The game of craps has been described as "two games in one." The first game is the "come out roll" where (for the pass line shooter) a 7 or 11 is an immediate win. The second game is when a point is established during the come out roll -- and a point can be a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
In craps a 2 or 3 or 12 is a "loser" for the pass line player on the come out roll.
So here's a question for you: If you are a pass line player do you load up your bet money on the pass line hoping for a 7 or 11 on the first roll, or, do you make a smaller bet on the pass line and saving money to bet "odds money" after the point is established?
In the movie "Indecent Proposal," Demi Moore throws the dice for Robert Redford who has one million dollars on the pass line -- and she throws a seven and wins. I love this clip, watch:
But was it really a smart play to put all of the bankroll "on the line"? Some players do this all the time in craps -- they put more money on the pass line and sacrifice the odds bet which actually returns more money for a "winner" on a point than is paid for a come out winner.
One reason why players do this is that they are playing at denominations that are too high for their budgets. You should only play at a craps game where the denomination allows you to be full odds. If you can't bet full odds, then move down in a denomination.
When you play at denominations that are too pricey for your budget you tend to make what amount to "stupid adjustments" in strategy.
For example, at a $100 craps table, a player with a limited budget might bet $100 on the pass line but not bet the odds because his budget is strained just to make the pass line bets.
Here is how the same amount of money with odds and without odds changes a payout:
Let's say you have $60 to bet when a point of 6 is rolled.
A. If all $60 is placed as the "flat bet" and wins, this pays even money, or $60.
B. With traditional 5X odds (casinos allow you to bet five times the amount of the flat bet as odds on the 6), a player would have $10 on the pass line for the flat bet, keeping $50 for odds. If the point of six is made, the payoff would be:
$10 flat bet is paid $10
$50 odds bet is paid $60
Total payoff is $70
Here's another example with the point of 4 with a casino allowing 3X odds and a bet amount of $40.
A. If no "odds bets" is made, then all $40 is on the pass line, and if the 4 is made the payoff is $40.
B. If odds bets are made, the player would put $10 on the pass line and $30 odds, and the payoff would be this:
$10 on the pass line would be paid $10.
$30 on the "odds" would be paid $60.
Total payoff $70
What makes the payoffs bigger on the "odds bet money" is that it is paid at "true odds" reflecting the odds of winning the particular point bet.
What is your strategy? Do you load up on the pass line hoping for the immediate win with a 7 or 11, or do keep money for odds hoping for a bigger pay day on the same amount of money?