Put bet question

First off, I'm a relatively new gambler who's a big fan of the Wizard of Odds website. Not that I didn't gamble before, but it was only something I did a couple times (some slots or blackjack here and there, a couple poker home games, etc.). Now, I'm fascinated by the various games and numbers that go along with them. I try to play proper strategy, but I do deviate from that sometimes.

With that said, here's a craps situation. I like come betting, so let's say the point is 5, and I have a $5 pass line with $20 odds. Let's say I have come bets on the 6 and 8 with $25 odds for each. I want one more come bet up; why not just do a put bet on the 9? I skip the chance for a winner 7 or 11 on that come bet. However, I don't want a 7, as everything else would lose, and I'd only get that lousy $5 back. An 11 would be fine, but there's only 3 ways to make that as opposed to 4 ways to make a craps number (since I don't want the 7).

Place the 9 for $25.

If it hits, you get paid $35.

Now, compare it to a $5 put with $20 odds: if that hit, you get paid ... $35.

And, it will not be working on an ensuing come out , too, so if the shooter makes his point then hits a natural 7 on the next come out, you are still in action.

Not a bad choice.

In this case, I think what you really want is just a place bet on the nine. A place bet on the nine is in fact the same exact payoff as a put bet with 4x odds (or 3x on the 4 and 10, or 5x on the 6 and 8). You can see how that works out if you read the section on "Put Bets" on the WoO craps page which I'm sure you've read many times, as have I, but I always seem to come back and learn something new.

I hadn't thought about it this way, but at places that offer crazy odds multiples (or really anything better than 3-4-5), instead of placing a number, why not make a put bet with maximum odds? You'll get a better payoff if the number hits, if I'm thinking correctly. Would be kind of non-standard though.

Quote: AcesAndEights

... but at places that offer crazy odds multiples (or really anything better than 3-4-5), instead of placing a number, why not make a put bet with maximum odds?

Because the flat part of the Put bet must meet table minimums.

Essentially, the place bet is a pre-defined put bet. It was created so that it's total value will satisfy the table minimum.

Ya I'm not a really a Put bet kinda player......But I do occasionally make put bets. I play at a casino that has $1 minimums with 10x odds....I will normally place the 6 and 8 for $6 each, and at a normal $5 limit table I would press each one once. But at a $1 10x odds table I make a $1 put bet with max odds instead of a press

Well, you want to make every bet independent of your other bets, so the come bet would be the best option. Just think of it as being on the come-out roll with no other bets out. 7/11 winner; 2/3/12 loser; anything else is the point. Believe it or not your various come bets are independent of each other even though they seem to be correlated. That five bucks back on the winner (loser?) seven helps you in the long run, and does the natural 11.

A put bet would be not a bad bet if you put 5x or more odds behind it.

Quote: AcesAndEights

In this case, I think what you really want is just a place bet on the nine. A place bet on the nine is in fact the same exact payoff as a put bet with 4x odds (or 3x on the 4 and 10, or 5x on the 6 and 8). You can see how that works out if you read the section on "Put Bets" on the WoO craps page which I'm sure you've read many times, as have I, but I always seem to come back and learn something new.

I hadn't thought about it this way, but at places that offer crazy odds multiples (or really anything better than 3-4-5), instead of placing a number, why not make a put bet with maximum odds? You'll get a better payoff if the number hits, if I'm thinking correctly. Would be kind of non-standard though.

Except I think buys on 4 10 are always better than the put bet, unless they allow huge odds. In fact, I think most people that press their bets, would be better off to put the bets once they get to $55 in action on a single number(assuming 10x odds allowed). Nobody ever does this though, because they don't really care, they see it as "playing on house money"

How about buying the 9 for $30.

If the 9 hits, you get paid $44 ($45 - $1 commission).

Would that accomplish your goal?

I'm now realizing something...
I play at a $5 3/4/5x table...however, they also allow $30 buy with $1 vig (win only)
It'd be better to just buy-the-point when it's 4/5/9/10 for $30, which would pay me $59/$44 (respectively) rather than always winning $35

Make the bet on the 9 with the lowest house advantage. If you buy-9 AND the commission is only taken on the WIN then you have the 2nd best bet on 9. other than that its a come bet.