Jul 19, 2010
The best system to lower the house edge when playing craps is to simply understand the variety of bets that can be made and the odds of each. Then you are in a good position to make a few smart betting choices to minimise your exposure to risk. A quick search online will reveal that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of misleading craps systems guaranteed to make you win. The truth, however, is that dice have no memory and no roll is affected by the one that preceded it.
You should definitely avoid placing bets in the proposition area which is found in the middle of the craps table as these are all the bets that have a strong advantage in the casino’s favour. There are a handful of bets, however, that have a rather low house edge such as the pass and don’t pass and the come and don’t come bets. These are the one you should stick to even if they feel less adventurous than playing the field. Plus, if you can afford to, you should always take the maximum odds allowed on your pass line bets as these are one of the best bets you will find in the casino.
However, if you really cannot resist the temptation of a field bet (which is a one-roll bet that one of seven numbers will be thrown, that is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12) there is a system to help you improve your chances of winning. Simply do not play the field every roll or you will lose in the long run but if you wait to see three consecutive non-field rolls before you place your field bet, you will decrease the probability of losing to just 9.5%.
Some experienced craps players also religiously place what are known as hedge bets. This is a bet that is actually two offsetting bets. You won’t win big money this way but it is possible to grind out a small profit as you are minimizing your losses and can stay in the game longer with a small bankroll. Hedge bets are usually placed during the come out roll. To make this type of bet, you first need to make a pass line bet of let’s say $10. You can then make a $2 on the any craps in case one of the craps numbers if thrown. If the shooter then rolls 2, 3 or 12, then you will have lost your $10 pass line bet but have won $14 for the any craps bet. If the shooter rolls any other number, then you have lost your $2 any craps bet.