament.

why not give mini-bacc a try? it's a very social game when you get a table full of asians. and you can play for $20 a pop at a low house edge.

What I would really recommend for you is Pai Gow Tiles -- super slow, super social game, about 40 pct of all hands result in pushes, and low house edge.

Quote: The Wizard

What I love about pai gow is that for bankroll preservation, there is nothing that beats it. The pace is slow at about 30 hands per hour, and 41% of hands result in a push. If you are a pale-face, like me, you'll impress the dealer and some other players that you even understand it.

This is an area where I spend a lot of time. Bad luck will still get you no matter what. But most people bet too heavily against the seven without even realizing it.

Increasing the come bet as a hedge is something that works providing you know how to neutralize any large come bets that travel with lay bets.

It makes sense to bet any come bets you plan to neutralize such that you're not trying to win more than $25 from a lay.

I can go into more detail if you're interested, but this betting scheme is one that I get a lot of negative feedback from dealers. Dealers don't take lay bets very often and they aren't keen on them especially when they are weird.

My favorite is laying the five for 27. That one always generally creates a lot of head scratching. But it's your money and they should be booking bets if you ask for them while the dice are still in the center!

Quote: Ahigh

My favorite is laying the five for 27. That one always generally creates a lot of head scratching.

By who, ignorant people? (But then again...)
Seriously, laying 5 for $27 pays $18 - $1 vig...
My favorite is laying ODDS against the 5/9 of $25.50...THAT really makes them scratch their heads (givem' a break, only jr high math skills!)
You usually have to do this at a table that has halves on it...but even then, they don't like to take it (it pays $17)

Quote: Ahigh

But it's your money and they should be booking bets if you ask for them while the dice are still in the center!

I've had it happen a FEW times...they wouldn't book my bets, because apparently they were too "confusing".
This is exactly why I enjoy playing the bubble machine..it never refuses my bets!

Quote: TIMSPEED

I've had it happen a FEW times...they wouldn't book my bets, because apparently they were too "confusing".
This is exactly why I enjoy playing the bubble machine..it never refuses my bets!

I will NEVER let them get away with not giving me proper service.

Yesterday, I asked them to lay $18 against the six (I had $15 come bet travelled to the six and I was done.)

He said, minimum $24. So I said okay, $24 and a $5 odds bet on the 15 come.

No problem!