I am very pleased to tell everyone that gaming author Frank Scoblete has joined the forum and I look forward to his posts.

I've read all of his books. I read his online column. I know he is an accomplished blackjack author but I'm not a blackjack player.

I share his interest and desire to be able to master the game of craps.

As I reported here in another thread, after all these years I have discovered that he uses the terms "dice control" and "dice influencing" interchangeably. I always thought of dice control and dice influencing as being different. Now that I know we are pretty much talking about the same thing, I can say that I now have to reconsider everything he has said in the past.

Over on the WOV forum he has introduced some reasonable points in the discussion about dice influencing and I agree with some of the key points he has made. The big key point, which Frank and I both agree on, is that an influenced throw must show some sort of control of the rotation and movement of the dice. In other words, an influenced throw must show some level of control, even if total control is impossible.

I have always wanted to expand the discussion of craps here, because frankly craps is my game. I admit I haven't won at craps (it may be impossible because it is a negative expectation game) but what makes it such a great game for me is that I consider it a game of skill and not a game of chance.

There is chance in every other casino game -- but when the dice are in your hands you have the opportunity to turn craps into a game of skill.