Playing tight

Craps is a game that is often called the best game in the casino by experts in the know. And they are right. In games with 3X or above odds, you will face a three-tenths of one percent house edge. It doesn't get any better than that unless you learn how to control the dice and capture the edge for yourself.

However, what those of us who extol the greatness of craps often overlook is the fact that most of the bets at craps range from awful to even awfuller. For every one good bet at craps, there are dozens of bad bets.

And what does the average craps player do? Almost all craps players make Pass Line bets with odds (that's a good bet) but most of them also pollute their good bets by making one, two, or many more bad bets. It is not unusual for a craps player to add to his Pass Line bet by making hardways bets (house edges ranging from 9 to 11 percent), a Field bet (house edge 5.26 percent), and the occasional wacky crazy crapper bets (such as 2, 3, 11, and 12 with house edges over 11 percent). Other craps players will make silly combination bets like the whirl or world, the horn, the C&E and many others.

Nationwide, casinos win approximately 16 percent of all the money wagered at craps - that's a hefty percentage considering the fact that games with 3X, 5X 10X and 20X odds exist in many venues. The casinos win such a large lump percentage because players are not sticking to the good bets. They are getting into what I call the "craps mania" and they often think that they are "going with the flow," when in fact, they are simply throwing their money away. Bad bets are bad bets, no matter when you make them, no matter why you make them.

Let's take a look at the most popular bets in craps and rate them as A = good bet to make, B = passable bet to make, and F = you're crazy if you make the bet.

Place the 4 or 10: You place the 4 or 10 in multiples of five dollars. If the 4 or 10 is rolled before the 7, the player wins nine dollars. The house edge is 6.67 percent. Grade F

Place the 5 or 9: You place the 5 or 9 in multiples of five dollars. If the 5 rolls before a 7, the player wins seven dollars. Casino edge is four percent. Grade: F

Place the 6 or 8: As stated, you place the 6 or 8 in multiples of six dollars. If the 6 rolls before a 7, the player wins seven dollars. Casino edge is 1.52 percent. Grade: A

Pass Line or Come Bet: You are betting with the shooter and against the seven during the point cycle of the game. The house edge on the bet is 1.4 percent. Grade: A

Don't Pass or Don't Come Bet: You are betting against the shooter and with the seven on the point cycle of the game. The house edge is approximately 1.4 percent. Grade: A

The Odds Bet: This bet can be made with Pass, Don't Pass, Come and Don't Come bets. The house has no edge on the bet whatsoever. Grade: A+

Place the 4 or 10 to Lose: Here you bet in multiples of $11 that the 7 will come up before the 4 or 10. If you win, you receive five dollars. The house edge is 3.03 percent. Grade: F

Place the 5 or 9 to Lose: Here you bet in multiples of eight dollars that the 7 will come up before the 5 or 9. If you win, you the bet is paid off at five dollars. The house edge is 2.5 percent. Grade: B

Place the 6 or 8 to Lose: Here you are betting in multiples of five dollars that the 7 will be rolled before the 6. If you win, the bet is paid off at four dollars. The house edge is 1.82 percent. Grade: B

Hard 4 or 10: You are betting that the 4 or 10 will be made as 2:2 or 5:5 before a 7 is rolled or before the 4 or 10 is rolled as 3:1 or 1:3 or 6:4 or 4:6. Pays 7 to 1. House edge is 11.11 percent. Grade: F

Hard 6 or 8: You are betting that the 6 or 8 or will be made as 3:3 or 4:4 before a 7 is rolled or before the 6 or 8 is made as 5:1, 1:5, 4:2 , 2:4 or 5:3, 3:5, 6:2, 2:6. Pays 9 to 1. House edge is 9.09 percent. Grade: F

The Field: A one-roll wager that the next number will be one of the Field numbers: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12. Sometimes the 5 is substituted for the 9. If the 2 or 12 hits, it is paid off at 2 to 1. The other numbers are paid off at 1 to 1. The house edge is 5.26 percent. Grade: F

The 2 or 12: A one-roll wager that the next number will be a 2 or 12. Pays off at 30 to 1. The house edge is 13.89 percent. Grade: F

Hard 4, 6, 8, 10 Hop: A one-roll wager that the next number will be a 4, 6, 8, 10 made as doubles. Pays off at 30 to 1. The house edge is 13.89 percent. Grade: F

The 3 or 11: A one-roll wager that the next number will be a 3 or 11. Pays off at 15 to 1. The house edge is 11.11 percent. Grade: F

Any Craps: A one-roll wager that the next number will be a craps: 2, 3, or 12. Pays off at 7 to 1. The house edge is 11.11 percent. Grade: F

Any 7: A one-roll wager that the next number will be a 7. Pays off at 4 to 1. House edge is 16.67 percent. Wins the prize as the worst bet at craps! Grade: F

Horn Bet: A one-roll wager that the next number will be either a 2, 3, 11 or 12. House pays off at the odds for the individual number as above. House edge is a combined 12.50 percent. Grade: F

If you want a chance to win at craps, you must play a tight game against the house. Only make those bets that come in with an A or B.