Utilizing the Hop Bet

Most people don't know this, but you can bet on hardways hopping and get a higher payoff. If you think a hardway four is "due" you can bet, for example, "$5 2&2 hop". Now the good thing about hardway hops is that they pay double - instead of 15:1 (on a regular hop bet) you get 30:1 on your wagers. So, if you bet $5 hardway 4 hop, and the very next roll is 2&2, you'll win $150 (at 30:1) instead of $35 at 7:1 - $110 more!

Remember, though, a hardway hop (at 30:1) is for one roll only, while a regular hardway bet (at 7:1 or 9:1) stays up until it wins or loses. Also, make sure your favorite casino pays 30:1 on hardway hops. Some of the older casinos still pay 15:1, so ask first to make sure.

At 30:1 this means you can bet $5 hardway hopping on the 4, 6, 8 or 10 and win $150 as opposed to winning $35 (7:1) on the 4/10 or $45 (9:1) on the 6/8.

You can also hop the seven on the comeout. This is rarely done, but it can be very profitable - if you do it correctly. The seven can be made three ways - 3&4, 2&5, and 1&6, so your bets must be in multiples of $3. You can use a simple $3 progression ($3, $6, $9, etc.), especially if the shooter sets the dice and bets big on the passline.

Finally, if you like to lay bets, you probably thought of hedging your even lay bets (4, 6, 8 or 10) with a hardway wager. If the hard ten rolls, you lose your $80 lay bet but win $84 (at 7:1) from the hard way. Now, instead of betting $12 hard ten, you can bet $3 hard ten hopping, which can pay 30:1 instead of 7:1. Remember, though, that this is a one-roll bet, so it must be replaced on every roll. However, if you lose the $80 when the hard way rolls, you can win $90 ($3 at 30:1) on the hard ten. And if you win your lay bet you will only lose $3 instead of $12.

Always remember that Hop Bets are one roll bets. They have a sizeable house edge so don't go crazy. It's a fun bet that can spice up the game so use it accordingly.

That's it for now, so until next time,

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER!!

What is a "Hop Bet"?

Lately I've had some inquiries as to what, exactly, is a "Hop Bet". The short answer is, it's a one roll bet on a very specific outcome on the dice. In other words, you wouldn't bet on just a "5" being rolled. You would have to specify HOW the 5 shows, such as "4-1", or "3-2".

This bet has a very high "house edge", so it's not a recommended bet. BUT, it can be a fun bet if you don't go overboard and use it intelligently.

So, want to know the secrets on the Hop Bet and how to use it? I know you do! Be sure to check back a little later, I will be divulging all you seek to know about this fun bet, you will sound like a pro next time you're at the tables!! I'm never to busy to say hi so if you're playing a craps table in Vegas, check the hook, that's where I'll be, and send down a 151/coke after you collect a winner!

Work Hard, Party Harder!!

Utilizing the Horn Bet in craps

Hi all, I realize it's just been too damn long since my last post. I've recently been asked about the mysterious "Horn Bet". Let me enlighten you. It is a bet to be utilized carefully. It has a very high "house edge" but it can be a fun bet if used properly. Let us begin....

A horn bet is a one-roll bet on the 2, 3, 11, or 12, and must be bet in multiples of 4. For example, you can make a $4 horn bet or an $8 horn bet, but not a $5 one. Each bet pays off individually. If you bet a $4 horn and the next roll is a 2 or 12, you'll win $30 (at 30:1).

If the next roll is a 3 or 11, you'll win $15 (at 15:1). The payoff on a horn bet is significantly higher (either 15:1 or 30:1) than an any craps bet (7:1) even though it has the exact same numbers. By paying an extra $2, you can increase your odds, and many players use a horn bet to protect their pass line instead of a C&E bet.

For example, if you have $4 on the horn during the come out and a horn number hits, you'll win $30 for the 3 or 11 and $15 for the 2 or 12.

You also need to subtract the money lost on the other numbers so the 3/11 win is really $15-$3 or $12, and the 2/12 win is really $30-$3 or $27.

You can also make money by betting progressively on these horn bets. Just wait until ten numbers go by without a 2, 3, 11 or 12.

Begin betting $4, and increase your bets $4 ($1 each number) every roll. If the 3 or 11 does roll, say on the 14th roll, you would have invested $40 (4+8+12+16) and won $60 (15 x $4). If in the same roll a 2 or 12 comes up instead of the 3 or 11, you would still have invested $40 but won $120 (30 x $4) instead of $40.

If ten additional rolls go by after the initial 10 roll waiting period, you'll be behind $220 (4+8+12+16+20+24+28+32+36+40). But if the 3 or 11 hits now you'll win $600 ($40 x 15) and on the 2 or 12 you'll win $1200 ($40 x 30)!

Before you run out to the tables, remember that many casinos have different limits on horn bets. Sometimes, on a table with a $500 initial bet limit, there is an unwritten limit for proposition bets of $100.

You need to ask the dealer first. Tell him what you're going to do. Make sure he understands before you start betting.

Still, to get all the way up to $100 ($25 each number) on the horn, it means that 35 rolls have gone by (25 plus waiting ten rolls before you start) with no 2, 3, 11 or 12.

Unlikely, but not impossible. Of course, the 2, 3, 11, or 12 should appear 6 times in 36 rolls, or 1 in 6, the same as the seven.

It is highly unlikely that any table would see 100 rolls go by without a 2, 3, 11 or 12. Still, you should always have both a win goal and a loss limit whenever you play.

If this method seems a bit intimidating, just take a pad and pen, play the system on paper, and see how it works before you invest any real money!

Hope this helps you have fun at the tables. Please post any questions or suggestions you'd like to have me discuss. If you happen to see me at the tables in Sin City, as always stop and say hi, drinks ALWAYS accepted (151/coke pls). And of course...

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER!!

Latest Vegas Trip

Hello all! Just wanted to update everyone. I'll be in fabulous Las Vegas this Friday and Saturday. I'll be playing craps at Hooters and Tuscany, and more than likely poker at the Palms. If you're around and see me, stop in by and say hello. I'm always up for a quick discussion on craps or just a pic if you like. Looking forward to it. See you at the tables!

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER!!

Thinking the right way when it comes to odds

The other day I was having a discussion with a person who is very close to me about casino games in general and she made a statement that was disturbing.  It was a statement actually I hear all the time at the tables and I inwardly cringe every time.  The statement happened to be about roulette but similar statements can be heard at almost any table.  The statement was:

"If red comes up 5 times in a row, odds are black will come up next"

COMPLETELY INCORRECT!!!!


The odds that red will appear again are EXACTLY the same as they were the 1st 5 spins, the odds that black will appear are EXACTLY the same as they were the previous 5 spins, and, incidentally, the odds the green (0,00) will come in are also the same.  Do not bet the kids' college tuition based on the misguided thinking that if a result appears so many times in a row, then it won't happen again, or the other misguided thinking that makes some people believe that, in the above scenario, odds are red will appear again since that is a trend.

Think of it this way- neither the wheel nor the little ball in the game of roulette know what they just did or what they are supposed to do.  Each spin is unique and all results have exactly the same odds of occurring each time.  A result may duplicate many times in a row and it will have absolutely no effect on the next spin, except in some people's minds.  The casino, however, LOVES for people to think this way.  That's the reason many establishments have installed boards that show the results of several previous spins next to their roulette tables.  Some people will be walking by and be tempted to lay a bet because they see that one color or the other has appeared several times in a row.  Don't be sucked into this, better to concentrate on how to mathematically reduce the House Edge and make smarter wagers.

Anyway, that's my little piece of advice for you all (or as my Carolinian friends would say, Y'all), hope it helps a little.  As always, if you happen to see me at the tables stop and say "Hi".  Hope to see you there.

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER

Understanding the Place Bets and Big 6/Big 8 in Craps

So, now you understand how to play the Passline, the Come Bet, and how to take odds on both to maximize your win potential.  Let's talk a little bit about the Place Bets.


Many people choose to utilize these bets when they wish to bet on a certain point number.  It's a little similar to taking odds but you don't need to first establish a number as you would when betting the Passline or Come.  In order to establish a bet on the point number of your choice, you would toss the chips to the dealer saying, for example, "Place the 6 please".  The dealer will then take your chips and place them on the designated number in such a way as to indicate whose bet that is.  Remember, never try to place the chips yourself, that area of the table is controlled by the dealer and only he may place the bets there.  These bets win every time that number is rolled and lose when a 7 is rolled.  The bet stays in play until a 7 is rolled or you take it down.  you are free to take down the bet at any time between rolls.

So, what are the payouts and the proper bet amounts?

                              6, 8   pays 7 to 6

                              5, 9   pays 7 to 5

                              4, 10 pays 9 to 5

The proper bet amounts, therefore, would be multiples of 6 on the 6 and 8, and multiples of 5 on the 5, 9, 4, and 10.  Again, if you ever have any doubt or get confused, simply ask the dealer what the proper amount would be for a specific bet.  They are always happy to help.

The people this bet appeals to are those that want to place a wager on a point number without the dice deciding the number for you.  Once placed, the wager also stays in effect until either a 7 is rolled or the bet is taken down by the player.  Take note of the payouts, they are slightly different than the Odds payouts for the respective numbers.  The House Edge on these bets aren't that bad (which is a good thing), so these are reasonable bets for the player.

Play around and try out some of these bets as well as the Come with Odds and see how it suits you.  You'll eventually find a betting style that you like and will probably mix it up a little depending on how well you're doing.  Main thing is to utilize the bets with the smallest House Edge more and either stay completely away or minimize your wagers on the bets with the larger House Edges.  Let the ill-informed and ignorant players take the sucker bets.

Speaking of Sucker Bets, let me take a moment to address a couple bets I always tell people to NEVER, EVER make.  The Sucker Bets of which I speak are the Big 6 and Big 8 bets.  You will find these bets colored in red in the lower left and lower right corners of the table.  You can bet any amount on these bets and you will get even money if the 6 or 8 gets rolled and lose if a 7 is rolled.  By the way, this is such a sucker bet that it's actually illegal in Atlantic City, so you won't find the bet on tables there.  If you were to bet something on the Big 6/8, why wouldn't you just Place the 6 or 8 and get a better payout?  Don't be a sucker, the world has enough of those already.

Hope you've enjoyed learning about the Place Bets, have fun experimenting and if you happen to see me at the tables, come on over and say "Hello", I'm always willing to chat for a few minutes or sign an autograph.  And please, feel free to send me over a 151/Coke, that's always a good ice-breaker!!  As always.......

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Understanding the House Edge

When discussing some basic strategies and different aspects of craps I will make references to the HOUSE EDGE.  So, what is the House Edge?  The House Edge is how the Casino guarantees they will win in the long run, it's their built-in advantage.  Of course, when you make a losing wager, the House collects that wager, but when you make a winning wager, the House pays you LESS than what you should be getting according to the statistical TRUE ODDS (except when you make an Odds bet in craps, they actually pay you the true odds when you win, which is why you need to take advantage of that bet).  Simply put, the House Edge is the difference between the True Odds and the odds the Casino pays you when you win.  Let me give you a great and simple to understand example of the House Edge......


If you sit down at a Roulette table you will notice it has 36 Red/Black numbers and 2 Green 0/00 (we will assume it's an American Roulette table, European tables have only 1 Green 0), for a total of 38 possible numbers.  If you bet a single number straight up, the True Odds are 37-1 (37 numbers would lose your wager while the one number you bet would be a winner for you).  The Casino actually pays out at 35-1.  If you bet $1 and win, you will get to keep the original $1 and the Casino will pay you an additional $35, a total of $36 you would get back. If you were to bet $1 on every possible outcome, instead of coming out even, you would lose money.  So, what's the House Edge here?  Well, you take the difference between what the return should have been and what it actually is (38-36=2) and divide the result of 2 by the True Odds of 38 and you get the House Edge of  5.26%.


If you know me, or at least read my blog, you know I advocate always taking the Odds bet on the Pass Line and Come bets in Craps.  The reason is by getting True Odds on these bets, the House Edge will be reduced.  How much that House Edge is depends on how much you can either afford or are allowed to put down.  

COMBINED HOUSE EDGE ON THE PASS LINE AND TAKING ODDS

Odds                       House Edge

1X                             0.848%

2X                             0.606%

Full Double Odds       0.572%

3X                             0.471%

3-4-5X                      0.374%

5X                             0.326%

10X                           0.184%

20X                           0.099%

100X                         0.021%

"Full Double Odds" means the Player can take 2.5 times odds on points of 6 or 8 and 2 times on all other points.  "3-4-5X" means the Player can take 3X odds on points of 4 or 10, 4X on points of 5 or 9, and 5X on points of 6 or 8.

Maximum allowable odds are posted at every table or just ask the Dealers.  Hope this info helps you out, see you at the table!

WORK HARD, PARTY HARDER!!!!!!!