craps etiquette - less chips or "exact chips"

Long time lurker... first time poster. I've got sort of an etiquette question. When making multiple (or even just one, depending on the amount) place bets, is it preferable to send the dealers as few chips as possible and let them make whatever change is necessary... or end them the exact chips they'll need? For example... placing 5, 6, 8 for $34 (10/12/12)... would you send them 1 green & 2 reds or6 reds & 4 whites?

Maybe someone can speak to this in even more general terms, like... always try to send the dealer as few chips as possible OR always send the dealer the exact chips whenever possible. I'm not sure what they prefer... especially on a busy table.

You can send the dealer most any combination of chips you want, tell him/her what you want to bet, and he/she should be able to handle it just fine. As far as what you should do, I think that is influenced by what chips are left in your rack and what bets you might make later. For example, if you already have half a rack of $1 chips, you might as well give four of them to the dealer as part of your $34 spread. However, if those are your last four $1 chips and you expect to toss some $1 hard ways or prop bets later, then hold onto your singles rather than asking for change repeatedly.

For your specific example of $34, I wouldn't use a green chip if I had plenty of reds and whites in my rack. In that case keep the greens to use in your odds bets or something.

Quote: hiloyo

Long time lurker... first time poster. I've got sort of an etiquette question. When making multiple (or even just one, depending on the amount) place bets, is it preferable to send the dealers as few chips as possible and let them make whatever change is necessary... or end them the exact chips they'll need? For example... placing 5, 6, 8 for $34 (10/12/12)... would you send them 1 green & 2 reds or6 reds & 4 whites?

Maybe someone can speak to this in even more general terms, like... always try to send the dealer as few chips as possible OR always send the dealer the exact chips whenever possible. I'm not sure what they prefer... especially on a busy table.

I've seen reactions both ways. I bet the 6 & 8 for $12 each, I toss 'em a quarter--they like that, as they just grab a stack of red and a stack of white, and cut out the two bets, tossing me a dollar. If I toss them eight chips--four reds and four whites--they will have to gather them up and rearrange them anyway. Especially with the experienced dealers, it seems like they'd rather cut out the bets from their own chip stacks.

It would probably be a different story for a two-chip bet, like $6 or $30. Then, the dealer would have to cut out single chips, and give you multiple chips as change (like if you tossed the dealer three reds and said place the 6 and 8). So I usually just give 'em two reds and two whites.

It also might depend on whether the layout is crowded with bets--the dealer might not have much room to cut out your bet and make change. In that case, I would try to give him exact change, even if it took four or five chips to do that.

So it depends on the situation, as far as I'm concerned.

If I have enough chips, I'll place the exact number of chips required. The sequence the dealers prefers that I stack them varies.

I've seen dealers that like it best when I stack them with 4 whites on top of 6 reds. Other dealers like to see 2 whites, 2 reds, 2 whites then 4 reds. I've seen other dealers re-stack my chips, regardless of what sequence I stack them.

Bottom line: There's no real rule on this.

And if you don't have the exact chips, it doesn't matter if you throw down 7 reds, a green and 2 reds, or 2 greens. It will still require the dealer to make change. Just call the bet when you drop the chips and you'll be OK.

Helpful dealers aren't usually that bashful. Many times they will let bettors know the easiest the way to handle transactions. And if they don't, it is often friendly (and productive) to ask what the dealer prefers.

Quote: SanchoPanza

it is often friendly (and productive) to ask what the dealer prefers.

Yes, I'd just ask. They may start talking about "Barber Poles" but perhaps they can handle them both mentally and physically. It probably depends on how busy the table is and how much the casino forces the dealer to prove his actions to the boxman.