Bruisin' the old billfold
31 March 2003
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I know most of the craps bets and associated
odds, but I have a question that has been
bugging me. Reference the following craps
scenario: Suppose I come to a table and the
point is six. I make a Come bet and the shooter
rolls an eight. I like the action and take the
max odds on my come bet. Next, the shooter rolls
his/her six and the dealers pay the line.
Correct me if I am wrong, but now the dealer
will turn off my odds on my eight. If the
shooter rolls a seven my odds are returned and I
lose my come bet. If the shooter rolls an eight,
my odds are returned but I am paid for my
initial Come bet. Any other point and my odds
are back on. My question is: can I ask that my
odds remain on during a Come out roll? Darrin H.
Yes, Darrin, but first a quick primer for those
unacquainted with the slight differences between
Pass Line and Come bets. A Come bet is exactly
like a Pass Line bet, with the exception that
you can make a Come wager on every roll of the
dice after the shooter's point has been
established, and, incidentally, it is placed on
a different part of the layout. A new series of
rolls begins when the shooter makes his point or
the dice pass to a new shooter - after the seven
flaunts its ugly face. Almost, if not all,
players commence their wagering at this point by
making a Pass Line wager, with odds off on their
Come bets, if they happen to have made any. Come
bet odds are routinely cut off during a come out
roll, and are automatically put back in action
once a new point has been established, unless,
of course, the bettor instructs the dealer
otherwise. The logic is that you are rooting for
the seven, so you can be paid on your Pass line
bet. You can't make any moolah winning one and
losing the other, -- "like breathing out and
breathing in" - which would happen if you left
your odds on. But you can have your odds working
if you happen to be making a singular Come
wager. All Odds wagers can be on or off at your
discretion. Just tell the dealer on the come out
roll that you want your "odds working." Or, if
you want to halt odds action temporarily on a
Come bet, just tell the dealer "odds off." The
dealer will mark the odds off with a marker. If
you want to remove the odds completely on a Come
bet, tell the dealer to "take your odds down,"
and this removes your odds from the layout.
Dear Mark,
Last week you mentioned different combination
possibilities in video poker once you have a
high pair (Two pair every six times, 3-of-a-kind
every nine times, etc.). Does a low pair produce
the same result as a high pair? Vincent L.
Aye, Vincent, the same would hold true for a low
pair. However, do not forget that the high pair
packs more punch, as you would automatically get
your money back. Then, there are scenarios where
you would toss aside a low pair for a chance at
a better hand. Example: You are dealt a Queen,
King, and Ace of Hearts, and a pair of deuces.
By keeping the deuces and going for two pair
every six times, 3-of-a-kind every nine times,
etc. you'll be cruisin' for a billfold bruisin.'
Gambling quote of the week: "Nothing is as
obnoxious as other people's luck." F. Scott
Fitzgerald
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