Perhaps a little advice is in order

Before I go and play craps again I'd like some advice on my current strategy. I place $5 out of my bankroll max on each bet, other than $6 on 6 and 8.

Basically I try and get the place bets covered on all the numbers, while not really focusing on the passline odds. Once the point is established I place 6 and 8, or 5/9 if the 6 or 8 is the point. Then I put a field bet down and if I hit the field bet I put the initial bet and the winning bet on two more numbers. At this point I'll wait until I hit one of the place bets until all numbers are covered. Then I alternate pay and press on each number, excep for 4 and 10 which I press every time until I buy at $25.

Basically I either have $22 or $21 out on the table at the get go. The rationale is that the passline bet is one number, where if you cover all the place bets you are covering more dice combos.

Any critique on this would be very much appreciated.

Also, if I were to just place all numbers from the start and forget the field bet, would this put me in a better position, even if it is a bit more aggressive?

I feel your pain.

I use both strategies. Of course, often at the end of the shooter's run (or sometimes in the middle!) I feel like I should have used the other strategy. Sigh.

I'm contemplating going all out. $64 across. As soon as something hits, regress to $32 across. Take a couple, then start pressing. Probably won't be any better, but...

I would stay away from Field, and anything outside of 6 and 8 unless you are buying a 4 and 10 where the vig is paid after the win. I think you're diluting your bets too much looking for action and finding yourself stuck out there.

I would concentrate on the pass line and the 6 and 8 only with a limited bankroll. It's a bit more boring mind you, but at least you are looking at HA's at less than 2% on all your bet, and you can press your 6 and 8s at will. You can also go pass, double odds, and 6 and 8. If the point is 6 and 8, either add a nickel to your odds to cover it or do a come bet.

I think 6.67% on the 4 and 10 is too much. You need to hit the number twice before you can buy it.

They don't require the vig when you press, so I'm assuming it is paid after. When you say double odds are you talking about the passline odds or the odds on 6 and 8?

Quote: derik999

When you say double odds are you talking about the passline odds or the odds on 6 and 8?

I assume he means free odds, although I'm not following that too good either. If you want more action, you want to delve into free odds. You are putting yourself up against house odds increasing into an overall roughly 3-5 percent zone with $20-30 on the table the way you describe, whereas with free odds you can play your $20-30 against a house edge of less than one half of one percent .

check it out: wizardofodds.com/craps

PS: you can make sure you understand by playing his free game.

Cool. Yeah I've racked up quite a few hours playing his game, I just haven't tested all the different bets. Can you explain in simple terms what a "free odds" bet is? I didn't see it on the craps page using the search function.

sorry, on that page he calls it "taking the odds", it's about halfway down

use 'mouse-over' and you should be able to see where to place them

Quote: odiousgambit

sorry, on that page he calls it "taking the odds", it's about halfway down

use 'mouse-over' and you should be able to see where to place them

Oh ok yeah that's a basic passline odds bet. I'm pretty familiar with it. Thanks for pointing it out on the page!

Quote: derik999

They don't require the vig when you press, so I'm assuming it is paid after.

It would be good to know for sure. When you hit a $10 four the payoff is $18. Buy it for $25 and $15 gets added to the bet and you should get $3 if the vig is paid on wins. If you only get $2 then you are paying the vig up front. If the vig is only paid when you win, I think buying at $10 make sense. You win 1 out of three bets, returning $28 for place bets, $29 if you buy.

Quote: seattledice

It would be good to know for sure. When you hit a $10 four the payoff is $18. Buy it for $25 and $15 gets added to the bet and you should get $3 if the vig is paid on wins. If you only get $2 then you are paying the vig up front. If the vig is only paid when you win, I think buying at $10 make sense. You win 1 out of three bets, returning $28 for place bets, $29 if you buy.

Ask the dealer what are the rules. At what amount do they round the vig up? Do they collect it up front or only on a win? It makes a significant difference. Some places you can bet $30 and still pay only $1 vig, collected only after a win, which is a good deal, HA just 1.11%, better than the flat pass line. For 3 of those bets, ev is just -$1, standard deviation almost $73. At the $25 level, same ev, but SD just $60; at $20, same ev but SD just $48. As you push the bet up but still pay just $1 vig, you get more variance for your buck. Than can be good or bad, of course.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

I'm going to head over there Sunday or Monday so I'll ask about the vig. Isn't the usual vig like %5 of the bid, so $1 per every $20? The minimum bid at the Craps table here is fifty cents so I wouldn't think they'd round the $10 buy to $1.

Quote: derik999

I'm going to head over there Sunday or Monday so I'll ask about the vig. Isn't the usual vig like %5 of the bid, so $1 per every $20? The minimum bid at the Craps table here is fifty cents so I wouldn't think they'd round the $10 buy to $1.

AFAIK, the vig is always 5%, but the variations are in the rounding point and whether they collect the vig on all bets or only on winning bets.

Are you saying they have 50-cent cheques there? That can be good, or bad, depending on the rounding. Some places you can buy a number for $30 and pay only $1 vig, i.e. they round $1.50 down to $1.00. If they had 50-cent cheques you'd pay $1.50, right?

Cheers,
Alan Shank

Yeah they have a light colored green chip they use for 50 cents. I'm not sure, but I imagine given they have a smaller increment than $1 that they wouldn't have to round.

Quote: derik999

Yeah they have a light colored green chip they use for 50 cents. I'm not sure, but I imagine given they have a smaller increment than $1 that they wouldn't have to round.

Another "double-edged sword"! It means you can buy numbers for $10 and pay $.50, not a whole dollar, but it also means that you pay the full 5% ($1.50) for a $30 buy.

Cheers,
Alan Shank