Place bets

I like to take a conservative approach when I first start to bet at the craps table. I make a $6 place bet on both the six and eight and I take them down or call them off after one to three wins.

I try to avoid betting the 4, 5, 9, 10 until the table heats up enough to warrant it. See below for odds/house edge.

Naturally when the table is hot, I keep the bets up and will press them every other win. But we are just starting out, trying to get a feel for the table. I don't want to leave my bets up and at risk for too long, so what I want to do is to pull profit off before a seven is thrown.

In this example, let's say that you have just $12 in your rack to start. You make two place bets of $6 each on the six and eight. You do not press them.

This table shows you what happens when you take your bets down/off after the 1st, 2nd or 3rd win.

1st win pays $7 2nd win pays $7 3rd win pays $7
win total-$7 win total-$14 win total-$21
take bets down/off take bets down/off take bets down/off
profit of $7 profit of $14 profit of $21
rack total of $19 rack total of $26 rack total of $33

This table shows you what happens when you leave your bets up till the seven is thrown

1st win pays $7 2nd win pays $7 3rd win pays $7 4th win pays $7 5th win pays $7
win total-$7 win total-$14 win total-$21 win total-$28 win total-$35
seven is thrown seven is thrown seven is thrown seven is thrown seven is thrown
lose $5 profit of $2 profit of $9 profit of $16 profit of $23
rack total of $7 rack total of $14 rack total of $21 rack total of $28 rack total of $35

By playing conservatively and taking your bets down/off after one to three wins, you are lowering your risk and ensuring a profit. (provided that the shooter throws one or more of your numbers before sevening out).

You would have to have your place bets win three times just to win $2 more than if you took the bets down/off after just one win.

1st win pays $7 3rd win pays $7
win total-$7 win total-$21
take bets down/off seven is thrown
profit of $7 profit of $9
rack total of $19 rack total of $21