CASINOS
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Basics of the "Pass Line" bet in craps
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Dear Mark,
Although admittedly I am newcomer to craps, I still don¹t quite understand
the basics of the "Pass line" bet. In a past column of yours, Craps with
Confidence (see archive), you briefly mentioned the mechanics of the Pass line
wager. Could you please further explain the bet? Marion M. Leaning
over a crap table and gamboling through a craps session need not be
intimidating, even for a newbie, especially when you restrict your wagers to
the Pass line bet. Truly, Marion, it¹s pretty simple stuff. In craps,
preceding the come-out roll, most players make either one of two bets, placing
chips on the "Pass line" or on the "Don¹t pass bar." Though you are not
obligated to make either of these wagers, almost all players do. The Pass line
bettor is betting with the dice, and is often called the "right bettor."
Opposite that, the Don¹t pass bettor is betting against the dice, and is
called the "wrong bettor." The more popular of the two wagers is the "Pass
line" bet, though the "Don¹t pass" bet gives slightly better odds, the
house edge being 1.4% for the "Don¹t pass" bet and the microscopically
higher edge of 1.4% for the "Pass line" bet. When you bet on the Pass line,
Marion, one of the following three things will occur: a.) The next roll
will be a 7 or 11, in which case you immediately win even money (1 for 1),
or b.) The next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12, in which case you immediately
lose money, or... c.) The 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will roll, becoming YOUR and
the roller¹s point. If the shooter repeats the point on an ensuing roll,
you win and are paid even money (1 for 1). If the "ugly 7" wields its ugly face
before the point repeats itself, you lose your Pass line wager. All you
folks, who avoid that "too complicated" old crap table, are overlooking one of
the best bets in the casino. Oh, really? How come? The simple pass line bet has
a house advantage of less than 1.5%; that¹s how come. Here¹s cheers
and mud in your eye from Yours Truly in anticipation of your good fortune at
the crap table.
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