Wizard Advice is against 10 Commandments

9. Thou shalt not make side bets

"The Odds is like a side bet in craps made after a point is thrown."

"Optimal strategy in craps is pretty simple. Bet the don't pass and/or don't come and back it up laying the maximum odds."

(Obviously I'm being facetious)

I think its funny that one of the best strategies in Vegas where there is the least house advantage is technically side bet.

Quote: neilinbackbay

9. Thou shalt not make side bets

"The Odds is like a side bet in craps made after a point is thrown."

"Optimal strategy in craps is pretty simple. Bet the don't pass and/or don't come and back it up laying the maximum odds."

(Obviously I'm being facetious)

I think its funny that one of the best strategies in Vegas where there is the least house advantage is technically side bet.

You can view it as a "side bet" or you can view it as an additioonal bet, or piling on after your point has been established. It is especially useful on $3 or $5 tables with 10X odds.

be advised you are on the Wizard S***tlist ~ Michael does not like to be called out on his own site

Quote: SanchoPanza

You can view it as a "side bet" or you can view it as an additioonal bet, or piling on after your point has been established. It is especially useful on $3 or $5 tables with 10X odds.

Real side bets get Layout Space and dealer promotion because the House Edge is a whopping one.

It doesn't work like that. Think of Craps as a unique game with fair odds and a very good bet that has to be made to unlock it.
Yes, you are on Wizard's death list for blasphemy.

Unless you’re getting the odds included in your rating (most don’t), all you’re really accomplishing with an odds bet is driving up the variance.

Quote: mcallister3200

Unless you’re getting the odds included in your rating (most don’t), all you’re really accomplishing with an odds bet is driving up the variance.

... and reducing the house edge for all money wagered.

Quote: BleedingChipsSlowly

... and reducing the house edge for all money wagered.

I get it. I’m not a fan on the deceptive element of risk measurement vs. drawing attention away from HE of the (separate) initial wager. Reasonable minds can disagree on that.

If comps make up a decent part of your calculus, only willing to risk so much money in a session not an unlimited bankroll, and aren’t getting rated on your odds, you can through poor variance be lowering your theo and comps per session and actually lose more in the long run from reduced comps by always taking full odds should you have below average luck. Your initial wager would have to be lower to insure session length.

Quote: mcallister3200

... Reasonable minds can disagree on that. ...

Point well taken; how you view the effect of taking odds depends on what you are looking for. If comps have an important value for you, then yes, the calculation should balance the reduced house edge overall against the reduction of awarded comps plus the (usually) abbreviated session lengths. I don't toss the bones often, but when I do it's strictly for entertainment. I'll put money into two come bets rather than odds.