Whether you are a newbie on the craps table, a skilled craps player or someone who has been playing the game for a long time, you share one commonality with the majority of players – you want to win. Right? However, it is often the players that do not want to or are not prepared to win that lose. Very simply, the game plan you devise and implement to win depends on the strategy you implement to start out with. This could be as simple as not leaving the casino if you are broke, but it may be planning an advanced craps strategy where you are not prepared to go all the way to win.
Despite the fact that some people like to leave the casino a winner, this practice is nothing more than a distraction. Perhaps one of the most devastating aspects of losing is feeling like you just bummed a $100 or something worth that sort of cash from the casino – knowing that you could have made much more, had you just keested the hunger. Craps is a game that is mostly about watching the dice – and keeping your senses alert. Can you tell, typically, when the dice are hot and when they are cold? Keeping your senses alert can help you recognize the game as you are playing and even help you to save some of those scary moments when the dice seem to be in your favor – and help ease your transition from 7meter to game.
A game of craps is one of the few casino games where you can Tell, or indicate if the dice are hot or cold. (See Chapter 4) by keeping a close eye on the dice as they are thrown. (ighter on the hot side, the opposite for the cold side) Also, look for any patterns as you see them, (do certain numbers matchup? Like 2’s and 3’s on the same card?) This is the beginning of a game, and it is also the most basic element of any craps strategy. The Don’t Pass Line is the opposite of the Pass Line. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bet have the same numbers, except the dice are opposite of each other. So, as you can see, a craps strategy cannot exist where the Don’t Pass Line beats the Pass Line bet. An example might be, “LEAVE” versus “PUSH” (See my article on “Come Out” and “Stay Down” )
A game of craps is one of the few casino games where the outcome is solely determined by the roll of the dice. Many players ask, “what is the probability of rolling a 2, 3, 12, 11, or 12?” – Well, simply put – it doesn’t matter what numbers come up, only that the shooter rolls a 2, 3, 12, 11, or 12.
Why? Simply put, every time a 2, 3, 12, 11, or 12 is rolled, you have equal odds of rolling a 12, whatever the number of other possible rolls. Let’s say there was 10 throws of the 2, 3, 12, 11, or 12. You are holding 2 dice, and the shooter rolls a 2 – you have lost. There are 10 throws remaining, so the probability of rolling a 2, 3, 12, or 11 on the next roll is 1 in 11, giving you equal odds, or a 49% chance.
In a game of craps, you have the same odds with the shooter when you take (2 dice) and then roll a 7 – you have the same odds, or a 39% chance.
So, the first thing you must understand about craps – it is a game of streaks. Winning streaks are like this – you will win some, you will lose some, but you will win more than you will lose. We can convert these into odds using the formula: 2 to 1 (Winning) + 1 (Losing) = 1 to 1 (Drawing) – 1 (Losing) = 2 to 1. Note that the only time 2 is in the formula is when it refers to a win for the shooter. ALL other numbers are equals to the result of rolling the dice.
Any craps strategy can be applied to the outcome of the craps roll – you must be willing to roll the dice in a certain fashion – whether that means throwing them against the house, or better yet, against the imaginary player sitting on your bank.
If you roll the dice in a certain fashion you begin to control the outcome. Eventually, if you can control the dice and your hands, you will be able to tell the result of the roll. You will be able to tell the result by feel or nerves, but eventually, a pair of Dice Protectors will rise from underneath your sleeves, and protect you from harm while you play.