The Odds way of staying
Even
6 December 2002
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
Per your advice, I gave the game of craps a try.
Initially I started with a lone pass line bet,
and then when winning, I added a place bet on
the 6 or 8. I think it is time to graduate to
the next level and add odds to my pass line
wager. Could you please give us relatively new
players to the game of craps an explanation on
how to make an odds bet? Mary P.
As so often expounded in this column, Mary, when
you make a pass-line wager or place the 6 or 8,
you are making one of the better wagers the
house has to offer. But by taking it to the next
level with an odds bet, you really hook into one
of the best bets offered in casino craps.
You may be surprised, Mary, at just how easy it
is to make an odds bet, and to make craps more
fiscally rewarding, here are some simple
fundamentals.
Once the shooter establishes a point, you simply
place your odds wager behind your pass-line bet.
If you are a Don't pass bettor, you make a Don't
pass odds bet by placing chips on top of, but a
little to the side of your original bet.
The dealer will instantly recognize from that
chip placement that you are taking odds, and
will check to make sure you are placing the
correct allowed amount.
As you know, an odds bet is an additional bet
that complements your Pass-line or Don't pass
wager. And although your original Pass-line or
Don't pass wager pays only even money for a win,
the odds bet will pay at the "true odds" rate
for the bet you've made.
The casino has absolutely no edge on these bets.
Yep, Mary, you're reading it right. The house
has zippo advantage over an odds wager.
Odds increase your overall payback percentage.
The amount you win depends on what the point is,
and how difficult it is to repeat it. For
example, if you are a pass line bettor, and the
point is 4, you will receive a 2 to 1 payment on
your odds bet. Don't bother figuring out what
your odds payoffs are. Your friendly dealer will
figure them for you, based on the following.
The Point The Payout
6 or 8 6 to 5
5 or 9 3 to 2
4 or 10 2 to 1
Most casinos offer double odds, which means they
allow you to make an odds bet that is twice as
large as your original pass-line bet. Taking
double odds lowers the house edge to .61% on
your total action (your Pass-line bet with
odds); compare this to the 1.5% advantage the
house has over your pass-line bet alone. Some
casinos even offer up to 10 times odds.
Initially, Mary, I recommend that you confine
your odds excursion to just a pass-line bet with
odds. Once you feel comfortable with those
wagers, you may want to try an additional Come
bet or two with odds.
Gambling quote of the week: "The likelihood of
lining up four Megabucks symbols is somewhere in
the cosmos between Jupiter and Mars, and even a
spokesman at IGT would not admit to the
mathematical probability of hitting one of the
blasted things." Barney Vinson
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