The Quotable Captain: 39 steps (Part II)

23 October 2018

By Frank Scoblete

(The late Captain was my mentor in gambling. I’ve written six books about him. This series contains some of his quotes, ideas and advice. This particular article concerns how the Captain lists the most important aspects of behavior at the tables.)

The Captain: The Captain gave me 39 rules to follow at the tables. — I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps!

Here are the rules for dice controllers:

1. Do not take longer than 10 seconds to set, grab, grip, aim and throw the dice.

2. Always hit the back wall — but when you don’t, please give an indication that you have screwed up. Don’t wait for casino personnel to yell at you. Apologize even before anyone can say anything to you.

3. Do not discuss dice sets, dice throws, bounces, backspins or anything of any depth at the craps table. Stay away from any and all dice control talk.

4. Act as if you are a regular player at the tables. Don’t be snooty. If someone has a good roll, be he a random roller or the best dice controller, or anyone in between, cheer when he hits his point.

5. Do not give advice to anyone while the game is progressing. If a random roller asks you a question, refer him to the dealer with “Ask the dealers, they are the experts.”

6. You might try to get in the line that your spouse or significant other or best friend is a slot nut who plays long hours when the two of you come together. It’s good to be looked at as one of a gambling couple, the second of which (your wife, friend, son, daughter, etc.) is a big loser.

7. When you are having a good roll, do not become an egomaniac. Even if your dice are so perfect that you can call your number, don’t do it.

8. The dealers live on tips. Be generous with your tipping. If you’re on their side, they’ll most likely be on your side.

9. Be friendly to the box persons and the pit personnel.

10. If you happen to like the casino you’re playing at, let the dealers, the box and the pit know that you like them.

11. Do not do the fire drill at the table and fully switch positions back and forth.

12. Do not ask other players to move their chips from your landing zone.

13. Know how much you are going to get paid for a bet.

14. Make your presses at the right time and not out of order. Make sure you have won enough to make the added risk worthwhile.

15. Keep the game moving. Make your bets all at once – don’t wait until the last second to throw out a new bet.

16. Don’t constantly keep calling your bets on and off. On random rollers, it doesn’t matter what numbers he hits – it’s random!

17. Make sure you do not shortchange yourself when playing. You need a proper bankroll to play your “A” game. Never borrow money from friends in order to play. Bet small in relation to your total bankroll.

18. Realize that a dice controller will have plenty of losing hands and losing sessions. Even the Arm sevened out.

19. Never play when you are tired.

20. Take the dice three or four times, and if you are not hitting then take a break.

Betting rules for all craps players:

21. Craps is a controlled riot. Get caught up in the emotions of the players who are hitting outrageous Crazy Crapper bets, and you will find major losses over time.

22. Remember this: The more you play random games, the better the chance that you will be a loser.

General rules to play long and prosper:

23. Ignore all systems that have as their underlying basis any kind of trend betting as advantage play.

24. Don’t fall for “new age” gobbledygook about sensing the energy at a table or psychically feeling when a hot roll will occur.

25. There are no such things as hot tables or cold tables. What happened in the past of a random game cannot predict what will happen coming up. A table is just a table.

26. Even if you become a highly skilled dice controller, keep your perspective. You are playing a game.

Visit Frank’s website at www.frankscoblete.com. Frank’s latest books are Confessions of a Wayward Catholic, I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps and I Am a Card Counter: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Blackjack. Available from Amazon.com, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and at bookstores.