There are different kinds of slot tournaments, some with many players playing against each other, down to where only a few players play. Entry is by means of a fee, called the buy-in, and this may be for cash, or tokens, or offered for free by the casino to their premium players, or to attract new players to their games.

How Do Competitive Slot Tournaments Work?

In a real-world casino, a section of the casino slot floor is roped off and designated as the tournament area. This area contains special slot machines, called tournament slots, which can be either specifically-designed slot machines for tournaments only, or standard casino slots, but these have been equipped with a new program for play, which is called tournament mode.

What Is Tournament Mode?

In any casino, real-world or online, each type and kind of slot machine has a computer program inside its brain which tells the machine how to play the game which is selected by the player, or which is housed in that slot machine cabinet.

If one of these regular slot machines is selected to become part of slot tournament play, it’s internal program is changed from its regular play programming into what is called tournament mode. This is a special configuration which plays and pays differently to the way that the machine would normally play and pay.

Usually this means that while in tournament mode, the game will pay much more often and with much bigger pays. ?

Special Designated Tournament Slots

There are also specially-designated and built slot machines specifically for slot tournaments. for example, the slot machine manufacturer EVERI have a system called tourn-event, which is a designated bank of slots which are specifically configured to play only slot tournaments. ?

How Does A Slot Tournament Machine Work?

The principles are the same as all traditionally-available slot machines. Since most of these machines now use play buttons to initiate play – instead of the more traditional handle pulls – these tournament machines also work that way.

Players play them the same way, ?by pressing the play button as fast as they can to accumulate as many credits and wins as possible in the allocated time.

How To Get Into A Slot Tournament?

There are a number of different ways in which you can play in a slot tournament. The most common is to buy an entry, which is called the buy-in. The amount of this varies considerably from tournament to tournament, and from casino to casino. This can also be different with online slots, where the number of participating players is not limited by the space required to house the machines, as is the case in a real-world casino.

In most casinos, the standard buy-in for a slot tournament is usually about $25. But this can be as much as $1,000 per entry, and even more. I have played in such tournaments in the past where the entry was at least $1,000, and in some cases up to $10,000 per entry. But in general, the most that today’s casinos will charge for an entry will be about $100.

Free Entry For Slot Tournaments

On some occasions, players can often also enter a slot tournament for free! That’s because many casinos use slot tournaments either as a reward for their regular and premium players, but also to attract new players to their casino.

So, if you are already a regular player, you may get an invitation to a slot tournament with free entries for yourself and your spouse, or significant other. Or if you are new to the casino, you may get an offer in the mail, or text, or email, offering you a free entry, or perhaps a 2-for-1, and so on.

And finally, you can often also use your player reward points to enter the slot tournament. If you are a regular player at this casino, and use your player’s club card for your play, you will be accumulating bonus points which can then be used for a variety of extra benefits and bonuses. and entries into slot tournaments are often part of these rewards, which you will be able to access through the player’s club in your favorite casino.

How To Win A Slot Tournament?

Slot tournaments have different pay structures, depending on which kind of tournament this is If it’s what’s called a free-roll tournament, this means that entry into it is for free, and therefore the prizes which will be won may not be in cash, but perhaps in other types of gifts. the most common of this is to win free play credits, which are then added to your player’s club card account.

You can then use these as cash for your favorite regular casino slot machines. This you can do by inserting your player’s club card into the machine’s card reader, enter your pin, and then select free play credits from the menu, and then choose how many to add to that machine’s credit meter.

You can’t cash out these free play credits, but whatever you win by using them is yours, and this means that you can cash out these wins in real money.

Cash Reward Slot Tournaments

Most casino slot tournaments – as well as those online which require a cash buy-in – will have a tournament winners structure posted, and this will show how much each player will win if they reach those levels.

For most slot tournaments this will be usually be the top three players – and these will be those players who have accumulated the highest total of accumulated tournament credits throughout all of the rounds of the tournament.

These prizes are almost always in cash, and the amount of that cash will depend on whether of not this is a slot tournament which pays a percentage of the total entries for each prize, or if this is a slot tournament with a fixed prize structure.

Fixed Prize Structure for Slot Tournaments

A fixed prize structure means that the listed awards for the winners will have a specifically-designated amount. For example, most such slot tournaments will have, say, $1,000 as first prize, with $500 as the second prize, and $250 as the third place prize. These are the most common fixed prize structure pay scales which you will find in standard casino slot tournaments.

In many cases these types of tournaments will also offer consolation prizes as several runner-up prizes, and these can be either buffet coupons, or show coupons, or gifts, or perhaps a coffee mug, or some other type of thank you award for those who bought into the tournament, but did not win the major cash prizes.

Percentage Participation Prize Structure for Slot Tournaments

A percentage prize participation structure means that in this type of slot tournament the amount of the winning prizes will depend on how many players entered with their buy-in. This, therefore, means that the actual cash amount of the prizes will depend on the number of players who entered the tournament, and not on a fixed prize amount.

The value of the final cash awards in these percentage participation tournaments is decided by the percentage value of each award.

The advantage of these types of slot tournaments is that the more players who buy-in, the bigger the prizes will be, and, therefore, the more places will also be paid. in these tournaments the total amount of the buy-ins is called the prize pool, and it is from this that the stated percentages will be paid to the winners.

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What are the Different Types of Slot Tournaments?

We have already mentioned some of the types of slot tournaments which are popular with casino players, both in real-world casinos, as well as in online casinos. So here let’s briefly explore all of the most popular forms of such tournaments.

Multi-Player Slot Tournaments

These are the most popular tournaments, and it simply means that there are many players playing, all competing against each other. Most slot tournaments will be of this type.

Single-Player Slot Tournaments

This is a specialized type of slot tournament where there is only one player playing, and competing against a specified goal or objective.

For example, a single-player slot tournament machine may be available in the casino, and for the amount of the entry fee (whatever that may be) you can sit at that game and play only by yourself, and after the designated period of play the machine will then tell you if you won any of the qualifying prizes.

Buy-In Slot Tournaments

This is the type of tournament where you pay a cash fee to enter, and then play throughout the rounds of the tournament, and if you reach the qualifying advancement in each such successive round, you will progress to the finals, and there you may reach the top tier of the winners, and collect your prize.

Free-Roll Slot Tournaments

This is a tournament where the entry is free, and therefore you don’t need to buy-in for cash, or some other buy-in requirement. These free-roll slot tournaments are usually offered by the casino as a reward to their regular and premium players, but they can also be used to attract new players to that casino, or online casino.

Sit-n-Go Slot Tournaments

Sit-n-Go (SnG) are usually short tournaments with a number of specifically-designated player spots, usually around 10-to-12 players at a time. This tournament is usually a cash buy-in type of tournament, and it begins automatically when all the designated player spots have been bought.

A SnG tournament ends when the designated amount of play time has been completed, which is usually about 10 minutes of really fast play. When the time expires, the machines will shut down automatically, and the tournament staff will verify who has the highest scores, and those players are then awarded the top prizes.

One-Shot Slot Tournaments

In the majority of slot tournaments, there are usually several rounds before a winner is decided. In one-shot slot tournaments you only get one chance at placing in the winning tier.

Feeder Slot Tournaments

A Feeder Slot Tournament has the same structure as all the other similar tournaments, except here the idea is to score enough points to advance into a bigger tournament, with much larger prizes.

For example, let’s say that a Feeder Slot Tournament is offered with only a $25 Buy-In. But this tournament does not offer a cash prize. Instead, the Top Prize is an Entry into a $1,000 Slot Tournament, where the Prize Pool is much bigger, and therefore offers a chance to walk away with a lot more money.

Scheduled Slot Tournaments

These are the most popular slot tournaments, because the casino, or online casino, can schedule them in advance, usually several weeks, or perhaps by even a few months. This often results in larger turnouts with more players, and, therefore, more money for the prize pool and the prizes.

These tournaments are also popular with casual players, because they can then schedule their casino trip, or vacation, in advance, to coincide with these scheduled tournaments. These slot tournaments are especially popular in casino destinations like Las Vegas, where the major casinos can attract and invite a great many players from all over the country.

Survival Slot Tournaments

These are among the type of slot tournament where players compete in rounds, each round usually about 10 minutes, with the top players from each round advancing into the next round, and so on. How many players advance into the next round depends on the specific rules for that tournament, and for that casino, either real-world or online.

These rules can be substantially different, so it is in your interest to check just exactly what is required to advance into the next round, and how many players will so advance. In most such Slot Tournaments, the top three player will advance, but this can be the top 5 players, or even more, depending on how many players compete in each round.

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What is the Best Strategy to Win Slot Tournaments?

All Slot Machines are random, and all winning spins are based solely on luck.

However, slot tournaments are not without skill and speed and dexterity are among the most important skills!

This means that you must hit the play button as fast as possible, and in a rhythmic pattern to coincide with the activation of the reels, and re-activation of the next spin at the most optimum point.

When the slot machine hits a win, it will temporarily disable the play button, while the winning amount runs up on the credit meter. During this time pressing the button makes no difference, because the player cannot re-activate the next spin while the machine is busy running up the credits from the current win.

Keeping the rhythm of the game and not distracted by the spinning wheels or symbols on the display screen any of the bells and whistles that will happen as you play is the most critical skill to learn when it comes to slot tournaments.

There are however a few other skills that can help get you in the winner’s circle:

Skills Needed to Win Slot Tournaments

• Always play all the available pay lines
• Always play maximum credits – whatever this may be
• Learn to play fast – you can practice on regular slots in the casino
• Lear to push the play button rhythmically and as fast as you can press it
• Keep your mind clear and do not be distracted
• Focus on speed – this is most important, next to playing fast on the play button
• Learn what will get you into the next round – is it the most points, or how fast you can play through the tournament credits

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It is a bet that the “lay number” will NOT hit before Any-7 is rolled. The “lay bet” wins if the shooter rolls Any-7 BEFORE rolling the number on which you placed the “lay” bet. This bet is also known as “laying the dark side,” or “the wrong way lay.”

How Does A Craps Lay Bet Work?

The lay bet in craps is made on the box numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. You can “lay” any one, or two, or three, or all these numbers at the same time if you want – although this would be a very bad play.

The purpose of a “lay bet” is to wager that the number will NOT be rolled before Any-7 appears. Therefore this is the OPPOSITE of “place bets” which win if they are rolled before Any-7.

Why Use A Lay Bet In Craps?

A ley bet is part of a “dark side” wagering strategy, whereby you are betting AGAINST the shooter – meaning that your bets win if the shooter and pass line players lose.

There are some advantages for this wager. First, the house edge is a bit lower on these bets, by a small differential. The “don’t pass” line wager has a house edge of about 1.35% which is just a tad lower than the pass line of about 1.4%.

But the house edge and odds on lay bets are a bit different, and that depends on whether or not the casino where you are playing charges their lay bet commission on all lay bets, or only on winning lay bets.

Here is a breakdown of the potential house edge and odds:

If The Casino Charges A Commission On ALL Lay Bets

• The house edge on the 6 and 8 lay bet is about 4% and your odds are 6:5
• The house edge on the 5 and 9 lay bet is about 3.3% and your odds are 3:2
• The house edge on the 4 and 10 lay bet is about 2.5% and your odds are 2:1

If The Casino Charges A Commission ONLY On WINNING Lay Bets

• The house edge on the 6 and 8 lay bet is about 2.3% and your odds are 6:5
• The house edge on the 5 and 9 lay bet is about 2% and your odds are 3:2
• The house edge on the 4 and 10 lay bet is about 1.7% and your odds are 2:1

So, as you can see, playing in a casino where they charge a commission only on winning lay bets is the better choice for the dark side play strategy. So, it’s always worth asking before you start playing – and this applies to both real-world casinos as well as online casinos. This information is always available, but you will have to ask for it, or look for it if you’re playing online.

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How To Make A Lay Bet In Craps Step-by-Step

Because in lay bets you are “laying true odds” this means that you are getting the better payoff. However, you must pay the commission, as we just explained above. And this means that the amounts you are wagering have to account for this, as well as the commission. So, here’s how this works:

• If you want to lay-the-6 or 8, then you toss your chips to the dealer nearest your position at the table, and call out: “lay the 6!” or “lay the 8!” or “lay the 6 and 8!”
• And if you want to lay-the-5 or 9, then you toss your chips to the dealer nearest your position at the table, and call out: “lay the 5!” or “lay the 9!” or “lay the 5 and 9!”
• If you want to lay-the-4 or 10, then you toss your chips to the dealer nearest your position at the table, and call out: “lay the 4!” or “lay the 10!” or “lay the 4 and 10!”

But you must do this in the correct amounts, and also including the commission, which is, usually, charged at 5%.

So, since you are “laying true odds” this means that the odds on the 6 and 8 are 6:5, and that means you must wager $6 to win $5. However, you must also include the commission, which will be a minimum of $1.

And if you are laying the 5 and/or 9 this means that the true odds are at 3:2, and that means you have to wager $3 to to get a craps lay bet payout of $2 – plus, of course, the commission. If you are laying the 4 and/or 10 then this means that the true odds are at 2:1, and so you must bet $2 to win $1 – plus the commission.

How This Plays Out In A Real Game

The best way to show what that means is like this:

If you want to lay the 6 and/or 8 for, say, $20, then at 6:5 you must bet $24 to win $20 – plus the commission, which means you will toss $25 to the dealer nearest you, and call out “lay the 6” or “lay the 8” or toss out $50 and call out “lay the 6 and 8.” This would work as the correct wager for the lay bet on the 6 and/or 8, along with the commission.

And similarly so for the other box numbers, like this:

If you want to “lay the 5 and/or 9” for, say, $20, then at 3:2 you must bet $30 to win $20 – plus the commission, which means you will toss $31 to the dealer nearest you, and call out “lay the 5” or “lay the 9” or toss out $62 and call out “lay the 5 and 9.” This would be the correct wager for the lay bet on the 5 and/or 9, along with the commission.

If you want to “lay the 4 and/or 10” for, say, $20, then at 2:1 you must bet $40 to win $20 – plus the commission, which means you will toss $41 to the dealer nearest you, and call out “lay the 4” or “Lay the 10” or toss out $82 and call out “lay the 4 and 10.” And that will be the correct wager for the Lay Bet on the 4 and/or 10, along with the commission.

More Strategy For Craps Lay Bets

A primary advantage of the lay bet is it’s situational nature. And that depends on how the dice are rolling, and how the game is going. This applies more to real-world casinos, because there you can experience the ebb-and-flow of the game, which is difference from online play.

When you play online you are usually only playing against the algorithm that runs the game, while in the real-world casino you are actually playing with other humans, and with real dice.

Playing The Shooter

A lay bet allows you to not only exploit situational changes in the game, but also in the dice, and the shooters. Some shooters will crap out often, and so then it’s a good time to lay your bets against them.

On other occasions the shooters may be “hot rollers,” and so in those cases you’re better off with place bets. So these are some of the advantages of lay bets and place bets, because you can adapt how you play depending on the flow of the game, and the skill of the shooters – or, perhaps, the LACK of skill in the shooters.

Getting Your Timing Right

Another tidbit to consider is time – specifically, when, to play a dark side betting strategy for craps. You see, in the real-world casinos, the craps tables usually change the dice at about 3 AM, which is, traditionally, the slowest time in the casino pit. And so that’s when they usually change the cards in the card games, and dice in crap games. But why does this matter to the lay bets?

Well, you see, that’s because new dice have perfect corners and sides. They haven’t yet been bounced around the table for 24 hours, as the old dice have by then, and so this means that they are all perfect, and new. This means that they produce the most perfectly random rolls possible, and this, then, in turn means that – according to the math of the game – the dark side is statistically favored, as are the don’t and lay bets.

If you wondering why use a lay bet in your craps strategy, it’s because you can actually play the shooter and you have the statistical advantage.

Is A Lay Bet A Good Bet In Craps?

It depends – well, in gambling that’s the case with many decisions, especially in the real-world casinos where you are playing with other humans, and not computer algorithms like in online casinos. Humans aren’t perfect, and no real dice are perfect either, even if they are manufactured to exacting standards. So, there are slight variances, such as wear-and-tear, and so on.

So, for lay bets, and dark side play, just after 3 AM is the best time, because that’s when most real-world casinos change their dice, and since these are brand new dice, and perfect, that’s an advantage for the lay bet and dark side player.

Similarly so, being able to gauge the human element, such as recognizing when a player is a good shooter, or a lucky shooter, or not. Bad shooters, unlucky shooters, or people showing off for social media, like Tim Naki, are good for lay bets and the dark side players, so if you are good at spotting them, you can adapt your play accordingly. So that’s also an advantage.

Disadvantages Of Lay Bets

But the disadvantages of lay bets outweigh them all. First – other players will not like you. That’s because you are betting that they will lose – and that’s a fact. If they are with the shooter players, then when you win, they lose.

They won’t like you collecting their money when you win, and they crap out. So, playing this way is not very popular – although playing the lay bets isn’t as bad, or as noticeable. Often casual players won’t really notice, so at least that way you can take advantage of a shooter whom you think is about to crap out.

But what’s really the killer is that lay bets are pretty costly. Not only because you have to lay a lot to win little – such as, for example, having to lay $40 to win $20 on the 4 and 10 – but you also must pay the commission. And since most casinos will charge you that commission whether you win or not, the costs of these lay bets far outweigh their overall viability.

It’s a lot better to buy the 4 and 10 instead, and shave the house edge to it’s minimum by pushing $39 on a $40 bet, and forcing the casino to only a $1 vig, instead of $2. So that will be far better for you overall in craps than any lay bet ever will.

Next Steps: Where to Go After Mastering Lay Bets

Now that you’ve mastered the art of lay betting, why not check out some of the article below to really take you craps skills to the next level!

• Everything You Need To Know About The Craps Field Bet
• How To Win At Craps: The Best Craps Bets You Can Place
• The Craps Come Bet Explained: What Is It & How Does It Work?
• Literally Everything You Need To Know About Craps Bets

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Low volatility slots are those which will hit pays very frequently, but which will not be worth very much.

Medium volatility slots are those which won’t hit pays as often, but when they do hit, will be worth more, on average.

High volatility slots are those where the game won’t hit a pay very often at all, but when it does hit, the pays are usually quite high – often in the hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.

Low Volatility Slots

If you’re playing a low-volatility slot machine, you can usually tell as the game will be hitting pays on almost every spin, but the actual value of each of those pays is tiny.

For example: Let’s say that you are playing a minimum bet of 80-cents, which is a common minimum play requirement for many of today’s most popular slot machines. As you play the game, you’ll notice that after nearly every spin, the game pays you a very small return.

I’ve played machines where these pays can be 5-cents, 35-cents, 40-cents, and so on. But did you notice what all of these pays have in common? Well, they are NOT “pays.” These are all LOSING spins which give you back LESS than the cost of the spin.

So, in our example, you are playing 80-cents per spin, and most of your “wins” will be, say, 30-cents per spin (as an example average), and so what’s actually happening is that you are LOSING 50-cents per spin, even though the machine makes it look and sound like you are winning.

Who Plays Low Volatility Slots?

These low-volatility games mostly appeal to casual casino players who simply want to be entertained. The importance is not so much the big win, but being able to “get some play” for their money.

This is the kind of player for which these low-volatility games are precisely designed and configured; the player gets something for their play (even if what’s actually happening is that they are losing, and losing frequently), which encourages them to continue playing and increasing their TOD (Time On Device). The higher their TOD, the more opportunity there is for the casino to earn the slot’s set payback percentage.

Medium Volatility Slots

Medium volatility slots are a step up from low volatility games, usually offering a greater variety of gaming choices, higher denominations, and fewer pays with greater monetary value.

While these games may look nearly identical to their low-volatility neighbor, they can be differentiated by looking at the pay tables to see what pays what and for how much. The more they pay, the less frequently they will happen.

These games may offer a base-pay schedule which mirrors low volatility pays, but may also require a higher per-spin investment – or an “activation” feature – which will cost more to play.

For example, that 80-cent game we mentioned earlier may now have a “Bonus Feature Activation” cost, or sometimes something like an “unlock all pays” activation button, which asks for an extra base-play-wager to enable them.

And so this game may offer that same 80-cents per spin, BUT now in order to activate all of the lines, pays, bonuses – or whatever – you are being asked to pay, say, an extra 40-cents per play. This means that you will be spending $1.20 per spin, in order to get the better pays.

Who Plays Medium Volatility Slots?

These games traditionally appeal to players who are more familiar with casino games and gaming, and who have a higher available gaming budget.

High Volatility Slots

These are games which will require a lot more money to play, as well as much more patience and resilience. That’s because these games will not hit pays very often at all – BUT when they DO hit a pay, it’s usually very high, and almost always higher than the minimum-play requirement.

So, for example, let’s say that you play a game with a $3 minimum-play requirement. You’ll play for a while, and get no pays at all. Then you hit a pay, and that pay is, say, $15. That’s the difference.

In the low volatility games you may have had 15 pays by now – but all of them small, and not even close to $15 combined. On the medium volatility game you may have had 10 pays by now, and getting maybe close to $10 back overall. But here, on the high volatility game, you only got ONE pay for all of this time, BUT that one-pay was worth MORE than all of the other smaller pays on the low and medium volatility games combined.

And THAT is the difference between these types of slot machines, available in all casinos worldwide, as well as online casinos.

Who Plays High Volatility Slots?

These are games usually reserved for the high-denomination player. By this we mean players who will play games where the minimum denomination is at least $1, and where the minimum-play requirement is at least $3-$5 per spin and higher.

Many of these high volatility slots are in the designated high roller areas of the casino, where the more affluent players often play.

How To Find Volatility In Slots

In many online casinos you can actually ask for the volatility-index for the game you are about to play. But for real casinos this is a bit more difficult.

For traditional real-world casinos, the way to find out is, usually, by trial-and-error. This means playing games with the same set of starting funds, and for the same set of spins, keeping track of what pays when and for how much. You can then compare these stats for yourself, before commencing your actual play.

As for high volatility games, well – those are usually in the high-denominations, and most likely to be located in high roller areas of the casino.

The volatility of a slot game is determined by the game’s software provider, not the casino. This means that the same game should have the same volatility across all casinos.

All the Kings, Queens, and Jacks still have a value of 10, but the cards which are actually numbered with the 10 are no longer in the deck. The Ace card still counts as either 1 or 11, just like in traditional Blackjack. Other than this, the game plays nearly identically to normal casino Blackjack.

Key Differences Between Spanish 21 And Blackjack

• In Spanish Blackjack – or Spanish 21 – there are only 48 cards in the deck, not 52 as in traditional Blackjack. All of the numbered 10 cards have been removed.

• In Spanish Blackjack the player automatically wins when receiving a Blackjack. This is a two-card combination of any King, Queen, or Jack paired with any Ace as the first two cards dealt to the player. The payoff is at 3:2.

• In Spanish Blackjack, if the player AND the Dealer BOTH get a Blackjack at the same time in the same hand, then the Player WINS automatically.

• In Spanish Blackjack, Late Surrender is offered, meaning you can surrender half your bet before any more cards are drawn. Late Surrender is a way to “save” half your bet if you think you can’t win, even after the Dealer checks for Blackjack and does not have it, and after you have drawn cards.

• In Spanish Blackjack, the players can double down on any two cards, double down again after the next card, and again after the next card (for up to 3-times in any one hand). So, if you start with a $10 bet, you can double this to $20, then to $40 and then to $80. This means you can quickly raise the size of your bet in advantageous situations, which is especially useful if you’re counting cards.

How To Play Spanish Blackjack

The rules of play for Spanish Blackjack – or Spanish 21 – are nearly identical to the rules of traditional Blackjack.

Spanish 21 is usually played with a 6-deck or 8-deck shoe, which has been stripped of all of the 10 numbered cards. In some casinos, the game can also be found as a 2-deck hand-held game, which may be the preferred choice for experienced Blackjack players depending on how deep the penetration, as well as other rules, such as hitting Soft 17.

1. The game begins with the shuffle. After the cards have been shuffled, they are placed in the Dealing Shoe.
2. The dealer will then “Burn” (discard) a required number of cards (usually between 6 and 8 cards off the top of the Shoe). This is to prevent anyone from guessing the order of the cards, and to further make card counting less precise.
3. Now the game is ready to begin. The players make their wagers, and the dealer begins to deal from right-to-left as the players see it (left-to-right from the dealer’s view).
4. Each player will be dealt one card face down – including the dealer – and then the second card face-up, including the dealer. This is different in Spanish Blackjack, because in most traditional Blackjack games, either both cards will be dealt face-down to all the players, or face-up to all the players, and only the dealer with have the first card face-up.
5. After these procedures have been completed, and depending on the dealer’s up-card, the dealer may now check for Blackjack, ask for Insurance, and offer Surrender. There may also be other options depending on what the land-based or online casino offers.
6. After these processes are completed, each player still in action will then be asked for decisions. These are to stand, hit (draw), split, or double down.
7. When all players have made their decisions, the next hand in dealt and the whole procedure begins again.

More Rule Variations And Bonus Hand Pays In Spanish Blackjack

There are a few other rule variations to consider:

• The player’s Blackjack (21) automatically beats the dealer’s Blackjack.
• The player can surrender after doubling down.
• Players can split and re-split aces multiple times.
• Late Surrender is allowed.
• Players can double down after splitting.

There are also often additional pays, as follows:

• 7-7-7 suited in spades pays 3:1
• 7-7-7 suited hand?pays 2:1
• 7-7-7 mixed hand pays 3:2
• 5-card 21 pays 3:2
• 6-card 21?pays 2:1
• 7-or-more card 21 pays 3:1
• 6-7-8 suited in spades pays 3:1
• 6-7-8 suited hand pays 2:1
• 6-7-8 mixed hand?pays 3:2

These bonus pays may also require a side bet, but that depends on the rules of the game where you happen to be playing.

What Is The House Edge In Spanish Blackjack?

Spanish Blackjack has a house edge of about 3.7%, but this may vary depending on some rule variations, as well as whether or not the dealer hits Soft 17 or not.

Additionally, some of the multi-deck Shoe games can have a house edge of about 3%, again depending on some of the rule tweaking which casinos can, and often do, apply to this game variant.

Basic Strategy For Spanish 21

These are a few basic hints and tips for playing Spanish 21:

• Always split a pair of Aces
• Never split a pair of 4’s or 5’s
• Always stand on hands valued at a hard 18 or higher
• Always stand with a pair of 10-value cards: K-K, Q-Q, J-J
• Always hit on hard 4 through 8, or on a 12
• Always hit on soft 13 or 14 (soft hands include the Ace as 1 or 11)
• Always double down on two-card hands of 11

Conclusion

Spanish 21 was derived from the traditional game of Blackjack. The only reason for it to exist is to create a game which has a HIGHER house edge than traditional Blackjack, and, therefore, is more lucrative for the casinos.

Since traditional Blackjack can be played with basic strategy to a house edge of about 0.54%, it is a much better option for your Blackjack play. The house edge in Spanish 21 is about 3.7%.

You do not have to be a math genius to see the difference. Furthermore, traditional Blackjack has firmly-designed rules, and these are easier to learn and keep in mind than the sometimes-fluctuating rules and and bonuses in Spanish Blackjack.

So my advice is to stick to traditional Blackjack – and learn to play it well.

How To Make A Bet In Craps

Each new game begins with the Come Out Roll. This happens when the previous player with the dice – known as the Shooter – either loses the roll or quits the game. The dice are then offered to the next player in line, usually in a clockwise manner around the table.

Before this new Shooter rolls the dice, all players can now make the following bets:

Bet The Pass Line

Betting the Pass Line means that you place your wager on the table layout in front of where you are standing, in the area marked “Pass Line”, as shown below.

This Pass Line wager can only be made BEFORE the Come Out roll, and once you make it, it will stay in play for the duration of this Roll and until a decision is reached.

This bet will win even money (1:1) automatically if the Shooter rolls either a 7 or 11 on the Come Out Roll. It will also lose immediately if a 2, 3, or 12 are rolled.

If neither 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12 are rolled on the Come Out Roll, then this can only mean that the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 are rolled – all of which are collectively known as The Box Numbers. That number is then designated as The Point, and it is then so marked with a hockey-puck type marker with the WHITE side up.

This now means that to win your Pass Line wager, the Shooter must roll that SAME number again BEFORE rolling any 7. If this happens, your Pass Line bet will win. But if the Shooter rolls any 7 before rolling the Point again, then your Pass Line bet will Lose. The house edge on the Pass Line bet is about 1.4%.

Bet The DON’T Pass Line

Betting the Don’t Pass Line means that you place your wager in front of where you are standing in the area marked “Don’t Pass”, as shown below.

This wager works in the opposite way to the Pass Line Bet. In essence, when you bet the Pass Line, you are said to bet WITH the Shooter, while if you’re betting the Don’t Pass, you are said to be betting against the Shooter.

For that reason, betting the “Don’t” is also referred to as betting “The Dark Side.”

On the Come Out Roll, this Dark Side bet will win if the Shooter rolls a 2 or a 3, push if the Shooter rolls a 12, and lose if the Shooter rolls a 7 or 11.

Once the Point is established, this bet will win if the Shooter rolls any 7 BEFORE rolling the Point, but will lose if the Shooter does make the Point.

The Dark Side bet is not liked by most players, because it means you are basically betting that everyone else in the game will lose (those who bet the Pass Line). The house edge on this bet is about 1.36%, which is slightly lower than the Pass Line Bet, but still not well liked.

Before The Come Out Roll

In addition to the Pass Line or Don’t Pass wagers, BEFORE the Come Out Roll, you can also make a bet on Any Craps as well as 11 – also known as: Yo-leven, Yo-11, or sometimes as just as Yo.

To make such a wager you toss your chips to the Stickman and call out what you want. For example:

“Nickel on the Yo!” – this means you want to make a $5 bet on the number 11. This is a one-roll Prop Bet which wins if the Shooter rolls an 11 on the Come Out roll. It will lose otherwise. The house edge on this wager is about 11.2%. You can make this bet any time during the game.

You can also call out: “Nickel on Any Craps!” – and this will then indicate that your want to bet $5 that either 2, 3 or 12 will be rolled on the Come Out roll. The House Edge is about 11.1%.

But you can also combine both Any Craps and 11 as a wager together, and this is called: Any Craps and 11 Split. But usually you would just call out: “$6 C&E Split” – which then means that you want to make a combination bet on 2, 3, 12 and 11, and that you want to Split it as $3 on each side: $3 on Any Craps, and $3 on the Yo. The House Edge is about 11.2%.

You can see where these wagers are marked on the table below.

Naturally, you can make these wagers in any amount you wish, from the table minimum up to the table maximum, and not just the samples we used in these examples. But it is important that you are aware that these are ALL one-roll Prop Bets, and are usually made BEFORE the Come Out Roll. In this way it kind of acts as a hedge bet.

Craps Bets After The Point Is Established

After the Point is established, there are a number of wagers which you can make.

The most important decision for you to make AFTER the Point is established is to take (place) your Free Odds behind your Pass Line wager. Or to “Lay the Odds” to the side of your Don’t Pass wager. Doing this is your best play in Craps, because it reduces the overall house edge on these bets by a significant amount.

Placing Odds

Once the Point has been established, you can now “Place Odds” for your Pass Line wager. You do this by placing the amount of your Odds bet directly BEHIND your Pass Line wager, and just outside of the pass line itself, in the space closest to you (NOT the other side of the passline).

The amount of these Odds is up to you, but the standard best-place method is what’s called the 3-4-5 rule: This means you can place 3x your Pass Line wager when the Point is either 4 or 10, 4x your Pass Line wager when the Point is 5 or 9, and 5x your Pass Line wager when the Point is either 6 or 8.

Odds bets are paid at True Odds, and that’s why they are called Free Odds.

Laying Odds When Betting The Dark Side

This is similar to the pass line method, except here you are laying your Odds wager over your Dark Side bet, by placing your Odds wager slightly over the edge of your chips on the Don’t Pass line.

The Pass Line wager has a house edge of around 1.4%, while the Don’t Pass wager has a house edge of around 1.35%. But the odds are at true odds, and that’s why it is always a good bet to place the maximum Odds on your Pass Line wager, and also to Lay the maximum Odds on your Don’t Pass wager.

This also applies to Come Bets and Don’t Come bets, which play in a similar manner to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass wagers.

Craps Proposition Bets

Prop Bets in craps are divided on the Table Layout into two groups: The Hardways, and the one-roll Prop Bets, where you are betting on the outcome of a specific event for ONE Roll only.

These Prop Bets are displayed on the craps table layout in the Center, and are used for wagers from players on both sides of the table.

Hardways Bets

Hardways bets in craps are made on specific combinations of the two dice.

A a Hard-4 is a combination of 2 on one of the dice plus a 2 on the other. Similarly so for the Hard-8, which is 4+4, the Hard-6 which is 3+3, and the Hard-10 which is 5+5. You can see these in the above image.

The Hard-6 and Hard-8 have a house edge of about 2.8%, and they typically pay 9:1, though the best craps games will offer 10:1.

The Hard-4 and the Hard-10 also have a house edge of about 2.8% and typically pay 7:1. The best game will offer 8:1.

Hardways are usually made after the Come Out Roll, and they will stay in play until they are either rolled that way – the “Hardways Win” – or are rolled “Soft”, in which case that specific Hardways bet will lose. You will now be asked if you want to “Go Back On” – which means you’ll have to toss a replacement wager to the Stickman to be back in action on that Hardways bet.

You can also call your Hardways “Off” for a while, if you feel like the Shooter is rolling too many “Soft” numbers. You do this by calling out to the Stickman: “Hardways Off,” and this means the Stickman will now place a marker which says “Off” over your Hardways.

If you want them back in action, you then can call them as “Working,” and you do this by calling out to the Stickman: “Hardways working,” or sometimes as: “Hardways back on.”

You can also call your Hardways bets “Down,” if you no longer want them there. You can do this in between rolls of the dice, and you do it by calling out to the Stickman: “Hardways Down.” Your wagers will now be returned to you.

Center Prop Bets

These are the one-roll wagers shown on the table layout in the center, under where the Hardways are shown.

These bets are:

• Any-7 which pays 4:1 and has a house edge of about 17%
• Any-Craps which pays 7:1 and has a house edge of about 11.1%
• Craps-Ace-Deuce which pays 15:1 and has a house edge of about 11.1%
• Snake-Eyes (1+1) which pays 30:1 and has a house edge of about 14%
• Boxcars (6+6) which pays 30:1 and has a house edge of about 14%

Other Bets In Craps

There are many other bets in craps, so here is a quick list detailing what they are, how to make them, and their house edge.

Come Bet and Don’t Come Bet

These are wagers which can be made after the Come Out Roll, and work pretty much the same as the Pass Line or Don’t Pass wagers.

Field Bet

This is a wager on the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the area on the table layout marked as Field. Read more about Field bets here.

Odds Bets

These are the “Odds” wagers which you can make behind your Pass Line wagers, or “Lay” on your Don’t Pass bet, as well as on the Come and Don’t Come, as we mentioned earlier.

Place Bets

Place Bets can be made on the craps table at any time, usually after the Come Out Roll. They are wagers on the Box Numbers, which are: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You make these bets by tossing your chips to the Dealer and calling out where you want the bet to go. For example: “Place the 5 for a nickel,” – and this means that you want to “Place the 5” for a $5 wager.

The numbers 4, 5, 9 and 10 are usually made in equal increments of $5 – meaning you’ll bet either $5, or $10, or $15, and so on.

The numbers 6 and 8 are usually made in increments of $6 each – which means you can start with $6, or $12, or $18, or $24, and so on. Naturally, if your table has a minimum wager of $10, then you would start with $12, and so on.

Place bets on 6 and 8 usually pay at 7:6 and face a house edge of about 1.5%

Place bets on 5 and 9 usually pay at 7:5 and face a house edge of about 4%

Place bets on 4 and 10 usually pay at 9:5 and face a house edge of about 6.8%

Buy Bets

Buy Bets in craps are really the same as Place Bets, except you are paying a 5% commission to the house at the time of the wager, and this then gives you a payout at true odds. These Buy Bets are usually not in action on the Come Out Roll, unless you call them “On,” or as “Working.”

Buy Bets are only worth money on the 4 and 10. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that it is possible to significantly lower the house edge on these bets.

A Place Bet on the 4 and 10 has a house edge of about 6.8%, but a Buy Bet can lower this to about 4.8%. And – depending on the casino and its rules – sometimes it is possible to “Shave the Odds” even lower, to about 1.8%. But that’s a bit more complex, and not always possible in most casinos.

So your best bet is to Buy only the 4 and 10, and Buy it for at least a minimum of $20 each

Big Six And Big 8

These are the worst bets in craps! That’s because the Big-6 and Big-8 pay only even money 1:1, while a Place Bet on the 6 and 8 pay at 7:6.

This means that the Big-6 and Big-8 have a house edge of a huge 9.1%, while the Place Bet on these SAME numbers has a house edge of only about 1.5%. Need we say more? This bet is so bad that even the casinos have simply eliminated it from their table layouts. Not always, of course, but in many land-based and online casinos today, it’s simply no longer shown.

Horn Bet

A Horn Bet in craps is usually also marked on the table layout among the center Prop Bets, although it is sometimes not identified. It’s simply an empty spot, but everyone knows that’s the Horn Bet area. There are several Horn Bets possible in Craps:

Straight Horn

This is a one-roll prop bet which means you are betting that the numbers 2, 3, 11 or 12 will be rolled on the next roll. If the roll is 3 or 11 the payoff is usually 15:1. If the roll is 2 or 12, the payoff is usually 30:1.

On a Straight Horn bet it’s always better to bet amounts which can be divided by 4. So, for example, a $20-Horn means you are betting $5 on each of the four possible numbers. And so on. This is because of incremental payoffs on the odds, which is a discussion for another time.

Horn-High Yo

This is a wager where you bet the Horn, but add an extra amount for the Yo-11. So, if your bet was the $20 as in the above example, then this wager will be $25, because you are pressing your Horn-High-Yo by that extra $5 on the 11.

Horn-High 12

This is the same as the Horn-High-Yo, except here you want your press to be on the 12, instead of the 11.

Horn-High Ace

This is the same as the Horn-High-Yo and Horn-High-12, except here you want your press to be on the 2, instead of the 11 or 12. Sometimes this is also called Horn-Ace-Low.

Horn-Craps-Low

This is the same as the Horn-High-Yo, Horn-High-12 ,and Horn-High-Ace, except here you want your press to be on the 3, instead of the 11, 12 or 2. Sometimes this is also called Horn-Low-3.

Fire Bet

This is an optional side bet in craps, offered on some games, but not all. Here you are betting that the Shooter will make at least four separate and individual Points before a 7-out.

But these must all be DIFFERENT points, meaning that if the Shooter rolls the point twice on, say, 5, this only counts as ONE for the Fire Bet. And so on. This is a stupid wager where the house edge is 20.9%! Stay away from it, and you’ll save a lot of money.

World Bet

This is a bet on Any-7 plus the Horn. Also known as “Around the World,” or “Whirl.” The house edge is about 13.4%.

Any-7 – also known as Big Red

This is a bet that the next roll will be any-7. It pays 4:1, and if you win, your bet will stay in action. The house edge is nearly 17%, so this is NOT a good bet.

Hop Bets

Also known as “On the Hop” or “Hopping”, these are one-roll wagers on any of the Box Numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

For example, you can call out “Three-Two On the Hop!” and this then means that you are betting that on the next roll the dice will display a 3 and a 2 for a total of 5, which is one of the Box Numbers. If the number hits, the Hop Bet will pay at 15:1.

You can also do this for the Hardways. If the Hardways are rolled “On the Hop” then the pay is at 30:1. The house edge on the soft rolls for the Hop-Bets is about 11.1%, and about 13.9% for the Hardways.

Uptown Bet

This is a Place Bet wager on 8, 9 and 10. It really is that simple. The house edge varies. These are bets that old-timer Craps players would usually call out and rarely used today.

Downtown Bet I

This is a Place Bet wager on 4, 5 and 6. As above, it really is that simple.

Craps Bets Strategy

The best craps bets strategy is to stick to the Pass Line wager with Full Odds, Come Bets with Full Odds, and Place Bets on the 6 and 8. That’s it. And once you get more comfortable, try the Buy Bet on the 4 and 10, but wager at least $20 on each. Otherwise it’s not worth the cost.

Street Craps can be played anywhere, but it is illegal in all US States.

Main Difference Between Street Craps And Casino Craps

The main difference between Street Craps and Casino Craps is that in Casino Craps the casino banks the game. However, in Street Craps, the Shooter (the person rolling the dice) is usually the one banking the game. This means that he or she has to “fade” – or “cover” – all of the bets made for or against their roll. So, if you shoot the dice, you better have the bankroll to back it up!

That said, sometimes Street Craps is run by a Banker, and in these cases the Shooter only has to worry about their roll and the bets directly with or against them.

Ultimately, the way the game is played, banked, and organized can vary greatly from location to location, and from town to town, and in different parts and regions of the country.

Anyone can start a Street Craps game. It does not require a Banker or a House. Just you and your money, and enough of it – and your Moxy – to handle all the action.

Street Craps Rules

In Street Craps there is no table layout. All of the action takes place on the ground, and usually against a wall so the two dice have someplace to hit. This means that all players must already know what each bet is, how to make it, and how to bet it.

So, if you’re interested in playing Street Craps, first you should learn how to play Casino Craps.

Rolling For The Shooter

In Street Craps, the first rule is that ALL players each roll the dice first, before any action takes place. This is to determine who will be the first Shooter. The person scoring the highest total will then become the Shooter and start the game. The Come Out roll can then begin.

Come Out Roll in Street Craps

Just like in Casino Craps, before the Come Out roll, all the players make their bets. Those betting WITH the Shooter will bet the Pass Line and associated bets, depending on the fluctuating rules of that particular Street Craps game – which you need to find out as soon as you get there, and before you start playing.

Those who want to bet AGAINST the Shooter will also now make their Don’t Pass and Craps bets. The Shooter also makes his or her bets at the same time – usually on themselves, meaning the Pass Line and associated wagers – and then the other players can also “fade” those bets as well, which means that they also “cover” those bets either for or against, depending on which side they take: With, or Against the Shooter.

What Wins In Street Craps On And After The Come Out Roll

After the initial bets have been made, the Shooter then rolls the dice. Just like in Casino Craps, a 7 or 11 will win, and 2, 3 or 12 will lose for the Pass Line Players. For the Don’t Pass players this is the opposite, so for them the 7 and 11 will lose, and the 2 and 3 will win, and the 12 is a push. If anything else is rolled, then this becomes the Point.

For the Pass Line players to win, the Shooter now must roll that same point number again, before rolling Any-7. And for the Don’t Pass players to win, the Shooter needs to roll Any-7 before rolling the Point.

Remember that there is NO table layout in Street Craps. All of these bets are made on the ground. And this means you have to know what these bets are and what they pay so you don’t get cheated on the payouts!

Side Action In Street Craps

Since there basically aren’t any rules in Street Craps, players can make any number of side bets and Prop Bets for or against each other.

So, one player may want to bet that the Shooter will Crap Out on the next roll, and one or more other players can then “fade” the bet, meaning they will cover it with their own money. So, if the Shooter does crap out, then the player making that Prop Bet will scoop up all the money.

But if the Shooter does NOT crap out, then this player has to pay off all the “fades” to all the other side action. And so on, for whatever bets there are in the game, as well as whatever bets the players invent against each other in the heat of the moment.

The commonly-used expression “It’s a Crap-Shoot” has its origins in Street Craps precisely because pretty much anything goes at any time and for any amount. All that’s needed are the players to agree and make the bets. And it always helps if there’s a sucker or two in the game!

And by the way – if you’re playing in Street Craps, and you can’t recognize who the sucker is after one or two rolls, then the sucker is YOU!

Ways To Roll In Street Craps

If you’re the Shooter, the best way to avoid any perception of cheating is for you to use dice sets to make your rolls. So, for the Come Out Roll, you should always use the 3-V set, and then roll the dice that way.

Street Craps Strategy

To maximize your standing in Street Craps, if you are the Shooter, make sure you are also the biggest bettor. Don’t show weakness or uncertainty, because you don’t want to be branded as the “sucker” in the game.

More Tips And Hints For Street Craps

1. Stay away from too many Prop Bets. Either bet or fade rolls and players based on the best odds and math of the game, and that means the Pass Line with as much odds as you can get, even if this means making an odds side bet with one or more other players. This will help maximize your overall yield.
2. Make sure you have enough money with you. Don’t fall into the trap of borrowing from other players. That could get you into the kind of trouble you don’t want to be in.
3. And finally, learn how to recognize loaded dice. Street Craps isn’t controlled by any government organization, like Casino Craps, and so there’s no one to ensure players don’t sneak loaded dice into the game. Loaded dice can have slightly shaved corners, so run your fingers over them to check, and toss them about a bit before you make your roll, to see if they are weighted to one side or the other.

Street Craps can be fun – but it’s really much better, and safer, to play Craps in a real money casino, whether in person or online!

Street Craps Origin

When gambling was made illegal in all US States by the turn of the 20^th century, games like Craps went underground and became hugely popular, largely because the game was so easily transportable. Needing only two dice to play, the game could float from place to place with ease and stay ahead of any police pursuits. This gave rise to the moniker “Floating Crap Game,” which became synonymous with gamblers, hustlers, bootleggers, mobsters, and the movies.

At one point in the mid-20^th century, the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas ran a promotion as “The Home of the Original Floating Crap Game,” by putting a floating Craps table in their pool! It made headlines worldwide, and was one of the most successful gaming promotions of the time. Sadly, the Tropicana Casino in Las Vegas has recently closed, and will be demolished to make way for a baseball stadium.

Lead image credit: Netfalls Remy Musser/Shutterstock

• Blackjack side bets are optional wagers made beyond the main game bet, offering different ways to win based on various outcomes of the player’s and dealer’s cards.
• Popular side bets include Insurance, Perfect Pairs, and 21+3, each with their own payout rates and odds of winning.
• While side bets can add excitement and potential for a larger payout, they usually come with a higher house edge compared to the main blackjack game, increasing the player’s overall risk.
• The value of side bets often depends on the player’s individual strategy and risk tolerance. Some players enjoy the extra entertainment and potential rewards, while others prefer to stick to the standard game due to its lower house edge.
• Understanding how each side bet works, calculating potential returns, and considering your own comfort with risk are key to determining your payouts and whether side bets are worth it in blackjack.

Side bets in blackjack are optional wagers which can be made in addition to the standard one-hand bet. The side bet is independent of the outcome of the original blackjack hand. This means you can lose your main bet, but still win the side bet, or vice versa. Though an entertaining addition to the game, most blackjack side bets are ultimately not worth the cost. Let’s explore them in more detail.

How To Place Blackjack Side Bets

If you make a $10 wager in the main betting area, you can also make another wager to the “side” of this main wager, depending on the table. Let’s say you place $5 on that spot. This additional side wager will now play independently to the main bet.

The photo below shows a standard blackjack table which also offers a “Pair Square” side bet.

As you can see, the main wagering area is marked on this table with a white circle. The main betting areas in blackjack can also be designated with a square, or sometimes just with a logo. And they aren’t always designated with a different color. It all depends on each individual casino.

Next to the main betting area you can see a square that says “Pair Square”. If you want to place a Pair Square side bet, you would do so here.

Standard blackjack tables do not have this side betting area printed on the table layout; it varies depending on the game you are about to play.

What Are The Available Blackjack Side Bets?

Here’s a list of the most widely-available side bets in blackjack, presented here in no specific order or preference:

1. Blackjack Insurance
2. Pair Square
3. Match the Dealer
4. Lucky Lucky
5. Lucky Ladies
6. Super 7s
7. Over-Under 13
8. Royal Match
9. Easy Match
10. Rummy
11. Blazing 7
12. 21+3
13. Perfect Pair

Remember, although there are many different side bets in blackjack, they are not always offered. It all depends on the casino itself, and this includes online casinos. The one exception to this is the Insurance wager, which is a standard side bet in all traditional blackjack games.

Let’s take a deeper look at each of the above side bets, including how they play and their odds.

1. Blackjack Insurance

This is the most common side bet in blackjack and is available on all standard blackjack tables. You can place it when the dealer’s up-card is an Ace. It’s purpose is to insure against the dealer’s 21 – or Blackjack – hand. The house edge on this side-wager is about 8.5%, so it’s not a very good bet.

Here’s an example:

Let’s say that your first two cards are 10-value cards, which means you have a total of 20. A very good hand in blackjack. But the dealer is showing an Ace. This means that if the dealer also has a 10-value card as his down-card, the dealer will now have Blackjack (21), and your great hand will lose. So, the dealer will ask if you would like to buy insurance before they look at their down card.

The insurance wager typically pays 2:1. If you take insurance, you will win your side bet if the dealer does have a Blackjack, but lose your main bet. If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, then you lose the insurance wager, and win the main bet.

For example, let’s say you have a $15 main wager and a $5 insurance wager.

• If the dealer DOES have a Blackjack, you lose your $15 main wager, but you win 2:1 on your insurance side bet.
• At 2:1, you’ll get two chips for each one, so for your one $5 chip you now get two $5 chips. This makes a total of $15, because you also get to keep the original $5 wager.
• This means you have now lost $15 on the main wager, but you won $15 on the side bet.
• However, as you wagered a total of $20 ($15 on the main bet + $5 on the insurance bet), you are still down $5. And that’s why the insurance side bet is NOT the best choice.

Read our in-depth article for more information on when to take insurance in blackjack.

2. Pair Square

This side bet is simply a pair of the same kind. For example: two Kings, or two 8s, or two 10s, and so on.

If they are of different suits, this usually pays 10:1. If they are of the same suit, this usually pays 15:1.

The house edge on this bet is about 10.6%.

3. Match The Dealer

This is a wager where you bet that your first two cards will be an exact match to the dealer’s first two cards. For a 6-deck shoe game, the unsuited match usually pays 3:1, and the suited match usually pays 14:1.

Again, this may vary depending on the individual casino and it’s rules.

4. Lucky Lucky

On this side bet in blackjack, your payout will depend on the value achieved by your first two cards PLUS the dealer’s up card. The Lucky Lucky side bet payout chart is as follows:

• 19 or 10 as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 2:1
• 21 (mixed suits) as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 3:1
• 21 (same suit) as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 15:1
• 6-7-8 (mixed suits) as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 30:1
• Three 7s as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 50:1
• 6-7-8 (same suit) as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 100:1
• Three 7s (same suit) as your first two cards + the dealer’s up card pays 200:1

The house edge on the Lucky Lucky side bet on a six-deck shoe is about 2.7%. That makes this one of the better blackjack side bets overall.

5. Lucky Ladies

In the Lucky Ladies side bet you are wagering that your first two cards will total 20. The payout chart is as follows:

• 20 (different suits) as your first two cards pays 4:1
• 20 (same suit) as your first two cards pays 10:1
• 20 (same rank) as your first two cards pays 25:1
• 20 (Both Qs of Hearts) as your first two cards pays 1,000:1

The house edge on the Lucky Ladies side bet is a whopping 25%! That’s why you will see so many casinos offering it, but it’s NOT a good bet for you!

6. Super 7s

This is a simple wager on how many 7-value cards your hand will have. The payout chart is as follows:

• Any 7 as your first card pays 3:1
• Two 7s (different suits) as your first two cards pays 50:1
• Two 7s (same suit) as your first two cards pays 100:1
• Three 7s (different suits) as your first three cards pays 500:1
• Three 7s (same suit) as your first three cards pays 5,000:1

The house edge on this side bet is about 11.4% if playing with a 6-deck shoe. This makes it an average side wager at best.

7. Over-Under 13

Over-Under 13 is simple wager on whether your first two cards will total over or under 13.

The Ace always counts as 1, which means that your hand tends to lose.

This side wager usually pays about 10:1. The house edge on the “over 13” is about 6.6%, and about 10.1% on the “under 13”.

8. Royal Match

Sometimes also known as “Royal Match 21,” this is a simple wager that your first two cards will be the King and Queen of the SAME suit.

If you hit this in a single-deck game, it mostly pays about 10:1. But single-deck blackjack games are nearly impossible to find these days. Most games will be with a 6-deck shoe and pay out 25:1.

This is one of those games where the side bet gets better the more decks there are in the shoe. But remember that the more decks there are in the shoe, the harder it is to play the main game, so there is a trade-off here. The house edge for the Royal Match side bet, per decks played, is as follows:

• Single Deck: 10.9%
• Two Deck: 8.4%
• Four Deck: 7.1%
• Six Deck: 5.9%
• Eight Deck: 6.5%

As you can see, once we get to 8-decks, the house edge starts to increase again. Most blackjack games play with the 6-deck shoe with the slightly lower 5.9% edge. However, it’s still not a good wager.

9. Easy Match

This is an even simpler side bet, where you are wagering that your first two cards will be of the same suit. For most multi-deck blackjack games the pays are about 5:2, although the single-deck version pays 3:1.

10. Rummy

The rummy side bet is where your first two cards PLUS the dealer’s UP card form a valid Rummy hand. A valid Rummy hand can be any of the following:

• Flush: three cards all of the same suit
• Straight: three cards of consecutive value
• Three-of-a-kind: Three cards of the same value

The payouts are usually as follows, and the house edge is about 4.2%.

• Flush 4:1
• Straight 4:1
• Three-of-a-kind 9:1

11. Blazing 7

This is very similar to the Super 7s side bet in that it depends on how many 7s you have in your hand. If you get 7-7-7, then you usually win 777:1 on your side wager. This wager is usually offered as a Progressive, and that’s what makes it a bit different from Super 7s.

This side bet is usually either a $1 or $5 bet, depending on the game. For the $1 wager, the house edge is around 2.2%, and for the $5 wager it’s about 2.4%.

However, this can be somewhat deceptive, because this factors in the Progressive. The fact is that for this to be a 50-50 game, or at least close to less than 1% house edge, on the $1 option, the jackpot will have to be in excess of $24,000.00, while for the $5 side bet this will have to be in excess of $120,000 (rounded figures).

12. 21+3

This is another variation on the first three cards: Your first two cards PLUS the dealer’s up card. The payouts are as follows:

• All 3-cards suited – known as a Flush – pays 5:1
• All 3-cards consecutive – known as a Straight – pays 10:1
• All 3-cards of the same value – known as a 3-of-a-kind – pays 30:1
• All 3-cards consecutive AND suited – known as a Straight Flush – pays 40:1
• All 3-cards of the same value AND suited – known as Suited 3-of-a-kind – pays 100:1

The house edge on a 6-deck shoe game is about 7.2%.

13. Perfect Pair

In this side bet, your first two cards decide the value. The payouts are as follows:

• Your first 2 cards of DIFFERENT suits and colors pays 5:1 (mixed pair)
• Your first 2 cards of SAME VALUE and SAME color pays 12:1 (colored pair)
• Your first 2 cards of the SAME CARD & SUIT (i.e., K-K, 10-10, etc.) pays 25:1 (Perfect Pair)

The house edge on this game depends on rule variations and payouts. For example, Perfect Pairs pay 30:1 in some online casinos, but there are rule variations in the base game which may affect the overall odds and pays. So, in general, the house edge on the Perfect Pair side bet is about 10.7%.

What Are The Best Side Bets In Blackjack?

The house edge on the Lucky Lucky side bet – on a six-deck shoe – is about 2.7%, and that makes this side bet one of the better ones. This is comparable with single-zero European Roulette, which also has a 2.7% casino edge. So, comparatively, this side bet is “not too stinky.”

But this is a relative term – because even a 2.7% edge ADDS to the overall house edge on blackjack. A standard blackjack game can be played to a house edge of just 0.54% with perfect blackjack strategy.

The only other side bet which may be of value is the Blazing 7s, IF played as a Progressive, and IF the Progressive amount has already reached, or exceeded the required amount. Only then might it make sense.

Are Side Bets In Blackjack Worth It?

None of the other blackjack side bets are worth the cost. Remember this simple saying from the old-time gamblers of Las Vegas:

“If the Casino allows you to do it – and even promotes that you do it – then this means it’s good for THEM, and not good for YOU!”

When you add any side bets to your blackjack game, you are eroding your advantage from the main game. That’s because you have your MAIN wager also riding on the outcome.

So – general advice – stay away from side bets, save the money, and learn to play better perfect blackjack using our blackjack strategy charts.

How To Control The Dice In Casino Craps

There are three main methods to craps dice control: Grip, Throw, and Set, as explained below.

1. The Grip

This is how you hold the dice.

To control the dice in casino craps, first grip them between the thumb and forefinger. This will allow you to hold the two dice together tightly, while at the same time showing the dealers that you aren’t trying to shave or replace, or otherwise manipulate or cheat the dice.

2. The Throw

Many craps players will just cup the dice, shake them in their fist, and then throw them wildly down the table where they hit the pyramid-foam padding on the other side. The dice will then bounce around wildly before coming to a stop.

But a player who practices dice control in craps will first grip the dice correctly, and then gently throw them in an arc (a parabolic toss). This causes the dice to sail in a curve from the Shooter’s grip to the other side of the craps table, where they will come to a more gentle stop.

This way, they are more likely to come to rest displaying the number that the Shooter wanted to roll.

They will still hit the pyramid-foam backing of the craps table, which is a requirement for a legitimate throw in the game of craps.

3. The Set

Craps dice setting is a method practiced by craps players in order to roll certain numbers more frequently, or to avoid certain numbers – like the dreaded 7 after the Point has been established. There are several popular ways to set dice in craps, described below.

How To Set The Dice In Craps: Popular Dice Control Sets

The practice of dice setting is designed to reduce the house edge on craps bets, creating situations where the Shooter rolls numbers to their advantage, before crapping out.

1. The Hardways Set (How to set dice to avoid a 7)

Primarily designed to avoid the 7, this is often the most popular Set with novice players.

As the name suggests, this Set is designed to match two “hardways” on the dice.

For example, in the image above, we have the 4 and 4 which is known as the 8 Set. But this can also be 5 and 5, which will be known as the 10 Set, 3 and 3 which is the 6 Set, and 2 and 2 which is the 4 Set.

2. The 3-V Set (How to set dice to roll a 6 or 8)

The 3V Set is where you set the dice with a 3 and a 3 in a way which makes the “V” shape, as in the image above.

This is used mostly for rolling 6’s and 8’s.

3. The 2-V Set (How to set dice to roll a 4 or 10)

This is where you set the dice as 2 and 2 in a way which forms a “V” shape, as in the photo above. This Set is used for rolling 4’s and 10’s.

4. The All-7 Set (How to set dice to roll a 7)

This is used especially for the come out roll, and is designed to roll a 7. There are four possible Sets, which are: 2–5, 5–2, 4–3 and 5–2. One such example is above.

5. The Crossed 6’s Set (How to set dice to roll a 12)

Usually used for come out rolls, this Set can roll 10’s, 4’s, 5’s and 9’s, as well as a few craps hits.

It is known as the Crossed 6 Set because the 6 and 6 on the dice are set in a crossed way, as shown in the image.

6. The Straight 6’s Set (How to set dice to avoid a 7)

This is a Set designed to avoid a 7 by blocking at least one of the dice from rolling the 6. It is called the Straight 6 Set because the dice are set parallel.

What Are The Best Dice Control Sets?

If you want to make the game of casino craps even more fun than it is already, you can try to practice dice control, and see how this works out for yourself. This being the case, then I’d recommend the Hardways Set for the game in progress, and the All-7’s Set and the Crossed-6s Set on the come out roll.

Don’t forget, there are many other craps strategies that you can implement.

Is Craps Dice Control Cheating?

Dice control in casino craps is NOT cheating, because the human Shooter is NOT altering the dice in any way, or using some mechanical device to control the dice. However, some casinos may frown on this practice, similar to the skill of counting cards in blackjack.

That said, most casinos will let you try dice control in craps, because it is not considered to be an actual skill.

Craps dice control cannot be verified as a skill because casino craps is an “independent” game, as opposed to blackjack, which is a “dependent” game (at least on those games which use a pre-shuffled deck, or decks, of cards).

What are Dependent or Independent Games?

All casino games are divided into two groups: “dependent games” and “independent games.” These are mathematical terms related to the probability of an event happening.

Dependent Games:

Games like blackjack are called dependent games because the value of the cards which are yet to be dealt from the deck(s) of cards, are directly dependent on which cards have already been dealt (and therefore are no longer available in the deck).

This is the reason why card counting is considered a skill. By keeping track of which cards have already been dealt, the card counter is able to more accurately anticipate which cards are still left to play.

Some casinos use a continuous shuffling machines however, which would make the game independent.

Independent Games:

Casino dice games like craps are called independent games because each throw of the dice is mathematically and probabilistically independent of any and all other throws.

This means that no matter what numbers the dice have rolled in the past, NONE of this has ANY bearing on what number the dice will roll NOW.

This is similar to roulette, in that each new spin is it’s own event which has no bearing on whatever happened before.

Is Dice Control Legal?

Yes, craps dice control is legal. Do casinos like to see you do it? Not necessarily. But not because they are afraid of your skills as a dice control specialist.

Instead, it’s because some players try to introduce shaved or weighted dice into the game, all of which are illegal.

And sometimes cheaters will also try to use outside devices to control the dice. For example, smudging the dice with a tiny bit of magnetic resin, and then using a magnet (usually in the hands or pockets of an accomplice on the other side of the table) to alter the randomness of the dice roll. Again, this is illegal.

Is Craps Dice Control Actually Effective?

Casinos will stop you from playing blackjack in their casinos if they think you are truly a good card counter. And that’s because card-counting in blackjack is a known skill.

But casinos will let you try dice control – and that should answer all your questions about this.

So the simple answer is: No. Dice control is a myth.

Dice control may appear to work in the short-term. But that’s just probability at work. Anomalies will occur in everything, regardless of the overall percentages, house edge, and general probabilities.

But, over time, all events will roughly equate to their probabilistic expectations, and the math of the game will prevail.

The casino works on this percentage 24/7. But the dice player will only play a few hours. So, the casino will experience millions of events, while the player will see – at best – only a few hundred. And that’s just the facts, folks.

Tips For Craps Dice Control

While the math of the game still rules, craps players who practice dice control will say that the trick is to KISS it. Meaning: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

By this they mean that the less complicated it is to make it, the easier it will be to do. But, realistically, there is no real science behind dice control. It is generally acknowledged as being a myth.

So until next time – best of luck to all!

Lead image credit: Netfalls Remy Musser/Shutterstock

Blackjack Card Value Chart

The blackjack card values are as follows:

• Ace: 1 or 11
• 2: 2
• 3: 3
• 4: 4
• 5: 5
• 6: 6
• 7: 7
• 8: 8
• 9: 9
• 10: 10
• Jack: 10
• Queen: 10
• King: 10

So, the face cards (also known as picture cards) all have a value of 10. The Ace card is special because this can be counted as either 1 OR 11, depending on how you, the player, would like to use it (read more about this below). All of the other card values in blackjack correspond to what is printed on them.

How To Work Out Your Total Hand Value

To work out your total hand value, you simply add the values of each card together.

It’s simple math: If you have an initial two-card hand with a 6 and a 7, then you add 6 + 7, which equals 13.

13 is not a good hand, so you would usually want to draw another card. Let’s say that the next card is a 6. Your total hand value would now be 19 (6 + 7 + 6 = 19). That’s a good hand in blackjack.

Let’s look at some more examples:

• 9 + 8 = 17
• 3 + 5 + 8 = 16
• 10 + Queen = 20
• Ace + 6 = 7 or 17
• Ace + Ace = 2 or 12 (You get 12 by counting one Ace as 1, and one as 11. Counting both as 11 would cause you to bust.)

Soft Hand vs Hard Hand Values

In blackjack, a soft hand is a hand with an Ace that can be counted as either 1 or 11. A hard hand is a hand where the Ace has a value of 1, or a hand with no Ace.

The distinction is important because it affects your strategy. In a hard hand, the risk of busting (meaning to go over 21) is higher, while a soft hand offers more flexibility.

Let’s look at this in more detail.

The Value Of An Ace In A Soft Hand

A soft hand is any combination of the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 cards, along with the Ace card, which can be counted as a 1 or 11.

The flexible Ace means that you can draw ANY OTHER card and NOT be in the immediate danger of busting out. This gives you at least one more chance at improving your hand and makes it “soft”.

Example: Let’s say your first two cards are a 2 and an Ace.

• Since the Ace can be counted as a 1 OR an 11, your two-card hand total is either 3 OR 13.
• Neither are good hands in blackjack, so you draw another card.
• You draw a 3. So, now your three-card hand total is either 6 or 16, because the Ace card can still be counted as either 1 or as 11. The hand is still soft, because you can draw another card without the danger of busting out.
• A 16 is a bad hand, so you hit again.
• You draw a 10-value card. Your hand is now a “Hard 16“. This is because you can’t count the Ace as an 11 anymore or you would bust (2 + 11 + 3 + 10 = 26).

Tip: Hard 16 is still a bad hand, so in this instance you would draw another card (unless the dealer is showing either a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 as THEIR up-card).

So, it is a soft hand up until the point where your hand is in danger of busting with the draw of just one more card. After this point, the hand is hard.

The Value Of An Ace In A Hard Hand

A hard hand does not contain an Ace, or if it does, it’s valued as 1, not 11.

This is because having a flexible value wouldn’t help – it would cause you to bust out. For example, 7 + 8 + Ace can only equal 16 (7 + 8 + 1), as you’d bust with 26 (7 + 8 + 11).

Example: Let’s say that your hand total is 17 WITHOUT the Ace card. This is a “Hard 17.”

• You are in danger of busting out if you draw one more card.
• If the dealer is showing an up-card of 8, 9, 10, or Ace, then the odds of the game indicate that your Hard 17 could already be a losing hand. This makes it tempting to hit the hand. However, basic strategy indicates that you should stand, as only the 2, 3 4, or Ace (counted as 1) will make your hand better. ALL other cards will exceed 21. So you stand.

And that’s why this is called a Hard 17. Because it can lose immediately if you draw any ONE card other than a 2, 3, 4, or the Ace (which then MUST be counted as a 1).

If you had a Soft 17, however (such as an Ace + a 6), you would have the chance to continue with the hand without the fear of busting out.

Fact: The Soft 17 Hand is SO important, that many land-based and online casinos use it to increase their house edge, by stating that the “Dealer must hit Soft 17.” This means that on those games, the house edge on blackjack will increase by about 0.23% over the basic strategy player.

What Is A Blackjack Hand?

A Blackjack hand – also known as a “Natural 21” – is a two-card hand where the Ace is paired with a 10, Jack, Queen, or King.

That’s because the Ace card (counted as 11) along with a 10-value card makes an automatic 21.

It is the best possible hand in casino blackjack and will typically result in an immediate win, unless the dealer also has Blackjack. 

How The Value Of Your Cards In Blackjack Impacts Your Strategy

The most commonly used strategy in blackjack is called “basic strategy for blackjack”. These are a set of pre-determined instructions on what to do when you are dealt the first two cards in the game.

Refer to these blackjack strategy charts to see what move you should make depending on the value of your hand. The instruction may be to stand, hit, double down, split, or surrender.

6 Quick Strategy Rules Depending On Your Hand Value

1. If your two-card hand total is either 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, stand IF the dealer is showing a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 as their up-card.
2. If your two-card hand total is either 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, hit IF the dealer is showing a 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace as their up-card.
3. Stand on Hard 17, but HIT a Soft 17 if the dealer is showing either 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 or an Ace.
4. Stand on Soft 17 if the dealer is showing a 5, 6, or 7 as their up-card.
5. Always split Aces and 8s.
6. Double down on 11, unless the dealer is showing an Ace as their up-card, but did NOT have a Blackjack (the dealer will check for this before the hand continues).

Learning to play with perfect basic strategy will generally reduce blackjack’s house edge to about 0.54%. But this does vary, depending on other house rules, such as if the dealer hits Soft 17, or if Blackjack pays 6:5 instead of 3:2.

There are many variances in the rules of blackjack from casino to casino, as well as when playing online blackjack, so it’s always in your interest to familiarize yourself with the rules.

• What is the Come bet in craps?
• Where is the Come bet on the table?
• How to make a Come bet
• The Come bet vs the Pass Line bet
• Come bet odds and payouts
• Is the Come bet a good bet?
• Come bet strategy

What Is The Come Bet In Craps?

After the point is established – when the white hockey-puck-like marker is placed on one of the box numbers – you can make a Come bet in craps. This bet wins if the very next roll is a 7 or 11. It will lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled.

If the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 are rolled, then the Come bet is moved to that box number. This bet will now win if the number is rolled again before any 7.

The Come bet works in a similar way to the Pass Line bet, and the house edge is about 1.4%.

Where Is The Come Bet On The Table Layout?

The Come bet in craps is made on a large area of the craps table layout, and is marked with the word “Come”. If you look at the photo below, you will see the Come bet area clearly marked in this way.

It is located just below the box numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, and just above the Field area.

How To Make A Come Bet In Craps

On the New Come Out Roll (the start of a new round of gameplay), the person holding the dice will roll them on the craps table. This person is known as the shooter.

If they roll either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 – which are collectively known as the box numbers – then this number is designated as the point. The dealers will now mark it by placing a hockey-puck-type marker on that number, with the white side up. That’s how everyone knows that this specified number is now the point.

Before the next roll, you can now make a come bet. You do this by placing your wager in the area marked “Come”. You do so in front of where you are standing at the craps table, so the dealer knows that this come bet belongs to you.

• Your bet will now win if a 7 or 11 is rolled on the very next roll.
• Your bet will lose if that roll makes either a 2, 3 or 12.
• If neither of these are rolled, then this can only mean that one of the box numbers was rolled, and therefore your wager is now moved by the dealer to that box number.
• Your Come bet will now win if that number is rolled again before any 7.
• If any 7 is rolled before your Come bet number, then your wager will lose.

Once your Come bet is moved to one of the box numbers, you can make an additional wager on that number. You do this by placing what’s called “Odds” behind that number. It’s similar to placing Free Odds behind your Pass Line wager.

The Come Bet in craps works in a very similar way to your Pass Line wager. The difference is that the Come bet can only be made after the point has been established, and not before. The Pass Line wager can only be made before the Come Out Roll, and not after.

The Come Bet vs Pass Line Explained

A Pass Line bet in craps is a wager which is known as “betting with the shooter.” This means that you are wagering that the shooter will win – meaning that they will establish a point, and then roll that point number again before any 7.

A Come bet in craps works almost in the same way, except that you can only make the Come bet after the point has been established.

So, before the point is established, which is the New Come Out Roll, you can first make your Pass Line bet. Then, after the point has been established, you can make your Come Bet.

Once the point is established, you can place Free Odds behind your Pass Line wager.

But you can also place Free Odds behind your Come bet, once it has been moved to one of the box numbers.

Free Odds on the Come bet in craps work in the same way as Pass Line Free Odds: they are paid at true odds. Or in other words, the house has no edge on Free Odds. This has the effect of reducing the overall house edge on those bets.

The house edge on either the Pass Line bet or the Come bet in craps is about 1.4% without Odds. By placing Free Odds behind your Pass Line Bet or the Come Bet (once on the box number) you can lower the house edge to about 0.85% with Single Odds, and about 0.65% with Double Odds.

Come Bets Odds And Payouts

The base odds on Come bets and Pass Line bets are about 1.4% without Odds, about 0.85% with Single Odds, and about 0.65% with Double Odds.

In some craps casinos you may be able to make Free Odds many times, sometimes even as much as 100x Odds. At 100x Odds, the house edge on that wager reduces all the way down to about 0.02%.

Is The Come Bet A Good Bet In Craps?

Short answer? Yes.

But it depends. Like most things in casino gaming, the outcomes are based on statistical-equivalency models. This means that sometimes the game will be “Hot” (meaning the players will be winning a lot and often), while on other occasions the game will be “Cold” (meaning the players will be losing a lot and often).

So, in the end, the math will even out, and the Odds will equate to the expected payout percentages of the game.

That said, playing the Pass Line with Odds and Come bets with Odds are among the best betting choices in casino craps. 

What Is The Best Craps Come Bet Strategy?

So, what is the best strategy for Come bets in craps?

It kind of depends on the game. If you’re in a game where the shooter is hitting a lot of the box numbers, and NOT any 7, then it’s a good strategy to back your other wagers with the occasional Come bet. But remember that the Come bet will lose if a 2, 3 or 12 are rolled, and must be rolled again once moved to one of the box numbers BEFORE any 7.

Make A Hedge Bet

Since the odds say that about 11.2% of the time the Shooter WILL roll either the 2 or 3 or 12 (and therefore you will lose the Come bet), another way to enhance your Come bet strategy is to make what’s called a Hedge bet. Let’s look at an example of a hedge bet with a $5 Come bet and a $1 Prop bet known as “Any Craps”.

• You first place your $5 Come bet wager, and then toss a $1 chip to the Stickman (that’s the dealer with the sick who moves the dice and chips around the table), and yell out “One dollar Any Craps.”
• So your Come bet wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled, but will lose if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled.
• But now, if the shooter DOES roll either a 2 or 3 or 12, then your $5 Come bet will lose, BUT your Any Craps bet will WIN!
• Since Any Craps is paid at 7:1, that means you’ll be paid a $7 winner for your $1 Any Craps wager. So, in the end, you lost $5 on the Come bet, but you won the $7 wager on Any Craps. This equals a $2 profit.

And that’s why this is called a Hedge Bet – you are “hedging” your loss against a kind of insurance.

But when you do this, you are basically betting against yourself and will eventually wind up losing overall.

That’s because the shooter has about a 11.2% chance of rolling a 2 or 3 or 12 (the “Any Craps”), a 22.2% chance of rolling either a 7 or 11, but about a 66.7% chance of rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10.

That’s why the Hedge bet in craps is often utilized by players based on their “feel” of how this game is going and how the shooter is rolling. It’s more experience, and not an exact science.

Place Odds Behind Your Come Bet

Another Come bet strategy in craps is to place Odds behind your Come bet once it’s moved to the box number rolled. This essentially backs up your Come bet. Your Odds bet wins if your original bet wins.

In most casinos you will be allowed to make up to a 3x Odds bet when the point is 4 or 10, up to 4x if the point is 5 or 9, and up to 5x if the point is 6 or 8.

As mentioned earlier, doing this lowers the total house edge. This is because while your initial Come bet has a small house edge, the Odds bet behind it has no house edge at all.

Lead image credit: JustAFewThings/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Read on for a more in-depth walk-through. Skip to:

• Where Is The Field Bet On The Table?
• What Is A Field Bet In Craps?
• Craps Field Bets Odds And Payouts
• Is The Field Bet A Good Bet In Craps?
• What Is The Best Craps Field Bet Strategy?

Where Is The Field Bet On The Table?

First, take a look at the photo below – this is a typical layout of a casino craps table. You will notice that the Field is a betting area just under the large Box marked “Come,” and above the smaller box marked “Don’t Pass.”

In between these two is the area marked as “Field.” And that’s where you make the Field bet in craps.

You can also see this in the below photo, which shows an electronic craps table in a real casino.

What Is A Field Bet In Craps?

The Field is the part of the game where you can place one-roll wagers on the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The numbers 2 and 12 are usually highlighted on either side of the marked Field wagering area. This is because they usually pay a bonus. For example, paying 2:1 instead of just even-money, as with the other numbers in the Field.

But is some land-based and online casinos, they can pay more – depending on that casino’s bonus structure for craps bets.

But beware, because any time there’s a bonus being offered somewhere on the game, this usually means that there are lower, or lesser, odds on other bets elsewhere. This is to compensate for such “bonus” offerings, and to pay for their “costs” to the casino.

Craps Field Bets Odds And Payouts

Basically, the easier it is to roll a number, the less it will pay, and the harder it is to roll that number, the more it will pay.

For Field Bets, we are only interested in the numbers: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. These numbers are highlighted in the craps pyramid below, which shows how many ways each number can be rolled. For example, there is just one way to roll a 2 (1+1), but two ways to roll a 3 (2+1 and 1+2). As you can see, there are a total of 16 ways to win a Field bet in craps.

• 2:  1:1
• 3:  2:1; 1:2
• 4:  2:2, 3:1, 1:3
• 5:  3:2, 2:3, 4:1, 1:4
• 6:  3:3, 4:2, 2:4; 5:1, 1:5
• 7:  4:3, 3:4, 5:2, 2:5, 6:1, 1:6
• 8:  4:4, 5:3, 3:5,6:2, 2:6
• 9:  5:4, 4:5, 6:3, 3:6
• 10: 5:5, 6:4, 4:6
• 11: 6:5, 5:6
• 12: 6:6

The Field bet has a house edge of around 5.6% for craps games where the 2 and the 12 both pay 2:1. It has a house edge of around 2.8% on craps games where the Field bets on either the 2 OR the 12 pay 3:1. This is often the case in casinos offering extra “bonuses” on The Field. The rest of the Field numbers usually pay 1:1 (“even money”).

Is The Field Bet A Good Bet In Craps?

The Field bet is a “Proposition” or “Prop” bet. These are usually one-roll wagers on events which are generally either difficult to make, or can be made more profitably in another way.

The Field bet is not the best bet in craps. With a house edge of around 5.6% on games where the 2 and the 12 pay 2:1 each, or a house edge of around 2.8% on games where either the 2 OR the 12 pay 3:1, these one-roll Prop bets can take a big bite out of your bankroll.

In comparison, the base-wager on the Pass Line, and the original base wager on the Come, both carry a lower house edge of around 1.4%. And so, at least statistically, these are far better bets to make.

Also, when betting the Pass Line – and after the point has been established – you can place Free Odds behind your Pass Line wagers. These Free Odds are now paid at True Odds, without any house edge.

This means that if you place just Single Odds behind your Pass Like wager, then the house edge on your bets is now only 0.85%. And if you place Double Odds behind your Pass Line wager, then the house edge against you is only 0.65%.

These are big differences when compared with the Field bets.

In most casinos, you can make even higher Free Odds than that, and this can significantly alter your craps betting strategy.

What Is The Best Craps Field Bet Strategy?

The generally-accepted advice – especially to novice craps players – is to stay away from all Prop bets, which includes betting the Field.

But just because the Field is not among the most statistically-friendly wagers, does not mean that it should always be avoided.

There are, after all, 16 ways to win on The Field – and this wager was originally intended to give the gambler a last one-roll chance to hit something – even if it was just enough for the bus ticket home.

So, what is the best craps field bet strategy?

It kind of depends on the game. If you’re in a game where the shooter – which is the person rolling the dice – is hitting a lot of numbers, and NOT a 7, then it’s a good strategy to back your other wagers with the occasional Field bet.

And that’s because even if the shooter rolls Craps – meaning a 2, or a 3 or a 12 – then the Field still wins, while the other bets, like the Come bet, will lose.

So, players sometime use the Field as a kind of back-up plan if they are already loaded up on all the box numbers, and are pushing their bets with riding Come bets at the same time. And perhaps also blocking some of the other Prop bets or any On The Hop bets on the table.  

The Iron Cross Craps Strategy

This is a kind of shoot-and-go-home one-roll Prop bet – like taking the Field as a last hurrah before going home.

You bet the Field in multiples of $5, then place the same multiples of $5 on the number 5, and then place multiples of $6 each on the 6 and the 8 (and NOT on the Big 6 or Big 8, which you DO NOT want to use, ever).

Because every number wins, except for any 7, this is a reasonable last-ditch effort to walk away with something. The house edge on the Iron Cross bet is about 1.15%. But that also depends on the various other odds and house payouts on the other bets, and that means that the actual percentages can, and do, vary. We’ll have more on the Iron Cross bet in craps on another occasion.

So for now, best of luck to all!

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