Hi Frank,
I've read your book several times and bought a felt layout with dice and the rubber backwall. I set up a practice rig in my basement and have been practicing for months both counting my rolls and using chips. I figured I was ready for some live shooting.
I drove to a local casino. The first thing I found out is that you can't touch the dice with both hands. All my practicing had been done using both hands to set the dice. That was a huge adjustment but I got through it. I was fortunate to get an empty table. It was a Tuesday and I left early in the morning figuring the crowds would be light. I was right about that.
The next thing I noticed is that the table top is much lower than any table top I have seen. Not sure how I could adjust my practice table to be that low. Next thing I noticed is that the cloth is not felt at all like the one I sent away for. I actually got to talking with the box person. He was directly across from the stickman. A good bunch of guys. Maybe because I tipped them.
They said it was their first tip of the day.
Anyway he said it was a high quality fabric blend that they just changed and he said he was present when they changed it. He said it was a much higher thread count than the previous. After one of my seven outs he showed me by holding one of the dice just a fraction of an inch off the table and dropping it that it actually bounced up high. I thought that was very interesting. Which leads me to why I'm contacting you.
He told me that under the cloth was cork. He said he saw it when they were re-covering the table. So off I went to get some cork to put under my table to try and get the same bounce that those tables have. No good. I changed from the felt to cotton cloth somewhat similar to the casino. No good. So now I found and plan on changing to rubber. I'm hoping that this will give me the same bounce as the casino. It's about 1/8" thick. If I cannot duplicate the casino table then I don't know what to do next.
After my first throw I knew that all my practice sessions meant about 50 to 60% less than what they should have. Other than my grip, form and toss. The spin or backspin I feel is way too much for these tables compared to my practice rig. So I lowered the arc of the toss which helped for a good roll of I'm guessing 20 or so. My arm was getting tired and people started to gather around and jump in. Maybe it was just luck I don't know. It felt good and my tray size grew to over into the next tray. I don't know how many chips fit in one of those slots.
Anyway I took a break got something to eat and sat down to rest my feet that were killing me. Went outside for air cause it was so hot in there; then I came back in and didn't do so good. I figured I was too tired and should leave rather than stay and lose. On my way home I was thinking that if I could throw the dice with less spin, more flat maybe? So that's my plan to get the rubber down today and hopefully it emulates the same bounce which by the way is unbelievable.
I feel like if I can replicate that I have a better shot at doing this with success. It was definitely like going to school which I expected but I did learn plenty. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Jack
Dear Jack:
The reason the casino wants you to use only one hand to set and deliver the dice has to do with dice cheaters who bring in their own dice and substitute them for the casino's dice. It's tougher to do such a switch using only one hand.
You were playing on a very bouncy table and your idea of lowering your shot and using less spin is probably the way to go. And you have to throw the dice really soft — and I mean really soft. There are many different kinds of bounces on various fabrics, too many to handle here, but in my advanced book Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players! I go into all the various types of fabrics and what kind of throw is needed to beat those fabrics — and all of them can be beaten with the proper throw. This book will be out in the fall of 2010 and is published by Triumph Books, a division of Random House.
I am giving you a free 30-day subscription to my private website at www.goldentouchcraps.com. We have over 5,000 members on this site and I think you will find the posts to be fun and educational. Enjoy!
All the best in and out of the casinos!
Frank Scoblete
