Best Craps Roll Ever
Craps with your host, THE BONE MAN, a real Las Vegas craps dealer About Us. Next Shooter is authored by a real Las Vegas craps dealer and covers everythingyou’d ever want to know about Craps and then some. We offer a unique view of thegame as seen from the casino and dealer’s perspective.And of course we’ve got stuff both for beginners with craps and advanced craps players. I stopped at one of the ATM machines that are ever so conveniently positioned in the Casinos and took out $100. My plan was to quit if I lost $50. I mosied up to the craps table, set my $100 in the Come area of the felt and gathered up the chips the dealer shoved over to me. Craps is a dice game in which players place wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Players may wager money against each other (street craps, also known as shooting dice or rolling dice) or a bank (casino craps, also known as table craps). The Fujitake roll is the holy grail of craps legend, and those who witnessed it liken it to being present for the Buffalo Bills 32-point comeback to beat the Houston Oilers in a 1993 playoff game.
Although I have tested a lot of systems, I don't need to test all of them to know they are all worthless. No system can ever pass the test of time. It is not unusual to win for a while with a system, but if you keep playing the odds will eventually catch up to you and you will fall behind.
For more information about the futility of betting systems, please see The Truth about Betting Systems.
A casino I played at had the 3,4,5 odds system where you were allowed 3x on the 4 and 10, 4x on the 5 and 9 and 5 x on the 6 and 8. I feel that with this 'system' of placing odds, you reduce the fluctuations (with respect to standard 5x odds on all numbers) in your bankroll, and change the distribution of net gain/loss per session, i.e. you would produce a sharper peak located slightly more to the loss side than with 5x odds. Is this so, and could you put some numbers to it?
That is known as 3-4-5X odds, and is now pretty common. The following table shows all the possible outcomes, for the pass and odds combined, with full odds.
Return Table with 3-4-5X Odds
Event | Pays | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|
Pass line win | 1 | 0.222222 | 0.222222 |
Pass line loss | -1 | 0.111111 | -0.111111 |
Point of 4 or 10 & win | 7 | 0.055556 | 0.388889 |
Point of 4 or 10 & lose | -4 | 0.111111 | -0.444444 |
Point of 5 or 9 & win | 7 | 0.088889 | 0.622222 |
Point of 5 or 9 & lose | -5 | 0.133333 | -0.666667 |
Point of 6 or 8 & win | 7 | 0.126263 | 0.883838 |
Point of 6 or 8 & lose | -6 | 0.151515 | -0.909091 |
Total | 1.000000 | -0.014141 |
The standard deviation per pass line bet is 4.915632.
Unlike most gambling writers, I don't put much emphasis on betting strategies. Assuming the same game and bet, there is no one right or wrong strategy. They all behave differently in the short run, but in the long run you will give the house the same percentage of total money bet.
This is similar to a question I got last week. Yes, it is true that there are ten ways to roll a 6 or 8, and six ways to roll a 7. However, one must not look at the probabilities alone, but weight them against the payoffs. The place bet on the 6 and 8 pays 7 to 6 odds when fair odds would pay 6 to 5. By making six unit place bets on the 6 and 8, and taking the other down if one wins, the probability of winning 7 units is 62.5% and the probability of losing 12 units is 37.5%. If the player must cover both the 6 and 8, then the place bet is the way to go. This rate of return isn't bad but could be better. For the player who puts a priority on minimizing the overall house edge, the best strategy is to make combinations of pass, don't pass, come, and don't come bets, and always take the maximum allowable odds.
The better system is to bet on the don't pass only and take full odds. Yes, betting on both does increase you chances of winning on any one bet. However you are suffering a higher combined house edge by betting on both the pass and don't pass and it will cost you in the long run.
Yes, it was luck. It helped that you stuck to the low house edge bets. However, next time, make the line bets with odds only, and don't bet the field, especially if it pays 2 to 1 only on both the 2 and 12.
No combination of bets can give the player an advantage. In your example you would lose one unit for every 12 on the come out roll. You don't make up for it laying the odds. While you usually win laying the odds, you have to risk more. In the end, laying the odds has zero house edge.
As long as you are backing up your pass and come bets with full odds, it doesn't make any difference how many come bets you make. However, it does reduce the overall house edge to keep the odds on your come bets working on the come out roll.
You should never remove a don't pass bet after a point is made! Once a point is made of 6 or 8 the don't pass has equity of 9.09% of the bet amount, which you would be throwing away by taking the bet down. The equity of a don't pass bet on a point of 5 or 9 is 20%, and on a 4 or 10 is 33.33%.
Thanks for the compliment on my site. The best thing I can say about this system is that it composed of low house edge bets. Yes, a 12 will lose the pass bet and push the don’t pass on the come out roll, this is where the house edge is. By making the pass bet you are increasing the overall house edge. If you’re afraid losing you shouldn’t be playing at all. Never hedge your bets. So my advice is to stick to just the don’t pass and laying odds. Yes, you’ll lose some on the come out roll. However if you don’t lose on the come out roll the don’t pass bet will usually win.
I am a novice, just starting to play. My question concerns the 'Five Count Doey/Don’t' System. The way I understand the system:- Wait until the shooter establishes a point.
- Play both come/don’t come (same amount). Until you have a maximum of four numbers
- After the shooter has rolled five times without rolling a 7, take odds on all your numbers on the front side.
The rationale: Limit your exposure until you find a 'qualified' (five rolls without a 7) shooter. Only betting the odds so there is no 'house edge'! Can you compare this system with just playing pass/come and taking the odds?
As I stated in the other craps strategy question you are only mixing another house edge bet into the game by betting on both the pass and don’t pass, or come and don’t come. It is also not going to help to wait until a shooter hits five points. The probability of making a point is the same for me and you as it is for somebody who just threw 100 points in a row. In other words, the past does not matter. As I stated to the person who asked the other question (whom I think may also be you) don’t make opposite bets, just stick to either the do or don’t side and always back up your bets with the odds.
Unless bankroll preservation is very important to you then Kelly betting won’t help. I would just flat bet. Nice strategy to milk the comp system.
The American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling has the following 'anything but seven' combination of craps bets that shows a net win on any number except 7. Here's how much MENSA advises to bet in the 'Anything but 7' system:- 5- place $5
- 6- place $6
- 8- place $6
- field- $5
- total= $22
They claim the house edge is 1.136%. How is that possible if every individual bet made has a higher house edge?
Good question. To confirm their math I made the following table, based on a field bet paying 3 to 1 on a 12. The lower right cell does shows an expected loss of 25 cents over $22 bet. So the house edge is indeed .25/22 = 1.136%.
Mensa Anything but Seven Combo
Number | Probability | Field | Place 5 | Place 6 | Place 8 | Win | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 0.027778 | 10 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 10 | 0.277778 |
3 | 0.055556 | 5 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 5 | 0.277778 |
4 | 0.083333 | 5 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 5 | 0.416667 |
5 | 0.111111 | -5 | 7 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 2 | 0.222222 |
6 | 0.138889 | -5 | 0.000000 | 7 | 0.000000 | 2 | 0.277778 |
7 | 0.166667 | -5 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -22 | -3.666667 |
8 | 0.138889 | -5 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 7 | 2 | 0.277778 |
9 | 0.111111 | 5 | 0 | 0.000000 | 0 | 5 | 0.555556 |
10 | 0.083333 | 5 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 5 | 0.416667 |
11 | 0.055556 | 5 | 0 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 5 | 0.277778 |
12 | 0.027778 | 15 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 0.000000 | 15 | 0.416667 |
Total | 1 | -0.25 |
The reason the overall house edge appears to be less than the house edge of each individual bet is because the house edge on place bets is generally measured as expected player loss per bet resolved.
However, in this case the player is only keeping the place bets up for one roll. This significantly reduces the house edge on the place bets from 4.00% to 1.11% on the 5 and 9, and from 1.52% to 0.46% on the 6 and 8.
For you purists who think I am inconsistent in measuring the house edge on place bets as per bet resolved (or ignoring ties) then I invite you to visit my craps appendix 2 where all craps bets are measured per roll (including ties).
Craig from Los Angeles
No. I had to Google this to find out what this is. This appears to me to be an amusing urban legend about some young scientists who developed a winning craps system. The story is told at Quatloos. I would file this under other fictional stories that have become mistaken for fact, like Joshua’s missing day. As I have said hundreds of times, not only can betting systems not beat games like craps, they can’t even dent the house edge.
If the player bets $5 on the field and 5, and $6 on the 6 and 8, then he will have a net win of $2 on the 5, 6, and 8, $10 on the 2, $15 on the 12, and $5 on the other field numbers, assuming that the 12 pays 3 to 1 on the field. The player will lose $22 on a 7. On a per roll basis, the player can expect to lose 25 cents compared to $22 in bets, for a house edge of 1.136%.
This begs the question, why is this lower than the individual house edge of each bet made? It’s not. The reason it seems that way is the result of comparing apples to oranges. The house edge of place bets is usually expressed as the expected loss per bet resolved. Looking at the individual bets on a per-roll basis, the house edge on the 5 is 1.11%, and on the 6 and 8 is 0.46%, according to my craps appendix 2. Comparing apples to apples, the house edge is a weighted average of the house edge on the field, 5, 6, and 8, on a per-roll basis, or (5/22)×2.778% + (5/22)×1.111% + (6/22)×0.463% + (6/22)×0.463% = 1.136%.
For the benefit of other readers, the 5-Count is a method of slow-playing craps, as discussed in ’Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution’ by Frank Scoblete and Dominator. As the book states, it is a way of betting nothing on some rolls, reducing your expected loss on random shooters, while still getting the full comp value of table time.
The way the 5-Count works is you start counting rolls as soon as a new shooter throws any point number. When you get to five rolls after you start counting, the shooter is deemed worthy, and you start betting. However, you if the 5th roll is not a point number, it doesn’t count.
The book says you will only be betting 43% of the time, which I agree with. It is common for craps players to not bet, bet small, or bet the don’t pass on new shooters, as a way to qualify him. Once a shooter has made a point, or thrown lots of point numbers, the other players will gain confidence in him, and start betting with him. So, this kind of strategy seems natural. When casinos rate your average bet, they don’t lower the average for betting nothing some of the time. However, sometimes they will dock your time, especially if you are betting big.
An alternative strategy is to wait until the shooter makes a point. Under this strategy you will only be betting 40.6% of the time, less than the 43.5% with the 5-Count.
Yes! I’ve said many times that betting systems not only can’t beat a house edge game, they can’t even dent it. That includes denting it in the house’s favor. In other words, even if he tried to lose, he still only gives up 0.18% over the long-run, under your assumptions. Over a shorter time, he probably could do this, but not over 'years.' Some might argue that to deliberately lose, the player should do an anti-Martingale, where the player kept pressing his bets until he lost. However, a problem there is that a winning player will eventually reach the table maximum, which is rather low in craps. It just goes to show how futile betting systems are.
I’ve gathered a list of 19 craps books for all players. These books include information for people who know nothing about craps, to people who are on their way to being professionals. These books are all written by popular gambling professionals, with seven of these books from Frank Scoblete, the most well-known craps author of all time.
1 – John Patrick’s Advanced Craps
John Patrick’s Advanced Craps was written by John Patrick and published in 1995. This book is intended for players that already have a good understanding of the fundamentals of craps.
It introduces players to the Patrick system; this is where you bet on the pass line and don’t pass at the same time. He claims this gives you the best odds. Patrick lays out the information in this book in an easy to read approach that the casual player or high roller can benefit from.
He gives players information on:
- Money management
- Keys to success
- Discipline
- Bankroll
- And more
Patrick focuses on winnings over time, his book is not a one and done win. With his strategies you’ll learn how to make smaller consistent wins.
2 – Casino Craps
Casino Craps was written by Frank Scoblete and published in 2010.
Here’s a look at some of the topics covered in this book:
- How craps is played
- Golden Touch
- Developing your own golden touch throw
- Buy bets
- 5-Count
- Best bets
- Worst bets
- Gaining an edge
- Controlling the dice
- And more
Scoblete’s book was written to turn the beginner into a pro. It starts with explaining the basics of the game and then goes into betting strategies, after this he talks about getting the most from the casino. A majority of the book is focused on controlling the dice with a golden touch.
He also includes anecdotes and stories for entertainment and knowledge.
3 – Craps Take the Money and Run
Craps Take the Money and Run was written by Henry J. Tamburin and published in 1995. The main point of this book is to teach you how to win the money and the leave the table with a pocket full of cash.
Tamburin has over 25 years of experience in gambling, along with that he has taught countless people how to better their game at craps through his schools, seminars, and instructional videos. He puts all his knowledge into this book to teach players how to win at craps wherever they’re.
Here’s a look at some of the topics covered in this book:
- Basic rules
- How the game is played throughout the U.S.
- Game etiquette
- How to make bets
- How bets win or loose
- Best bets to make
- Casino edge
- Increased odds playing
- New crap games popping up in casinos
- Money management
- And more
4 – Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution!
Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! was written by Frank Scoblete and Dominator and published in 2005. This book was written before their other book, Casino Craps, and has a focus solely on dice control and how to use it to win craps. If you’re interested in only dice control and not the basics or betting information offered in Casino Craps, then Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution! is a better fit for you.
Here are the topics they cover:
- Scan
- Dice sets
- Stance
- Grip
- Grap
- Pickup
- Backspin
- Throw
- Bounce
- Where to land the dice
- How to land the dice where you want it
- Hitting the back wall
- Which arc to use based on table
- Betting to get the edge
- Betting against random rollers
- Spreading techniques
- 5-Count
- Camouflaging your dice control
- Bankroll
- Educated risk takers P.O.W.E.R plan
- Common problems that affect your shooting
- Dice control teams
There’s also advice and tips from craps instructors:
- Howard “Rock ‘n Roller”
- Jerry “Stickman”
- Billy the Kid
- Street Dog
- Wordslayer
- Finesse
- Bill Burton
- No Field Five
- Chip
- Tenor and Satch
- Pit Boss
5 – Winning Casino Craps
Winning Casino Craps was written by Edwin Silberstang and published in 1979. Silberstang wrote this book to teach players just as much about craps as anyone else knows. The information he provides gets you to the same level as casino managers, dealers, pit bosses and other players. It’s also the first book to put into print some strategies that had only been word of mouth before.
Silberstang wrote this book in an easy to understand and enjoyable format that teaches everything you need to learn about craps. You’ll learn from the basics of playing to the strategies that win. You’ll learn about odds, the best bets to make, and more.
6 – Beat the Craps out of the Casinos
Beat the Craps out of the Casinos was written by Frank Scoblete and published in 1991. This book is great for everyone, even beginners that have little to no knowledge about craps.
Longest Craps Roll
This book is not a how to book, it’s written in a narrative that is easy to read and comprehend. Scoblete covers his three-point rule, super system, bankroll, and the 5-count.
7 – The Dice Doctor
The Dice Doctor was written by Sam Grafstein and published in 1981. With over 60 years of experience at the craps table, Grafstein puts all his knowledge on the game into this book.
He covers:
- Qualified shooters
- Locking up wins
- Converted come bets
- Legitimate winning steaks and how to find them
- Bankroll control and protect
- Making 5-10 times more on a hot roll
- 21 strategies
- Professional plays
- And 30 charts and tables
8 – Cutting Edge Craps
Cutting Edge Craps was written by Frank Scoblete and Dominator and published in 2010. This book is written in an easy to understand format and includes pictures to further readers understanding.
Here’s a look at some of topics covered in this book:
- Betting styles
- Playing methods based on player edges
- Dice sets to hit selected numbers
- Dice shooting evaluation
- Pyramids
- V-Spread
- Single Point Pop
- Dice Correspondence
- Super-bouncy tables
- Group play
- Team play
- Throws
- Dice setting
- Non-dice-set casinos
- Meditation
- Visualization
- Railbirds and thieves
- 5-Count
- 147-number roll
- And more
9 – I Am a Dice Controller
I Am a Dice Controller was written by Frank Scoblete and published in 2015.
Here’s a look at the topics covered in this book:
- Sets
- Stance
- Throw
- Grip
- Backspin
- Proper betting
- Arc
- Landing
- And the 5-Count.
He also includes stories of the past 25 years playing with dice control experts and the betrayals he has faced during that time and the “The Arm” a woman who he calls the greatest dice controller ever.
There’s also information from:
- Chris “Sharpshooter”
- Jerry “Stickman”
- Pawlicki
- Bill “Ace-10” Burton
- Howard “Rock ‘n Roller”
- John “Skinny”
- Bob “Mr. Finesse”
- Daryl “No Field Five”
- Arman “Pit Boss”
- Randy “Randman”
- Billy “the Kid”
- Mark “Dice Pilot”
- Tim “Timmer”
You’ll also read about dice control teams:
- The Lee Brothers
- Marilyn “the Goddess” and Charlie “Santrap”
- The Five Horsemen
- The Captain’s Crew
- Pat “Dr. Crapology” and Janis “Alligator Rose”
- And Heavenly Kitten and Star Shine
10 – The Smarter Bet Guide to Craps
The Smarter Bet Guide to Craps was written by Basil Nestor and published in 2003. Nestor has a series of different Smarter Bet Guides.
This book includes:
- Table layout
- Analysis of craps bets
- Mathematical strategies
- Dice-shooting techniques
- Advantage shots
- Most common gambling mistakes
- Possible combinations
- How to make smarter bets
- Wagers
- Gaining an edge
- And more
This book is small enough for you to carry around and refer back to. You can use the charts and strategies on the go to improve your game.
11 – Fundamentals of Craps
Fundamentals of Craps was written by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis and published in 1995. The authors of this book made this an easy to understand and follow guide that has the math involved explained so easily that anyone could understand it.
This book is not a dice controlling guide, like many other craps books. They start with basic information about the game. They then give you a simplified look at the layout of the game. They teach you about right and wrong bets, odds, and other various topics relating to craps.
Craps can be intimidating to players that don’t understand it but with this book you learn everything you need too in order to win.
12 – Get the Edge at Craps
Get the Edge at Craps was written by Sharpshooter, was published in 2002, and has a foreword by Frank Scoblete.
This book is all about dice control and how Sharpshooter uses it to win. You’ll learn how to roll the dice to increase the odds of certain numbers appearing. This book includes some mathematical calculations and with those and disciplined practice you can get as good as Sharpshooter at dice control to win the game of craps.
13 – The Craps Answer Book
The Craps Answer Book was written by John Grochowski and published in 2001. This book is for players that already has a good understanding of the game and have practiced playing it before.
This book is all fact, and rids players of any misconceptions they have about the game. It has loads of knowledge all put together to answer any questions you have about the game. It also has fun trivia, lingo, and is set of in a quiz format that tests your knowledge and teaches you everything you need to know.
14 – Forever Craps
Forever Craps was written by Frank Scoblete and published in 2004. This book is a life story of Scoblete and tells about his life from his Brooklyn childhood, to his title of Captain of Craps. This is an entertaining book that gives you background on a famous gambling professional and teaches you about craps along the way.
15 – The Craps Underground
The Craps Underground was written by Frank Scoblete and published in 2004. The title says it all for this book. It’s a look at the professional craps players who have mastered dice control and how they’re winning millions of dollars from casinos.
This book is several stories about these craps players compiled together for readers to learn about who they’re, where they’re from, and how they got here.
16 – No Nonsense Craps
No Nonsense Craps was written by Richard Orlyn and published in 2008. This book is all about putting to rest table charting, dice control, point counting and other popular craps methods. It gives a straightforward look at the two-dice probability theory, betting, and money management skills to win the game. You also get a look at Orlyn’s trademarked personal strategy, Table Time Plus.
17 – How to Make Your Living Playing Craps
How to Make Your Living Playing Craps was written by Larry Edell and published in 1996.With this book, Edell teaches you how to change your whole lifestyle.
Topics in this book include:
- Free gambling coupons
- Free diners
- Free rooms
- Free shows
- Making up to $640 a day
- Making up to $200 an hour
- Making up to $300 an hour before they established the point
- And more
This book teaches three main systems which are Sixes and Eights, Horn Bets, and Pre-setting the Dice. He also includes a glossary and several charts.
18 – Learn to Play Craps from Part Time Dice Pros
Learn to Play Craps from Part Time Dice Pros was written by C. “Judge” Johnson and Bryan Bonshell and published in 2011. This book was written for players of any skill level, from beginner to semi-professional.
How To Roll Craps Dice
It talks about Johnson and Bonshell’s story about how they become professional craps players and the strategies they use. It teaches you from the basics of how to play to advanced methods they use such as dice control.
19 – Wong on Dice
Wong on Dice was written by Stanford Wong and published in 2005.Wong teaches math and logic with his book and is intended for readers that already have a good understanding of the basic fundamentals of craps.
Best Craps Roll Ever Best
While reading you learn how to play, why to play that way, and when you’re good enough to play at casinos without losing it all. Wong teaches dice control and the physics of it to get a deeper understanding at how to properly control the dice. After learning how to control the dice he gives you the knowledge to keep your edge on the casino and come out a winner.
Conclusion
Best Craps Roll Ever Wins
By reading the books on this list you’ll learn winning strategies like dice controlling, mathematical methods, and probability. You can also find entertaining tales and tips from famous craps players.
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