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There are wrong ways to bet right, and right ways to bet wrong. We are going to look at good ways to bet right and wrong. On the right side, we’ll look at converted come bets and on the wrong side we’ll look at maximizing your don’t come bets. These methods will work equally well in land based and internet based casinos.
Most of us were taught to play the pass line with odds, and have two come bets up. Come bets are favored by many players because they represent the hot numbers. By betting the come many people believe that they can take advantage of a hot streak or a Amonster roll. In addition, come bettors often take double (or more) odds, both on the pass and come lines, to maximize their wins.
The come bet, however, does have some disadvantages. Let's say you have a come bet on the six and eight, nine was the point, and the point was made. You now have a six and eight working on the come-out, with odds. If the seven hits now, you would win your new pass line bet, but lose the flat portion of your Aleft over come bets.
Another disadvantage is that the payoffs for come bets are not much higher, and in many cases lower, than equal place bets. For example, a $10 come bet on the six with $25 odds returns $30 for the odds plus $10 on the flat portion, a total of $40.
However, if you bet $36 on the six as a place bet, you would win back $42. In addition, you can not take down a come bet. If you stay on the come line with every roll eventually you’ll lose all of the flat portions of your bets.
Craps pros know that a number has to hit twice for a come bet to win, compared to once for a place bet. Instead of having your come bet poised to follow the trend of the table, it is easier and more profitable just to make what is called a converted come bet.
A converted come bet is a place bet that is made instead of the corresponding come bet. For example, if the first roll is say, a four and the next two rolls are 5 and 6, you might normally have come bets of $10 with odds on the 5 and 6 - $20 odds on the five and $25 on the six. So, you have a total of $65 in play - $30 on the five and $35 on the six. Betting the come bets and winning, you would have won $40 on the five and $40 on the six, a total of $80.
Instead of betting on the come, you could just place $30 on the five and $36 on the six, giving you $66 in play. You would win $42 on the five and $42 on the six, for a total of $84. You can then take your bets down so you don't have to worry about the come out seven (if the point was made), or the 2, 3, or 12 (while in the come box).
The next time you want to make a come bet, try a converted come bet instead!
Now, let’s take a look at the “other side” – the don’t pass line.
Besides being an unpopular bet, the Don't Pass is a dangerous bet to make. Before the point is established the casino clearly holds the advantage. You will win your bet if a 2 or 3 rolls, but lose your bet if a 7 or 11 rolls - just the opposite from the pass line. (On the don't pass the 12 is a Apush). The 2/3 combination rolls 3 times (in 36 sample rolls) while the 7/11 combination rolls 8 times. So, with your bet in the don't pass box, you are favored to lose by an 8 to 3 margin.
To make matters worse, if the point does get established, you might want to make three don't come bets. This 8 to 3 casino advantage is present not only for the initial don't pass bet, but the three additional don't come bets as well.
However, once you get past the come-outs, you hold the advantage on any number - either for the don't pass or the don't come. So your don't pass plus three don't comes could be highly profitable, if only there was some way of protecting your initial bets.
The easiest way to protect your don't come bet is to temporarily add odds to your don't pass bet. If your don't pass is $10, you should back it up with $10 odds for one roll only, while you place a $10 don't come bet.
If the seven hits, you lose your don't come bet but win on the don't pass (plus odds), so you come out ahead. After your first don't come is established, you can remove the odds on the don't pass, which was there to protect the first don't come bet from a losing on a possible seven.
Now, you're home free. Your second don't come can be placed without a money loss. If the seven rolls now, you will win your first don't come, lose the second, and win your don't pass. If another point number rolls you can make a third don't come bet also.
If you don't like adding odds to your don't pass bet, you can just reduce your second don't come bet to protect the first one. For example, if your first don't come is $10, make your second only $5. This way if the seven rolls you are still ahead by $5.
For an easy hedge bet on the don't pass bet itself, you could try a $2 bet on the hardway number if the point is 4, 6, 8 or 10. If the point rolled is 4 or 10, you would lose your $10 don't pass but win $14 ($2 at 7:1). If the point rolled is 6 or 8, you would lose your $10 don't pass but win $18 ($2 at 9:1).
So when you play on the don't side, use the don't pass odds only as a hedge for your first don't come bet. And, on the do side, try converted place bets instead of come bets!
And, as always, good luck at the tables!
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