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The Big Easy In
one of our many moves around the country we ended up in a small house in the country. We were enjoying country living when one evening I
discovered we had skunks living in our garage! I
bowered a live-trap from a neighbor and over the next two weeks I trapped 13 skunks! When I tell this story people always ask how you
handle a live skunk in a live trap? I always
tell them
very,very carefully. And
thats the way you play $10 tables with only a $100 buy-in. Have
you ever been at a craps table and observed another craps player buy in for $1000 and then
proceed to throw money out on everything? Have
you ever thought, Boy, I wish I had his money and my brains? More money doesnt make you a smarter player,
or a winning player. I learned the hard way! During
1999 and 2000 my part time (after work) income was good enough that I could up my buy-ins,
loss limits, and basic bets, and could even afford more trips to Las Vegas, more than any
time before in my life. What I didnt do
was maintain my same level of willpower and patience.
I am not a patient man! Over
the years I had learned how to manage a $500 trip budget utilizing $100 session buy-ins on
$5 tables. I know, I know, people say you cant
do that and last. All I found when I upped
my buy-in and loss limit was that I lost more! Regression
is not for me! I
am a cautious up-as-you-win type of craps player now.
My wins finance additional bets only when I have locked up a profit. Shooters, and that includes myself, MUST qualify
before I will bet. So, how do I qualify
shooters? First,
I use a modified 5-count like the Captains. If your unfamiliar with this strategy go to
the book section of this site and buy Beat The Craps out of the Casinos by
Frank Scoblete. It will explain the 5-count
and how to apply it. I
say modified, because I do not adhere to the Captains 5-count in the strictest
sence. What Im saying is that I never
bet on a new shooter until he has thrown the dice at least 5 times, minimum. But, I still may not bet on the shooter even if
they have throwm 9 or 10 times. Let me give
you an example. Lets
say a new shooter throws the following sequence: 5,2,11,10 and 9. Would you bet on this shooter and if so, how would
you bet? How about a new shooter with this
sequence: 9, 4,3,11,6? What about a new
shooter with this sequence: 7,2,11,4,9,5? And
lastly what about a new shooter with this sequence: 5,2,6,8,5,4? The
only one I would bet on, and the only bet I would make is a place bet on the 5 for the
last shooter with the sequence of: 5,2,6,8,5,4? I
look for consistency in the numbers that the shooter throws. They have to repeat a number at least once before
I bet on them. Have you ever seen a craps
shooter throw a 6 for his number and then proceed to throw only 5s and 9s
before they 7 out? How about the shooter that
throws 5 10s and never hits his point number of 9?
I follow the trend. I
was sitting at a blackjack table, I believe it was Thursday night, when this individual
ran up to the BJ table, laid down a $50 bet and said to the dealer, Look at that,
as he pointed to a roulette table. Black had
come up 23 times in a row! He asked the
dealer what his next bet would be if he were sitting at the table? The dealer replied, Red, of course. And I commented, Youd be wrong. You bet the trend or you dont bet. And he said, Then Id be wrong. Then I asked, At what point would you have
started betting red? If it was after 10
straight blacks youd have lost the next 13 in a row! Bet the trend!
By the way, the guy that put down the $50 bet lost, he bet $100 on the next
hand and lost that, and bet $150 on the next hand and lost that! Maybe he should have bet black! A
similar circumstance happened to me at the craps table.
A random shooter throws 3 4s in the space of seven rolls. I place the 4 for $10 and he proceeds to throw 2
more before he sevens out. Profit, plus $26. When
Im the shooter, I also qualify myself, especially if it is my first toss on the
table. If its at a $10 table I may not
even take odds on my first sequence. If I
make it past 5 tosses then I take odds and note which numbers I have been hitting before
placing any additional numbers. If I am at a
$5 table I will take single odds on my pass line bet right away but wait on any place bets
to see which numbers are coming up consistently. One
morning at a $5 table I threw an easy 4 took single odds and came right back with a 3/1. Next toss was 6.
I took single odds and place the 4 for $5.
Two rolls later I threw another 4 (3/1). With
all shooters, including myself, I take only one place bet and make that pay for itself,
waiting for at least 3 hits, before I spread out to another number. And that number must also be one that the shooter
(or me) is also hitting consistently. If
there is no discernable pattern for an additional number, then I just stick with my
original place number. I press only after I
have at least 3 hits on a number and thereafter press 1 unit on each additional hit. If the shooter makes a couple of pass line numbers
I will also begin to play the pass line, but only after I am ahead for this shooter. Does
it work all the time? Of course not! The beauty of this system for me is that it is
simple and easy to understand, works with a small bankroll, it works for me and, allows me
to play at $10 tables if that is all that is available.
I do not switch back and forth from the do side to the dont side. If the dice are not passing then Ill get my
shots at shooting quick enough. Using
a conservative approach and this system allows you to stay at a table longer, thus
allowing you to be there should a hot random roller show up or you yourself hit a monster
roll. Good
luck! And
remember, any win is better than any loss
any day. Pablo |
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