Craps Question: Buying the 4 & 10

Fairly new craps player here, and I am ready to add this bet into the way I play the game. My question is what increments should this bet be made in? From what I have read so far it should be $20 increments so the vig will be an even $ amount. Being the low roller that I am, can I buy the 4 or 10 for say $5 or $10?

You CAN buy the bet for less than $20, but a casino will typically make it a Place bet if it's under $20.

It does NOT have to be in multiples of $20. Most casinos will round DOWN. I.E. Buy it at $35 for only $1 vig.

My understanding is that there is a minimum commission and you might as well wager the full amount of your money which that minimum commission that you are paying buys you. If you can pay a one dollar commission to bet 20 dollars why pay the same one dollar commission to bet five dollars?

Quote: jmurillo74

Fairly new craps player here, and I am ready to add this bet into the way I play the game. My question is what increments should this bet be made in? From what I have read so far it should be $20 increments so the vig will be an even $ amount. Being the low roller that I am, can I buy the 4 or 10 for say $5 or $10?

Playing a buy bet for less then 20 would be mistake since the minimum commission would be $1. So if a $20 buy bet is to rich for your blood you can try and find a table with good odds. for example, if you can find a $1 10X's odds table, you could make a 1$ "put bet" with 10X's odds ($11 total bet) and that would be a better bet then a $10 buy bet on the 4 or the 10.

$10 buy bet would win $19 amusing $1 vig (unless the craps table has 25cent chips and only changes a 50 cent vig, but I haven't seen quarter chips at a craps table in years, not since the old days of quarter craps tables downtown)

$11 "put bet" would win you $21($1 put bet with 10X's odds)

thanks for the info guys, I understand the buy bet now.

About a year ago I went to Vegas with the sole purpose of playing around with this exact bet so let me offer you some unsolicited advice / what I learned.

1. There are two types of casinos, those that take the vig before AND after and those that take the vig only on a win. Obviously you want the latter and all MGM properties on the strip had this rule (ie Bellagio). Buying the 4/10 for $25 is really sweet, because on a win you just drop a buck and get two greens. I would say 9 times out of 10, if you said "25 on the 10" they just ASSUMED you meant a buy bet and never dropped the "buy" coin. Best to check the first time, after that it should just be assumed.

2. In Washington state every Indian casino I've been to collects before and after making it a horrible bet, but still better than the place. I've heard in AC they're required by law to round up, so therefore every casino collects before and after but you can take advantage of the rounding-up part. I have not verified this but if AC is your destination it's something to consider.

3. HUGE variance. I brought a bankroll of $1500 and all I did was bet the 4/10 for $25 each. I was down a grand and bounced up to around $1300 before I had to leave. Let's just say I was feeling like shit all day... but when I bounced back up it was awesome. Have fun with this bet man, it's an interesting way to play.

Quote: ahiromu

3. HUGE variance. I brought a bankroll of $1500 and all I did was bet the 4/10 for $25 each. I was down a grand and bounced up to around $1300 before I had to leave. Let's just say I was feeling like shit all day... but when I bounced back up it was awesome. Have fun with this bet man, it's an interesting way to play.

I assume you had them turned on on the comeout roll? I did that once in Tunica -- except I bought the 5 and 9 for $20 each. It was kinda stupid, but kinda fun too.

At the beginning yes I did... but then I got a little more conservative as time went on. I just remember it was a HORRIBLE start to the day - like I went in and lost $300 on the tables and $200 in the sportsbook in my first few hours there.