Allow me to make the following assertion:  The best two bets in the house are  (1)  a  Pass Line bet, backed with double odds and (2) a Come Line bet, backed with double odds. The appendix to this handout contains the mathematical "proof" for this assertion, but trust me on this. If you do as I say, you will give the house  an advantage of less than 1% (in fact, the percent is .6 of 1%, or .006). Imagine if your bank charged you less than one percent on a loan--it couldn’t stay in business.

The casino is just like a bank. If all its players played according to the system you’re learning now, the casino would have to close down its craps tables.  Put it this way.  If you wager $1,000, your expected loss over the long run is only $6. So, for all practical purposes, in the short run you stand a 50-50 chance of winning!

Example of a Pass Line Bet with Odds

In this manual, I assume your normal bet is $5. You walk up to the table when there’s a new "come-out roll." You put $5 down on the pass line, and the dice are rolled. What happens if the dice total a "7" or an "11?" You win $5! What happens if the dice total "2", "3", or "12?" You lose $5.

What happens if the dice total something other than a natural "7" or "11", or a craps "2", "3", or "12?"

 The answer is that a point is established. Recall from the last two modules that a point is defined as a "4", "5", "6", "8", "9", and "10."

Also recall that the 4 and 10 are "twins", the 5 and 9 are "twins," and the 6 and 8 are "twins."

Let’s say the dice on the come-out roll totals a "4."

The dealer puts the puck on the point four, as shown below. The situation is now this: if a "7" is rolled before the "4" is rolled, you lose. But if the "4" is rolled before a "7", you win.


                                    DEALER                BOXMAN                 DEALER
     


But also understand that the house has six chances of winning, and you only have three chances of winning. So what can you do to make this a fairer game?

Answer: You put $10 (two red chips) directly behind the Pass Line, where your $5 bet currently sits. The $10 is called your "odds bet," or your "free odds bet." Because you’ve placed twice as many chips "behind the line" compared to the Pass Line bet, you are said to be making a "double odds" bet.

Folks, the odds bet is the best bet in the casino because, if the point "4" comes up before the "7", you will win 6 to 3 odds on your $10 bet. In other words, your $10 odds bet will return $20, while your Pass Line bet returns "even money" at $5.

In short, the odds bet forces the house to pay you an amount exactly compensating you for the risk that you are taking. But in order to "earn" this right to a higher return, you first have to "invest" by making a $5 Pass Line Bet.
 

What would happen, do you think, if the come-out roll point had been a "5"? Because there are six chances of making a "7" and only four chances of making of "5", the house should pay you 6/4 odds on your odds bet. So, if you’ve got $5 on the Pass Line, and you back it up with $10 odds, the house will pay you $15 for your $10 odds bet (a 6/4, or 3/2) return, and only $5 even money for your Pass Line Bet.

    "5" is the point   

Let’s summarize the payoffs for each point, assuming you’ve bet $5 on the Pass Line.

Example of a Come Line Bet with Odds

The Come Line Bet is identical to the Pass Line bet, except it can only be made after a come-out roll point has been established. Say, for example, that you walked up to the table with a "hand" underway. Let’s also say that the puck sits on the "5" point, meaning the Pass Line bettors will be paid off  if the "5" comes up before a "7".

The nice thing about the Come Line bet is that you can get in on the action without having to wait for the Pass Line to be paid off or the dice to "Seven Out" (in which case the Pass Line bettors all lose). Instead, you can place $5 on the Come Line as shown below.

 
    Assume puck is on point 5    


The Come Line bet is now treated as though it’s a come-out roll, but only from your perspective. In other words, if on the next roll of the dice, the dice total "7" or "11",  you win. If the dice are crap dice (e.g., "2", "3", or "12"), you lose. If it’s any other point, say, the "9" the dealer places your $5 chip in the "9"  point area in front of him and asks, "Would you like odds on your come bet?" At this point, you promptly put $10 on the table and say, "Odds on the nine, please." The dealer then puts your $10 odds bet on top of your $5 Come bet, as shown below.

                                                    

The situation is now this: While the rest of the table is cheering for their Pass Line point of "5", you’re cheering for your Come Line point, which is the "9." If the "5" hits before a "7," everyone is very happy and there will be a new come-out roll. However, you still have your $15 sitting on the "9" point. Why?

Because your bet with the house was that a "9" would hit before the "7". This issue is still unresolved. The bet is still the same. You win if the "9" appears first, you lose if the "7" appears. But do note one thing. All odds bets are off on come-out rolls.

This means that if a "7" is rolled on the next come-out roll, immediately after a Pass Line bet has just been paid,  you would get your $10 odds bet back, but lose your $5 Come Line bet. On the other hand, if the "9" is rolled on the come-out roll, you win $5 on your Come Line bet, but merely get your $10 odds back from the dealer.

Let’s simulate a little game, just to get some practice.

1. Assume: A new come-out roll is starting.
 
2. You bet $5 on the pass line.
 
3. The EIGHT point is made.
 
4. You bet double odds of $10, behind the Pass Line.
 
5. If  a SEVEN is rolled before a EIGHT, you lose all $15.
 
6. If a EIGHT is rolled before a SEVEN, you win $5 on your pass line bet and you win $12 on your odds bet of $10.

[Note: a $12/$10 payoff is a 6/5 payoff]

Summary: The house pays you a payoff greater than even money because it recognizes the additional risk you’ve taken by "owning" (i.e., "controlling") the EIGHT.
 

The "DeBerg" System

The system below is the optimal system for a "moderate" gambler. At the end of this section, I will show you how the system can be revised if you’re an "aggressive" gambler or a "conservative" gambler. Also, I assume that you are planning a weekend gambling trip.

1. Bet in $5  units.
 
2. Always bet the PASS LINE, backed up with $10 odds.
 
3. Always "buy" up to two COME LINE bets, each backed with $10 odds.
 
4. Maximum amount at risk at any one time: 3 x $15 = $45.
 
5. Your "Bankroll" for any one "session" should be four times the amount of money you will have on the table at any one time==> 4 x $45 = $180 (Moderate).
 
6. Play in 1-hour sessions.
 
7. Walk if you lose your entire bankroll (do not dig into your pockets) on any one session.
 
8. On any one "hand" during a session: If you win two  points (PASS LINE and/or COME LINE) that are backed with odds, "press" further bets during this hand;  press means that, instead of $5 on the pass or come, you bet $10, and instead of $10 odds behind the line, wager $20 odds behind the line.
 
9. At the end of one hour, continue play until the shooter sevens out.
 
10. If your luck during a weekend is really bad, do not continue playing if you’ve lost three times the maximum bankroll for any one session (i.e., if you lose $180 x 3, or $540, stop).
 
This system allows you to limit your losses if your luck is really bad, but it also allows you to "catch a wave" of hot hands by increasing your wagers only after you’ve already been a winner on that particular hand.

The Aggressive Approach

If you’re an aggressive gambler, use the same strategy outlined above, but come to the table with a session bankroll equal to five times the maximum you will have on the table at any one time. In our case, it’s 5 x $45 = $225. Also, "press" your bet after one point has been made in each hand, not two points.

The Conservative Approach

If you’re a conservative gambler, use the same strategy outlined above, but come to the table with a session bankroll equal to three times the maximum you will have on the table at any one time. In our case, it’s 3 x $45 = $135. Also, "press" your bet after three points have been made in each hand, not two points.