CRAPS FROM BILLY THE KID - ARTICLES BY BILLY THE KID
Tunica Moments
At Franks urging I will do at least a monthly and hopefully will have time for a bi-weekly column for the web site. Since this will be the first installment I thought that I would try to give you a feel for what I would like to do and see if I can get suggestions from the GTC family to possibly expand my thoughts on the column.
Frank thinks that I should do humor and for those that know me it would seem a likely endeavor. I can’t seem to say or write much of anything without a large portion of my tongue being jammed in my cheek, however I would like to include some question and answer articles, answering questions about casino procedure game rules and such, do some trip reports along with the goofy casino repartee that is always going to be part of my writing style. So please e-mail me through the web site with questions and suggestions whenever you see fit to do so and I’ll try to put them into the Billy the Kid spin cycle and see if what comes out will suit your fancy.
I spent five days in Tunica last week doing the class and of course came away with a couple of "moments" that I would like to relay to you.
The first moment came during a session where I wasn’t shooting. I was playing next to base and having a very pleasant conversation with one of the Horseshoe’s dealers letting other GTC crew members handle the shooting duties. The action was fairly heavy but the dealer was a good one and took it all in stride while trading barbs with yours truly.
Playing in the last position is an exercise in patience for a player that usually plays next to stick, since you are paid last and must wait your turn to adjust any bets that you have. While being paid for a place bet I instructed the dealer to raise my bet to thirty dollars. The player to my right (who will remain nameless to protect the guilty) piped up and said "I want thirty too". The dealer holds out her hand and says drop two dollars. The nameless player looks puzzled as the dealer asks 32 what?
On Saturday night I was playing with the usual suspects at a $25 min table since it was the only table at the shoe that wasn’t packed to capacity. During our play a guy walks up to my end and throws 4 red cheques onto the table as he calls $10 hi-lo and $10 field after the dice had been passed to the shooter. The dealer hesitated trying I believe to book the hi-lo while not booking the field bet and just said "no bet" when he realized he didn’t have time to deal with both bets. The player is informed that this table is a $25 min table and is handed his $20 back. Just before the next roll he tosses in a $25 cheque and says twenty five dollar hi-low as he places a green in the field. This pattern continues every roll and he deviates only to buy more green cheques and occasionally to make a $10 field bet only to be reminded of that pesky $25 minimum.
There are many dangerous animals that live in our world. Some of the most dangerous lie silently in wait for their prey never giving a hint of the impending danger as that perfect moment approaches and they jump on the unsuspecting with all of their power and fury. Playing at the end of this table was our own Pit Boss guarding the landing zone for the right side shooters. Arman quietly holding the white cheques in his hand, waiting patiently for that moment, that perfect moment to strike. Our unsuspecting hi-low bettor was broke and his right foot had not yet touched the floor as he spun to leave the table. The cheques fly to the stick as Arman calls " HI-LO, TWO DOLLARS". Through the din of the casino the stickman replies "BET".
Both of these "moments" show how important proper communication and knowledge of the game are at the craps table. Craps speak and knowledge of the game dynamics can assist everyone at the table to keep proper pace and can make a players money go farther not faster.
Billy the Kid
