Golden Touch Craps

The Captain of Craps, the legendary Atlantic City player who is the world record holder for the longest roll before a seven out (147 rolls!) calls the worst bets at the craps table the Crazy Crapper bets because you have to be crazy to make them. Yet, many players happily throw their money (away) on these bets, probably not knowing just how fierce a house edge they have. They think because they get a lot of money back that somehow or another these bets are worth making.

The casino doesn’t dare call the Crazy Crapper bets by such a pejorative name or players might think twice before making them. Instead, these awful bets are called "proposition bets" and they either win or lose on the next throw – at least for most of them. So here they are for your delight, amazement and amusement.

Keep in mind when we say a house edge of 10 percent, it means you will lose $10 for every $100 you wager on this "proposition" in the long run. Now that is crazy.

2, 12: A bet that a 2, known as "snake eyes" or the 12, known as "boxcars" will be thrown on the next roll. Usually pays 30 to 1 and the house edge 13.89 percent.

3, 11: A bet that a 3 or 11, known as "Yo-Eleven!" will be thrown on the next roll. Pays 15 to 1 and the house edge is 11.11 percent. Interesting that the 11 has an 11.11 percent house edge.

Any 7: A bet that a 7, known as "Big Red," (which is where your bankroll will be) will be thrown next. Pays four to one and the house edge is a monstrous 16.67 percent – the worst bet in the game. You can also do this bet differently and get paid 13 to 3, by making three hop bets on 1-6, 2-5, and 3-4. The house edge is then reduced to 11.11 percent.

Any craps: A combination wager that the next decision will be a 2, 3, or 12. This bet pays off at seven to one and the house edge 11.11 percent.

Field bet: A combination wager that the next decision will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 will pay even money but the 2 and 12 will usually pay two to one. In some casinos, the 12 will pay three to one. If the 12 pays at two to one, the house edge is 5.56 percent, if the 12 pays three to one the house edge is drops to 2.78 percent.

Hop Bets: Name your number – "Give me 2:3 on the hop!" or "Give me 6:3 on the hop!" The shooter rolls that exact number and you win. If you bet two different numbers as in the 2 and 3 the payoff will be 15 to 1 with a house edge of 11.11 percent. If you take a hard number, for example 2 and 2, the payoff will be 30 to 1 with a house edge of 13.89. Note that there are already proposition bets for the hardways but those are not one-roll bets.

Horn Bet: One of the dumbest sayings in craps is "See a horn, bet a horn," brought to you by the silliest craps "experts" on the planet. The horn is actually four bets in one with one dollar placed on the 2, 3, 11, and 12. The payoffs are the same as betting each number by itself – which are a dumb bets to begin with. The house edge on the horn is 12.5 percent. The player may also bet in increments of five dollars, putting the extra dollar on whichever of the four numbers he wishes. You hear a player say, "Give me a horn high two," and the bet is apportioned one dollar on the 3, 11, and 12 with two dollars on the 2. The horn high 2 and horn high 12 have a casino edge of 12.78 percent, and the 3 and 11 horn high bets have a house edge of 12.22 percent. If someone says to you, "See a horn, bet a horn" – run away.

World or Whirl Bet: The horn wager with the 7 added to it. The player bets in increments of five dollars, with one dollar on the 2, 3, 7, 11, and 12. The house edge is 13.33 percent. "See a whirl, bet a whirl," – aaarrrrgggghhhh!

The Hardways: The 6 made 3:3 or the 8 made 4:4. If it rolls before a 7, the player wins nine dollars for every one dollar he wagered. House edge is 9.09 percent. The 4 or 10 made 2:2 or 5:5. If one of these hits before a 7, the player wins seven dollars for every one dollar wagered. The house edge is 11.11 percent.

Okay, those are the Crazy Crapper bets. There are other bad bets at craps as well but this column does have a word length. You’ll have far better fortune if you play the lowest house edge bets – but you know that already.