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Craps Rules continued
The rest of the bets
So we've covered all of the good bets on the craps table, all that's left is to take a quick look at the remaining bets. Although I don't recommend any of these bets be a part of your regular craps strategy, it's always fun to mix it up a bit, which is what most craps players use these bets for, some variety.
The Field bet
The field bet is often thought of as being among the smarter bets in craps, but the problem lies in the fact that it is a next roll bet. There are many numbers 'in the field' that can be hit, but this bet, unlike many others at the craps table, is a bet that the next roll will be what you're betting on. The field holds approximately a 5.5% house edge. The handy bit about a field bet is that it can be played on any roll, so it's a very non-threatening move. You just toss a bet in there and either double your money or lose it on the next roll. The great aspect to the field bet is the simplicity. It's a one-time bet which states simply: if the shooter throws a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 (any of the numbers in the field area) then you win. If a 5, 6, 7, or 8 are thrown then you lose. There is no trick to placing your chips on one of the numbers in the field, just place them anywhere you want within the field box.
If your betting on the field, most casinos also give you a bonus if a 2 or a 12 is thrown (notice the circles on those numbers). Many casinos pay 2x your bet when a 2 or "snake eyes" is thrown and some even pay 3x your bet if a 12 (commonly called a 'midnight') is thrown.
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are those placed in the middle of the table layout, and pertain only to the 'next roll'. As one roll bets they can be heart racing and exciting, an integral part of the craps experience, but never have a good house edge.
These bets include:
"any seven" bet
"snake eyes" bet
"yo eleven" bet
"any craps" bet
"any three" bet
"midnight" 12 bet
"horn" bet
"hardway" bets
Actually there are even more than that, but trust me, we don't even need to go there. Take a look in the glossary for even more exotic offerings. These bets are all simple to make, and I'll walk you through them so there is no confusion. Each and every proposition bet has a pretty nasty house edge, so before you make any of these bets, feel comfortable, understand you're only making them for fun. I remember one trip to Vegas I got caught up in trying to hit a hard six, I must have dropped a lot of money trying but I never came across one at the right time.
With the "any seven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit a 7 on the next roll. It has a horrible house edge of 16.67%. Never make this bet.
With the "snake eyes" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a two on the next roll.
With the "yo eleven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit an 11 on the next roll.
With the "any craps" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 2, 3, or 12 on the next roll. It holds a house edge of over 11%
With the "any three" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 3 on the next roll.
With the "midnight" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 12 on the next roll.
With the "horn" bet you're combining the snake eyes, 3, yo 11, and midnight bets.
The Lay Bet
An unusual and uncommon fellow, the lay bet resembles the don't pass and don't come bets in that you are playing against the dice. The lay bet can be made at any time. In essence it's the opposite of the buy bet, and the same as the don't come bet, but with different odds. The lay bets may be placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. The bet is on the fact that a seven will be rolled before your number. 7 is more likely to come up than any other number so the casino requires you to wager more than you could win. This bet also requires a commission of 5% on average. If the bet is on 4 or 10 you get 1:2 odds, on 5 or 9 2:3 odds, on six or 8 5:6 odds. Lay bets are usually only made by people who think they understand more about what's going on that is probably possible. I would be surprised if anyone were ever in a position where a lay bet is the best option. In fact I'm not sure it's mathematically possible.
The Buy bet
You may find some people who look like they know what they're talking about around the craps table 'buying' instead of 'placing' numbers. What's the difference, why do we care? A buy bet can decrease the house edge and enable you to win more. The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 can all be bought, but usually the 4 or 10 is picked because its pays off better. The buy bet is similar to the place bet in that the number you buy must come up before a 7 does. The odds are higher for a buy bet. 2:1 on a 4 or 10 buy, 3:2 for a 5 or 9, or 6:5 for a 6 or 8. The catch is, you have to pay a 5% commission on any bets you buy (often called a 'vig'). Depending on how much you bet, buying a bet can make you more money in the end even after accounting for the 'vig'. The odds are only in your favor on a buy bet for a 4 or 10, so stick with the place bet on any others.
To find some truly exotic bets and learn more about the game in general, be sure to check out our craps glossary.
©Copyright Mastering Craps 2010.
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