Easy does it

27 September 2016

By Frank Scoblete

FROM RICHARD: Hi Frank, I love your books. I have two quick questions.

I have a $100 match play from a casino. Is it better to use the match play at once for $100 or use them at $25 each? Is there a difference in the end?

Also I’ve read all of your books about craps. I know you talk about landing the dice about five inches from the wall, but would it make sense to try and land them almost touching the bottom of the wall to avoid the pyramid. You know, that couple inches space below the pyramids.


FRANK RESPONDS: If you land them exactly at the bottom of the wall, the slight curve at the bottom of the back wall will send the dice high into the air. It looks pretty but the dice will land and scoot all over the place.

You can decide how to use the match play at most casinos. However you decide to play your match play will give you the same money over time. I prefer to split it up but it really makes no difference in the end.


FROM JEROME: Frank I would like to thank you for your advice about taking it easy at the craps tables. I took it slow and did the 5-Count on every shooter and saved a ton of money. My bets were low and my rolls were 20-plus! My sister even counted a 38. I even hit the all-the-way bet (which is all the numbers) before I sevened-out. That all-the-way bet pays 174 to one!

But the main thing I learned was discipline and not to bet on all the random rollers. I made more money by not placing bets on them!

Thank you again Frank and don’t worry, I’ll keep taking it easy!

FRANK RESPONDS: Never be in a rush to play; never be in a rush to bet; never be in a rush to increase your bets if you’ve been winning a little. Too many players think diving into a game is the way to play. I prefer putting my toes into the water first. People work hard for their money and they should be careful how they bet it.


FROM TERRY: This amazed me. I asked the dealer how play a hand at blackjack and she gave me an answer about “how the book” says to play. I played her way and I won but I decided to see if “the book” (as in books plural) actually said to play the hand that way. To make a sad story short – she was wrong. Can you believe that a blackjack dealer doesn’t know how to play? I was shocked.

FRANK RESPONDS: Don’t be shocked. Many blackjack dealers know how to deal the game, pay off the bets and hit or stand on their own hands as the house dictates. But they do not necessarily know basic strategy for the game from the players’ angle.


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.