The rightside versus the darkside

I know the math of craps, enough to know that there isn't much of a difference in betting the pass line or the don't pass line. The casino wins about 1.4%, give or take, against both types of bettors.

The darkside (don't) players get hammered on the very first placement of their don't pass or don't come bet when they lose on the 7 and 11 (eight ways to hit the deck) and only win on the 2 and 3 (three ways to come out ahead). The odds are eight to three. That first placement therefore cudgels the game for them. Once a number is established, however, the darksider is in the driver's seat and that makes many darksiders somehow think they are always playing with an edge when in fact the overall darkside game favors the house.

The rightside player has it on his side in a big way the very first time he places his pass or come bet because he wins on the 7 and 11 (eight wins) and loses on the 2, 3, and 12 (four losses). That's an eight to four (two to one) edge. If the game for rightsiders ended there, the casinos would be owned by rightsiders at the end of the day. Unfortunately, once a number is established the odds quickly shift in favor of the casino.

So the darkside don't pass and don't come player has it good after the point or number is established, while the rightside pass and come player has it good before the number is established. Of course, the casino has it just fine against both players. So it goes.

Do all players know these facts? Are darksiders aware of how the casino gets its edge on them? Are rightsiders aware of the how they get their edge and when that edge disappears? No, many have no idea of what is going on when they play the game. They just throw their bets out there and have their own reasons for doing so — many of which are somewhat erroneous or completely idiotic.

The Internet message boards geared to gambling have some of the weirdest explanations as to why to do what the poster thinks you should do to give you a good chance of winning. Here are some of the darkside and rightside arguments:

"When a shooter sevens out, who wins? The casino wins that's who. So why would you bet against the casino? You have to be a dope to do that. I bet with the casino. When the casino wins, I win. You got to play the don'ts and then you are on the side of the casino and we all know how the casinos got all those bright lights don't we? Players who seven out make me money just as they make the casino money. So be smart and bet the don'ts and you won't be sorry. Is a casino ever sorry? Nah!"

"I hate the don't players because they bring bad luck with them to the table. They are rooting for you to lose so they can win. I hate them. They are rats and that aspect of the game should be eliminated. Very few players play the don'ts anyway and no one wants these rats at the table. You can see their sneaky creepy little faces as they make bets that go against your bets. They are casino toadies. That is what they are. I hate those rats!"

"Here is what I do. If two seven outs occur and I am on the rightside, I will go to the darkside because that side is where the trend is happening and I like to ride the trends. It's the only way to win at craps and all other forms of gambling. If a shooter now hits two points I will switch back to the rightside to ride the trend in that direction. Sometimes this doesn't work because the shooters do one then the other and I am on the opposite side of everything. But trends are the way to go. What other way is there to play?"

"I do not make any pass or don't pass line bets. Those are a waste of time. I prefer to place (rightside) or lay (darkside) my bets. This way you can take them off and on as you see fit."

"Rightside players think they own the tables. You know what? They don't own anything. I love to screw up their shooting by placing don't bets and I ain't like other darksiders, man, I cheer for the seven. The rightside players are beside themselves when I cheer for the seven. You can see their faces getting red as they hold in their anger against me. Screw them. I cheer loud as can be. I am there to win money and if I need to get these jerks angry to do that then that is what I will do. Emotions are the key to winning at craps. The stronger the other players' emotions the better off I am."

As you can see, the math of the game is completely out of the above players' minds. And that is what the casinos rely on!