Positive betting progressions

Frank,

In your latest private newsletter you discuss a little bit how in the long run you can not gain an edge by positive or negative progression. I think most experienced gamblers know negative progression is "progression to depression" or suicide. I have met a few that are pretty convinced about positive progression. Is it possible to expound on this in a future newsletter?

Also, you mentioned the positive advantages of online poker. As far as other online gambling should people stay far away?

Thank you for your time.

Phil

Dear Phil:

In a random game where the casino has the edge on every bet, it is a waste of money to bet anything other than the lowest bet with the lowest house edge -- which would be the pass and come. That's the math and the math doesn't lie. Many gamblers hate it when I say that but the truth is the truth. The math doesn't lie.

However if you are dealing with a Golden Touch dice controller or if you are one such controller, there are two main ways to go. The first is that you are probably better off putting your big bet up from the start as opposed to increasing the bet over time. But this is hard to do for many players; it makes them feel uncomfortable to have such a big initial bet out there -- so there are three ways you can positively progress your bets if the big first bet turns your knees to Jell-O.

1. Conservative positive progression: The Triple Win Method: Win three times your spread then press your bets after every other win or after every third win.

An example: If you are betting $60 on the 6 and $60 on the 8, then you have $120 in action. When you win three times your spread -- that is you have now won $360 -- on the next win you press the number that hit. Now, you go into a win, win and press; win, win and press or, if you are a little more aggressive, a win and press, a win and press. So when it is win, you keep the money; and when it is press, you do a full press.

2. Aggressive positive progression: The Double Win Method: Win twice as much as your spread and then go into a win and press, win and press.

An example: With a $120 spread, when you are up $240, the next hit is a press. Then the next hit is a win and you keep the money; the next hit will be another press and so on.

3. The Single Number Press: You have $60 on the 6 and $60 on the 8 for a spread of $120. The 6 now hits three times and the 8 has not hit at all. You have two ways to go. You can take $30 or the entire $60 from your 8 and put it on your 6 or you can press the 6 the very next time it hits. You can do a half press ($30) or a full press ($60). I'd recommend the half press as it is more conservative.

Please keep in mind these are merely guidelines for a controlled shooter, not for a random shooter. You can use these as a means of establishing your own method.

As far as Internet gambling is concerned, I think the big poker sites are honest (I never play online so I am using my gambling friends' advice here) but I would stay clear of the casino games. Why play into a house edge online? You are just throwing your money away.

I hope this helped.

You have a subscription to my private website at www.goldentouchcraps.com so if you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to post them on the site. I also have a lot of betting information in my new book "Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!" which can be purchased from Amazon.com or your local bookstore.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete