Confessions of darkside craps players

29 November 2016

By Frank Scoblete

Craps is really two complete and different games in one. You have the rightside (or “do”) game. In this one the players are betting with the shooter and/or are hoping the shooter goes on a tear, hitting number after number and point after point. A lot of money can be made with a hot shooter.

The second craps game is called the darkside game. Here the players (also called “don’t” players) are betting that the seven will defeat the shooter (and quickly) as they go in the opposite direction of the “do” players. Rightside players need many and more numbers; darkside players are looking for the shooter to have a relatively quick seven out.

From my experience most rightside players are not in love with darkside players. Most darkside players are usually quiet and sneak in and out of games. They are aware of the dislike that follows their betting patterns.

So I talked to two inveterate darkside players to get their handle on the game.

“I’ve been a darksider since my very first game at a craps table,” said Jim DeMonte. “I was of the opinion that playing ‘don’t’ made me one with the house. That I’d have the house’s edge in my favor. I later found out that I was wrong and that the house had the edge on me just as it does on the ‘do’ players.”

What made Jim stick with the darkside?

“I make one bet on the don’t pass and one bet on the don’t come and that’s it. I find that if the shooter knocks me off my numbers and I don’t go up against him again then my losses are somewhat contained. I do not bet against a shooter who has hurt me. So how I bet is kind of like my money management system.”

Does Jim feel the dislike of the rightside players?

“There are times at the table that when I lose rightside players will cheer, even if no one won on the number that just hit. Some more aggressive players snicker at me when I lose or clap as they look at me. But when I win, everyone tends to get quiet. So, yes, I know that I am usually not liked when I play, but this is the way I play and that’s that.”

Bernie is a recent convert to darkside betting.

“I decided to go to the darkside because I was just too darn aggressive when I played the rightside. I’d have a load of bets out there and if the shooter sevened out too soon I’d take a beating. I mean if you have all the place bets covered and many of the proposition bets, you are looking for trouble. I found the trouble.”

So how does an aggressive Bernie bet?

“I do three bets. The don’t pass and two don’t come bets with full odds. I usually hold my own which means overall I am down but not excessively so.”

Does Bernie feel the heat from the rightside players?

“Oh, yeah, they hate me. You know why? Because I actually cheer for the seven; I want the shooter to seven out and I call it. I’m not afraid of anyone. I say the heck with them. They cheer when things are going well for them so I can cheer when things go right for me. The seven is my friend, after the come-out roll that is.”

What percentage of craps players actually play the darkside. My opinion is that it is less than 10 percent, maybe way less. Jim and Bernie had their own ideas.

Jim said,” What I have found is that when another darkside player comes to the table and then sees me playing the ‘don’t’ it is not unusual for him to leave and go to another table. I think most darksiders prefer to be the only one at the table. Less visibility – at least I think they think that.”

Bernie said, “I’m thinking less than 5% of players are darkside players. I don’t count the players who occasionally might play the darkside. But regular players? Five percent at most.”

Bernie added, “I sometimes try to talk to darkside players should they be at my table but most of them don’t want to talk. When they hear me cheering for the seven they tend to make a quick getaway. I sometimes wonder if many darkside players are a little fearful with the way they bet. It’s our money we can bet it as we please.”

Jim and Bernie play the darkside in their own ways – at least in terms of decorum. Jim is the quiet type while Bernie is boisterous. Which way is best? Take your pick.

Frank Scoblete’s new books are “I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps”; “Confessions of a Wayward Catholic” and “I Am a Card Counter: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Blackjack.” All available from Amazon.com, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and at bookstores.