Craps Place Bet Or Buy
I’m writing a series of blog posts about casino games and the good and bad strategies for playing those games.
Craps is one of my favorite casino games, so I’ve been looking forward to writing this one.
The Pass Line Bet is the most common bet in craps. It’s a very easy bet and you can easily get through a whole night of gambling only knowing this one bet. All you have to do is put your chips on the pass line on the table. You'll be able to tell were that is because it will say 'Pass Line' in big letters. A lay bet is the opposite of a buy bet, and also comes with a 5% commission. With this wager, you are betting on a 7 being rolled before a specific number, in the same way as a place lose. It offers higher payouts than a place lose, which vary depending on the number chosen. As an example, to win a Buy 8 bet, the shooter needs to roll an 8 before they roll a 7. Different buy bets have disparate payoffs. The Buy 6 and Buy 8 bets pay out 23 to 21, while they have a house edge of 4.76%. The Buy 5 and Buy 8 bets pay out 29 to 21, while they have a house edge of 4.76%.
And the beautiful thing about craps is that it’s a game of pure chance. The best strategy is just to choose the bets with the lowest edge for the house and have fun.
But I’ll have some things to say about some of the strategies and systems that other writers promote, too.
They’re mostly bad craps strategies.
Here’s the Only Craps Strategy You Need
When you’re dealing with an entirely random game – like craps – the only strategy that matters is choosing the bets with the lowest house edge and having fun.
I’ll have something to say about shooters and whether they have control over the outcomes later in this post, but for now, let’s just agree that games like craps are purely chance.
In other games that are entirely random, like slot machines, you don’t even really need to decide which bet to place. It’s chosen for you before you sit down.
When playing craps for real money, you have a handful of good bets you can make, but most of the bets on the table are bad. Just skip the bad bets, and you’re all set.
The Bests Bets at the Craps Table
The best bets at the craps table are the pass line bet and the don’t pass bet.
The come and don’t come bets are also great wagers.
I always advise casino gamblers to try to limit their gambling to games where the house edge is lower than 2% — preferably 1.5% or lower.
The house edge for the pass and come bets is the same, 1.41%, which means they qualify.
The house edge for the don’t pass and don’t come bets is even lower, 1.36%, but the 0.05% isn’t worth worrying about. Most people prefer to root for the shooter to succeed.
The other bet to think about at the craps table is the odds bet. This is a bet you can only place after making one of the 4 bets I already mentioned and when the shooter has set a point.
This is one of the only bets in the casino that has no house edge. It’s a break-even bet, but it can be expensive.
It can also drive the effective house edge on the money you have in action down to almost nothing.
Here’s how that works.
How the Odds Bet Changes the House Edge for the Better
If you’re betting on the pass line and the shooter sets a point, you can expect to lose $1.41 for every $100 you bet. That’s on average and in the long run.
If you’re playing at a casino that only allows you to place an odds bet at 1X the size of your pass line bet, you can put another $100 into action.
Your expected loss remains $1.41, though, which effectively cuts the house edge in half, from 1.41% to 0.71%.
If you’re able to bet 2X your original bet on the odds bet, you can lower that even further to 0.36%. (You have $300 in action, but your expected loss is still only $1.41.)
The more you’re able to bet on the odds bet, the lower the house edge for all the money you have in action becomes.
It’s clear why betting on the pass line and taking the most odds that you can is an effective strategy. With the odds bet, you can get the house edge in craps lower than 0.5% at least some of the time at the table, making it an even better game than blackjack.
And what’s more, you don’t have to memorize basic strategy to get the low house edge at craps.
You just need a big enough casino bankroll to make the right bets, and you need enough sense to avoid the bad bets at the table – of which there are many.
Any Strategy that Involves Placing ANY Other Bets at the Craps Table Is a BAD Craps Strategy
There’s a reason gambling experts measure bets according to their house edge. That’s because it’s the single best indicator of how good or bad a bet is.
The house edge is a statistical estimate of how much money you’ll lose as a percentage of your original bet over the long run.
Craps Place Bet Or Buy House
If the house edge is 1.41%, the casino expects to win an average of $1.41 every time you bet $100.
If the house edge is 16.66%, the casino expects to win an average of $16.66 every time you bet $100.
Which bet looks like the better bet for the casino?
And which one looks like the better bet for the gambler?
It shouldn’t be hard to make the distinction.
Even the best of the bad bets on the craps table are inferior to the 1.41% or 1.36% you can get from the pass, don’t pass, come, and don’t come bets.
And trust me on this:
You can have PLENTY of fun sticking with the basic bets at the craps table.
Betting Systems Where You Raise and Lower the Size of Your Bets Are Bad Strategies
The classic example of this kind of betting system is the Martingale System, where you double the size of your bets after each loss. When you do this repeatedly, you eventually win back the money you’ve lost along with a profit of one unit.
The problem with a system like the Martingale is that you’ll eventually run into a big enough losing streak that it will wipe out all those small profits and then some.
Most people underestimate how quickly a bet’s size gets when doubling after every loss.
Craps Place Bet Or Buy A House
They also overestimate how likely they are to avoid long losing streaks.
If you double a $5 bet once, that’s $10.
But if you run into a losing streak of 8 bets in a row, you’re looking at having to bet $640 to make up for your losses.
Also, every roll of the dice is an independent event. The odds don’t change based on how many times you’ve won or lost in a row.
You might think the probability of losing that 8th bet is lower than the likelihood of losing the first one, but the truth is that the dice have no memory. They have the same 6 sides, no matter how many times you’ve lost in a row.
Each bet in craps is an independent event, and any betting system will assume that the odds are changing based on how many times in a row you’ve won or lost.
Money Management Strategies Don’t Hurt Anything, but They Won’t Improve Your Odds of Winning, Either
Money management strategies involve having strict gambling discipline about how much of your bankroll you’re willing to risk before quitting the game. They also require you to stop when you’ve won an arbitrary amount of money.
Money management techniques are often used in conjunction with betting systems.
Here’s an example of a money management strategy in craps:
You decide your bankroll for the session is $250, and you’re playing for $5 per roll of the dice.
Your stop-loss limit is $100, so, if your bankroll drops to $150, you must quit the craps session and go do something else.
Your win goal is $250, so once your bankroll gets up to $500, you must quit the game and go do something else.
This kind of strategy might increase your chances of walking away from the game a winner.
But that’s only because a lot of gamblers will just keep playing until they’ve lost their entire stake. They just don’t generally have a lot of sense about that sort of thing.
The Jury’s Out on Dice Setting or Dice Control
I’ve seen multiple reputable gambling writers express interest and some belief that some craps shooters can influence the probability of specific outcomes. I’m skeptical – in the extreme – but I’ll give it an appropriate amount of credence.
The idea is that you hold the dice a specific way – “setting” the dice – then throw with a minimum amount of force – just enough to hit the back wall and eliminate most of the rolling action.
A controlled shooting expert doesn’t have to be perfect. Instead, they’re trying to be like someone who’s playing darts. They improve the probability enough to change the negative expectation on a bet to a positive expectation.
You can buy books and videos explaining how to get an edge at craps this way, but I can’t imagine the amount of practice and record-keeping required to have any confidence in your ability to change the odds.
Imagine if you spent 1000 hours trying to learn how to control the dice and coming up short. Maybe you just don’t have the knack for it.
That doesn’t sound like a good deal to me.
I’d rather learn to count cards in blackjack.
Conclusion
Those are the best and the worst of the strategies I know of for playing craps in the casino. I know plenty of people who would disagree with every recommendation I’ve made, but the math behind the game doesn’t lie.
The best strategy is to stick with the bets with the lowest house edge and have as much fun as you can.
If you are keen on playing casino games, perhaps, you are aware of the fact that craps is one of the games that enjoy an overwhelming popularity among gambling aficionados. In fact, if you have been to a land-based casino at least once, probably, you have noticed that craps tables are almost invariably overcrowded and usually, they are the loudest tables on the casino floor. Even though the game of craps is an endless source of entertainment, many players are unwilling to wallow in it due to the fact that on the face of it, the game seems extremely elaborate, which makes them think that it is inappropriate for less experienced gambling enthusiasts.
Perhaps, one of the things that make you reluctant to play craps is the fact that you need to choose between so many different bet types that all come with their peculiarities and specific aspects. Another thing that might seem slightly intimidating at the beginning is the fast pace at which the game is played. Of course, this should not make you unwilling to give it a try as once you take your time to learn more about it, you will be able to revel in it.
The place bet is one of the most preferred ways of wagering while playing craps. The main reason why the place bet is so popular is that it offers a fast action, which makes it a great option for less patient craps lovers. That is why here, we will provide you with all the particulars regarding the place bet.
How Place Bets Work
One of the first things you should remember about the Place Bet is that gamblers are allowed to make such a bet on any of the point numbers. If you are still making your first steps at playing craps, you need to know that the point numbers include 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Another important thing you should also remember is that just like most of the other bets that are available at the craps table, the Place Bet is also a bet which plays against the 7. In other words, this means that the 7 and the specific number, on which you have placed your bet are the only numbers, which will determine the outcome of the game and whether your bet is a winning one or a losing one.
In the event that you have made a Place Bet, there are three possible outcomes you can expect. The outcome that will be most beneficial to you is the place number to appear before the 7, as this will mean that your bet is a winning one. As long as a 7 appears first, this will mean that you lose the stake you have made. In the event that any of the remaining numbers appear, you need to know that it does not matter to the game due to the fact that this will not mean anything in terms of winning or losing.
When it comes to the Place bet, avid craps lovers should know that after the come-out roll, they are allowed to make a bet on one of the place numbers, without even going through the come box, which would mean that in practice, the number will be chosen by the dice. Let’s assume that you wish to make a Place bet that 9 will show before the 7. What you need to do is to position your chips in the come box and tell the dealer that you wish to “place the 9”. After this, the dealer will simply move your chips in the box numbered 9. It is important to note that your chips will be placed in a specific area of the betting layout, which is determined by your place at the craps table so that it could be clear that this is namely your stake. From the point at which you have picked the place number, the Place bet starts to resemble the come bet.
Now, as long as 9 comes out before a 7 has appeared, this will mean that you win. In the event that a 7 shows before the place number you have picked, your bet will be a losing one. When it comes to the remaining numbers apart from the 7 and the 9, once again, we should note that they are neutral and they do not influence the course of the game when a Place bet is made.
Another of the distinctive traits of the Place Bet is that players are allowed to make such a bet or to remove it at any point. This is namely the reason why the Place Bet is also known as a “standing” bet due to the fact that it continues working until the players decide to remove it or until it becomes a losing one.
Still, a large number of the casinos stick to the rule that Place bets are not working or they are off when the come-out roll commences. In the event that the player wants his Place bet to remain working, he/she simply needs to tell the dealer and a button, which is labeled “ON” will be positioned on the top of your stack. Then, at the end of the come-out roll, this label will be removed and your Place bet will continue working until you decide to turn it off or until it becomes clear whether it is a winning one or a losing one. Craps novices should keep in mind that the terms turning off your Place bet and taking it down refers to one and the same thing. Still, if you decide to remove it, this will mean that your chips will be removed from the point box. If you decide to turn it off, however, this means that it will not work during the next roll.
Thus, if you wish to make a Place bet on 5, 6, 8, and 9, and you say that you want to wager twenty dollars inside, the dealer will know that you prefer to place your bet namely on the aforementioned numbers. Hence, if you are intent on making a Place bet on 4, 9, and 10 and you say twenty dollars outside, the dealer will know that you prefer to make your stake namely on these numbers. If this seems to you too complicated and makes you feel unease, then, you should be aware of the fact that you can also tell the dealer to place four, nine, and ten.
The Place Bet Payout and Odds
One of the main reasons why the Place bet is so preferred by gambling enthusiasts is that this particular bet comes with a relatively low house edge, which makes it an advantageous option for them. This also makes the Place bet one of the better bets that are available at the craps table, which is one of the main reasons why avid craps fans should contemplate making use of it. Still, players should keep in mind that the payout they will get when they make a winning Place bet will be determined by the place number.
Let’s go back to the example we gave with the 9. The winning rolls gamblers can enjoy when they make a Place bet are four due to the fact that there are four ways to make a 9. On the other hand, there are six ways to experience a losing roll by forming a 7. It is important to note that when it comes to the true odds of a 9 coming out before the 7, they are 3:2. Thus, the payoff you will enjoy is 7 to 5 (7:5). The house edge, however, stands at 4%, which, as it turns out, might be a slightly stiff edge to beat. The numbers are the same for a 5 due to the fact that the correct odds are once again 3 to 2 (3:2), the house edge is 4%, and the payoff players will enjoy are 7:5. Thus, if you have wagered $10 and the bet is a winning one, eventually, you will get $14 or $15 in the event that the house does not enjoy an advantage at all.
Making a Place bet on 6 or 8 is considered as one of the best and even the smartest moves you can make due to the fact that in such cases, the house advantage will be the lowest. If we assume that you have decided to wager $30 on 8, and eventually, your bet has turned out to be a winning one, the payoff you will get is $35. The true-odds payoff, on the other hand, will be $36, which therefore means that the edge the house enjoys in such cases is only 1.52%.
Perhaps, one of the most difficult things about the Place bet remains that gambling enthusiasts should memorize the payout for each of the winning numbers, as well as the multiples they need to bet. Craps lovers should bear in mind that the bet multiple is determined solely by the place odds. Let’s take as an example a paring of 5 and 9, the place odds of which are 7:5. In other words, this will mean that for every $5 you stake, you will get $7. Hence, we get that the bet multiple for the 5 and the 9 is $5.
Playing the Place Bet
Once we have clarified some of the most important things regarding the Place bet, we will run through one possible scenario, so that craps lovers could feel more confident to take the plunge and to enjoy themselves while playing their favorite casino game.
While the new shooter for the game prepares, you decide to stake $5 on the 9. Let’s assume that the place number for the gamer is 10. Once you have indicated that you want to make such a bet, the dealer will then move your chips to the 9 point box. As it was already stated, the position of the box depends on your position at the craps table.
Now, after you have placed your bet, let’s assume that the number that shows is 11. Since this is one of the neutral numbers for the game and in the particular case, it does not matter to it, the game recommences. Now, let’s presume that at this point, you decide to make a Place bet on the remaining inside numbers that include 5, 6, 8, and 9. Let’s say that the number that shows is 6. This will mean that the bet you have made on the 6 is a winning one and you will get a payoff. Now, you decide to leave your bet on the 6 on. The next number that appears is 12 and the game continues due to the fact that it is one of the numbers that do not matter.
It is important to note that when your Place bet is a winning one, you are allowed to decide whether you prefer to leave it working or to remove it. In the event that you decide to leave it working, this will mean that each time when that number shows before the 7 has appeared, your bet will win. As long as the 7 appears before the place number, you lose. Thus, if we assume that the next number that shows is 7, this will mean that your bet becomes a losing one.
Gambling aficionados should also keep in mind that it is up to them to decide whether they prefer to increase or to decrease their Place bet due to the fact that they can do so at any point.
What to Do while Making a Place Bet
One of the most important things you should remember about the game of craps, which rings true, especially for land-based casinos is that gamblers should not put their chips on the table before they make sure that they have got the attention of the dealer. This is of major importance for bets which are not self-serviced, which is also the case with the Place bet.
Despite the fact that when you play craps in any of the web-based casinos, you simply cannot mess up the chips, this definitely does not go for playing craps at a brick-and-mortar casino. If you prefer playing at a land-based facility, you are advised not to toss or to throw your chips. Instead, players are advised to place their chips in the come box and simply to tell the dealer which is the number on which they prefer to make their Place bet.
What is more, in some cases, if you have made a winning Place bet and you remain silent after this, the dealer may assume that you prefer to place the same bet once again. That is why it is always a good idea to tell the dealer what you are intent on doing whether you prefer to increase, to decrease, or to remove your Place bet.
Place Bet Strategy
Let’s assume that you are intent on making a $6 Place bet on 8 and 6. If we presume that the table is cold, you are advised to leave your Place bet on until the first hit occurs. When this happens, craps lovers are advised either to remove their Place bet from the table or to turn it off for yet another roll. If, for example, the numbers that have shown after you have staked $6 on the 8 and the 6 are four, nine, and six, this is the moment when you should remove or turn off your Place bet.
In the event that the table is choppy, gambling enthusiasts are advised to leave their Place bet working throughout the first six rolls or until the first hit occurs. As long as the first hit takes place within the first three rolls, then, you are advised to leave your bet working and to start counting all over again. As long as there are six rolls and you experience only losses, then, it would be better if you take your Place bet down.
Craps Place Bet Or Buying
In the event that the table is hot, you are advised to leave your Place bet working throughout the entire life of the roll. When the Place bet becomes a winning one, you are advised to press it. In addition to this, you should also make another Place bet when the shooter makes his point. You should continue in the same manner until it turns out that you have made your Place bet on the established place number. Then, you should simply have your Place bet down or move to a number, which is still uncovered.