Don't we all try to influence the dice?

[Alan Mendelson]

Yes, this is about "dice influencing" and "dice control."

Dice influencing has gotten a bad rap. But the reality is, I think everyone tries to influence the dice "their way."

I'm not going to claim that I can control the dice and I am not going to claim that on command I can even "influence" the dice. Instead I am suggesting that everyone tries, and I am asking only one question:

Can the game of casino craps and the throwing of dice become a game of skill? It is even possible?

When you read Sharpshooters extensive book on dice control, he goes into great detail to explain the physics of dice influencing, and the way a human using muscle memory can interact with the physics of dice and the table -- alligator bumps and all -- to influence the dice.

Theory is one thing, but putting the theory into practice is of course another.

We can read how to throw a knuckle ball, but can we actually do it?
We can read how a screw ball is pitched, but do we have the knack to throw one?
We can read how to kick a 50 yard field goal, but will our kicking leg accomplish it?

Even though we might lack the muscle memory, the steady hands, the depth perception and the light touch of a skilled toss, I think everyone tries to influence the dice. If you are a passline shooter, you throw the dice hoping to hit your point. You might use a particular "set" and you might throw the dice softly, or with a slight lob with little rotation. Or, your only influence might be prayer and a wish. If you are a don't pass shooter, you throw the dice hoping to hit a 7-out before you hit your point. Again you might use a particular set, or a lob with the 7s showing on your dice set, or you might also just be wishing and hoping and that might be your influence.

I don't think dice influencing should be criticized at all, because when each of us has our turn with the dice we do indeed try to influence the outcome.

Besides, if craps really is a random game, then trying to influence the two dice wouldn't matter anyway, would it?

[Count Room]

Alan, with your press credentials why not get in touch with Archie Karas himself on this topic? I imagine most of us here wouldn't be able to provide the depth of insight you're looking for, but having an interview about dice influencing with Mr. Karas would sound interesting and enjoyable. I have a feeling this wouldn't be too hard to arrange and you were able to interview Rob Singer extensively so that's why I bring up the idea.

[Alan Mendelson]

Is there a reason to interview Karas about "dice influencing"? Was he a dice influencer? I've never seen anything to indicate he was.

But I would be pleased to interview him, just as I would be pleased to interview Bob Dancer. I offered to interview Frank Kneeland -- and even though we met for lunch and the camera was upstairs in my room at Caesars -- Frank declined.

[Count Room]

Karas may not have been a strict "dice influencer" per se, but you said in your original post that everyone tries to influence the dice in their own individual way. Wouldn't it be cool to see Archie's "individual way" of throwing dice? That would be a good highlight to such an interview.

[Alan Mendelson]

Karas may not have been a strict "dice influencer" per se, but you said in your original post that everyone tries to influence the dice in their own individual way. Wouldn't it be cool to see Archie's "individual way" of throwing dice? That would be a good highlight to such an interview.

Yes it would!

[Alan Mendelson]

Well, thanks to Facebook, I sent a friend request to Archie Karas thinking this might be the best way to make direct contact with him. I will let you know if we do make contact and if would answer some questions of dice influencing. I wouldn't rule it out as I've been reading more about him including his history of being an expert pool player. There are, in fact, similiarities in playing pool and throwing dice as both require expert hand/eye control and coordination, depth perception, muscle memory, etc.

[Count Room]

I counted eight different Facebook pages with Archie Karas on them. Three of them have pictures of Archie. I hope you picked the right one! My gut tells me another means of contact may have to be initiated.

[Vegas Vic]

Does anyone believe the Golden Touch Dice Control being pushed by Frank Scoblete to be the real thing or just something to sell his books and to promote his other ventures?

[Alan Mendelson]

There has never been any proof that Frank's mysterious star of dice control "The Captain" ever existed, nor has any so-called "dice controller" ever demonstrated true, continuous dice "control."

In theory, dice influencing and dice control is possible, just like in theory, a video poker game should return what the pay table says it should return. But in reality it's a whole different matter.

I will say this: if a $1500 weekend course costs less than what you might lose playing craps in a casino, then take the course. It doesn't hurt to try dice influencing even though it might not help. The best and longest rolls I've ever seen and bet on were those of "random shooters" who made no attempt to stand, grip the dice, position their body, throw the dice, target the landing zone, and influence the speed of the dice and the rotation of the dice, the way the "dice control crowd" says it should be done.

I have used the techniques of "dice influencing" for years but my great rolls were just as much luck as they were from the use of the techniques.

[jatki]

I've always thought Frank Scoo-Bee-Do was an up & up gambling author, but I don't believe in dice influencing. It's more a mind game than anything else, but if he makes money off of dreamers then more power to him.

I never heard of this Archie Karas person before here, and he doesn't sound like much more than your neighborhood degenerate gambler if you ask me.

[Alan Mendelson]

I think that is a very unfair statement you made of Karas, jatki.

He made his money primarily playing heads up poker. And in fact, nearly all of the big poker pros make their big money playing cash games -- and not in tournaments.

Karas is even today a well known poker player, still shows up at the WSOP, still plays in Vegas, but at lower levels.

I saw an ESPN profile of him on youtube in which he explains that nearly half of his 40-million was lost playing baccarat.