Pass Line Initially Not Paid

I joined a craps table a couple of weeks ago and put my bet on the pass line (or so I thought). A seven was rolled on the come out, but the dealer did not put a chip down to pay me. I pointed out that I didn't get paid, and he said that my chip was not on the pass line but was placed more on the actual white line between the outer edge of the pass line and the area between me and the pass line. This was true as I must have been a little sloppy in placing my chip.

He said a chip on the actual white line means something different and does not participate in the come out roll. I told him I did not know that and I was intending to play the pass line. He was very nice and paid me like it was no big deal, but he did say that I need to be careful and make sure the chip is fully inside the pass line when placing a bet (which I will definitely do from now on).

Anyway, I had never heard of this type of bet where a chip is placed on the white line. Is this type of bet "common knowledge" that I should have known about?

A wager placed on that line is typically placed there after the point is established, and it represents a place bet on the point number (since the puck is in the way of setting the chips on the actual number space.) I have never heard of a dealer thinking you intended a place bet in that location for the come out roll -- what number would you have made the place bet on?

The more difficult situation is when you are careless and put your line bet touching the line between "Pass" and "Don't Pass". That needs to be straightened out before the roll.

Quote: Doc

The more difficult situation is when you are careless and put your line bet touching the line between "Pass" and "Don't Pass". That needs to be straightened out before the roll.

Ya think?..lol...ummm if it's a seven(or eleven) on come out I'm on pass, otherwise I'm on don't pass ;-)

Quote: Doc

A wager placed on that line is typically placed there after the point is established, and it represents a place bet on the point number (since the puck is in the way of setting the chips on the actual number space).

While I know that you can "Place" a bet on that line, as you pointed out, it's ONLY AFTER the point is established. I typically do not play the line unless I'm shooting. I'll place 6/8 or 5/6/8/9. If any of those are the point, they just move the puck to the Don't side. I've NEVER had a dealer advise me to put it on the white line.

Quite frankly, I don't want it on the white line. If it gets hit by the dice, there could be confusion about what the bet was originally.

Doesn't make sense; on the come out, there's no point you could place by laying your chip on the pass "edge." So it's either a PL bet or a no-bet. Obviously, this time it was a PL bet. The dealer was just dicking around with you (as they are wont to do).

Some people like to make that bet before the come out so they feel part of the camaraderie at the table...even though the bet means nothing until a point is established. I have seen a lot of people play that bet to simply be playing because they want to be in the game and/or don't have the bankroll to bet more than the table min.

Quote: jsantee97

Some people like to make that bet before the come out so they feel part of the camaraderie at the table...even though the bet means nothing until a point is established. I have seen a lot of people play that bet to simply be playing because they want to be in the game and/or don't have the bankroll to bet more than the table min.

Never seen it. Why would you place the point before the come out and lose the benefit of winning on a natural 7/11? Minimums don't figure into it -- if you can afford to place a number you can afford to play the pass line.

Quote: teddys

Never seen it. Why would you place the point before the come out and lose the benefit of winning on a natural 7/11? Minimums don't figure into it -- if you can afford to place a number you can afford to play the pass line.

Although that is not my betting style, I can understand if a small player wants to retain the option of picking up their bet at any time. However, I also would be confused by someone putting it down before the point is established. Could be they are shooting an angle to have the best of all worlds, get paid on 7/11, have an excuse to not have it swept up if craps, and retain the ability to pick it up if it comes 4 or 10.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

... I'll place 6/8 or 5/6/8/9. If any of those are the point, they just move the puck to the Don't side. ....

I don't follow that, DJ. Do you mean turn the puck to the "Off side"? That would seem to take your wager out of action. I don't know what the "Don't" side of the puck means. Or what it means to move the puck to the "Don't" side of something else. Can you explain a little more?

Quote: jsantee97

Some people like to make that bet before the come out so they feel part of the camaraderie at the table....

They like to make a wager that has no action so that they feel part of the camaraderie? I don't follow that either. They can be just as much a part of it by standing at the rail and placing the wager later.

Quote: Doc

I don't follow that, DJ. Do you mean turn the puck to the "Off side"? That would seem to take your wager out of action. I don't know what the "Don't" side of the puck means. Or what it means to move the puck to the "Don't" side of something else. Can you explain a little more?

I was trying to figure that out too. Maybe he means they move the puck off the box towards where the "don't" bets go, so they can make room for his place bet?

Or better just to let him explain ...

Quote: Doc

I don't follow that, DJ. Do you mean turn the puck to the "Off side"? That would seem to take your wager out of action. I don't know what the "Don't" side of the puck means. Or what it means to move the puck to the "Don't" side of something else. Can you explain a little more?

They don't flip the puck. It still says "On", but they move it to the box in the back, where Don't Come bets are put.

I can't recall ever having a Don't Come bet or Lay bet there at the same time, so I'm not sure what they'd do if that happened.

I didn't say it made sense...I simply said that is what I have been told from people doing it.

Quote: teddys

...The dealer was just dicking around with you (as they are wont to do).

Maybe it was his way of teaching me to be more diligent in the placement of my chip. I guess it worked!

Quote: Doc

A wager placed on that line is typically placed there after the point is established, and it represents a place bet on the point number (since the puck is in the way of setting the chips on the actual number space.) I have never heard of a dealer thinking you intended a place bet in that location for the come out roll -- what number would you have made the place bet on?

The more difficult situation is when you are careless and put your line bet touching the line between "Pass" and "Don't Pass". That needs to be straightened out before the roll.

And in each situation it is the dealer's responsibility to be clear and precise and to educate a player who is less than fully conversant with the rules. I have several times heard questions from a dealer and things like "betting on the point number"... but I've never heard any dealer simply say "if its a pass line bet it must be between the lines, if it is straddling the line nearest you it is considered a bet solely on the Point Number and nothing else." And this usually takes place at a lull in the game but dealers do not seem to like the ignorant, unless of course they are young attractive females. Even that poor guy who clearly was having his first experience at a downtown craps table and having heard someone say "press" but thought it was "dress" really deserved better treatment, but its hard for a guy who stands all day and knows he is not getting much in the way of tips to remember to be polite and informative no matter how hard a day he is having.

It would only take ONE craps dealer to explain that straddling that nearest line means its a place bet on the Point, not a Pass Line bet. ... they rarely do.

Quote: FleaStiff

It would only take ONE craps dealer to explain that straddling that nearest line means its a place bet on the Point, not a Pass Line bet. ... they rarely do.

Why should they? The people who would make a "put" bet like that, rather than placing the point, are idiots anyway, who either won't be there too long, or won't tip..so no point in a dealer assisting them...remember, dealers work for the house or for tips, if you're neither the house nor a tip, they're not working for you.

I understand. Few dealers want to educate a player who will become a George next year at some other casino. Few dealers really want to take the time even though it is not all that demanding to explain that straddling that line with your passline bet has special meaning.

Its unfortunate sometimes but in general you are quite correct.

Quote: FleaStiff

Its unfortunate sometimes but in general you are quite correct.

ie: If you buy in for $20 on a $5 crap game...everyone knows you won't be there long. However, if you buy in for $100, then the dealers may show interest, as that shows interest that you're serious about playing...rather than just throwing $20 away.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

They don't flip the puck. It still says "On", but they move it to the box in the back, where Don't Come bets are put.
I can't recall ever having a Don't Come bet or Lay bet there at the same time.

In the decades I've been playing Don't Come and have lost track of the comeout, I've always been scolded when trying to place in the Don't Come box on the comeout.