The free odds bet is the best bet on the craps table - and the best bet in the casino, for that matter. This is the bet that's placed behind your Pass/Don't Pass/Come/Don't Come bet.
Laying the (4) or the (10) is a relatively popular bet for those playing the dark (don't) side of craps. It's easy, simple and puts you on the casino side of the odds at the table.
- The Odds is like a side bet in craps made after a point is thrown. It pays if the point is thrown before a seven. The odds on the Odds are exactly fair, which zero house edge. To be specific, the Odds pays 2 to 1 on points of 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on a 5 and 9, and 6 to 5 on a 6 and 8.
- In crapless craps, 2 and 12 have odds of 11:2 and have a house edge of 7.143% while 3 and 11 have odds of 11:4 with a house edge of 6.25%. 20 New York Craps is one of the variations of craps played mostly in the Eastern coast of the US, true to its name.
It's widely used by experienced players deploying a number of different positive and negative progressions and is also a great way for the novice craps player to get introduced to the ‘don't' side of betting.
In effect, you are betting that a (7) will roll before the (4) or (10) you lay (bet) your money on.
Cool cat casino instant play. There are a number of reasons Laying the (4) or (10) is a popular way to play the dark side.
- There are 6 ways to roll a (7) and only 3 ways to roll a (4) or a (10)
- The odds are in your favor as you're betting with the casino and not against
- Laying either the (4) or (10) has a lower ‘House Edge' than laying the other numbers
- House Edge (4) & (10) is 2.44%, (5) & (9) is 3.23%, and the (6) & (8) is 4.00%
- You can ‘buy' the number so you can get paid out at ‘true odds.
- You can make the bet, or take it down, at anytime you want (it's not a contract bet)
(Secrets Tip #1) How do you know this is one of the better bets on the table? There is no wording on the table that promotes this bet or even let's you know it's available.
EASY TO EXECUTE
Just put $20 on the table and tell the dealer to 'Lay the (4)' or the (10), whichever you decide to bet against.
- Let the dealer know you want to ‘buy' the number. He/she will put a small disc on your bet that says ‘Buy'.
- For a $20 bet, it will cost you $1 to buy the number to get paid out at full odds. Most casinos don't charge the vig on this unless you win, where they'll take it out of your winnings. There are some that take the vig up front and you're charged win or lose.
Now, if the (7) rolls before the (4) or (10) that you selected, the dealer will pay you $19 in winnings. ($20 in true odds (1 to 2), minus the $1 vig).
(Secrets Tip #2) When laying the (4) or (10), you can hedge your bet by placing a $2 Hardway bet on the number. Paying 9 to 1, you will have effectively eliminated one of the three ways your bet could lose.
The ‘Lay the (4) or (10) Betting Strategy works great on cold and choppy tables, but keep in mind, no betting strategy will change the house edge on the bet.
VARIATIONS
As simple and effective as this bet is, there are many ways to play this at the tables. Below are just a handful and you can create the version that works best for you.
- Use ‘flat bets' and keep the bet size the same after a win or a loss
- Use a positive progression betting system where you increase the size of your bets after each win
- Use a negative progression betting system and increase the size of your bet after each loss.
- Lay the (4) or (10) on the come-out roll when most are ‘trying' to roll a (7)
- Lay the bet immediately after the (4) or (10) rolls with the hope that it won't repeat before the (7)
- Wait for 3 rolls of the dice before laying your bet, expecting that a (7) will show in the next few rolls
- Some even lay both the (4) and the (10), although that's not recommended with this strategy
Like most other betting strategies, the ‘Lay the (4) or (10) Strategy' has it's own disadvantages.
Taking Odds In Craps
- It does not work well on warm or hot tables
- Being that it pays at 1 to 2 odds, you'll collect $10 on a $20 bet, but you'll give up $20 on a loss – It will take you 2 wins to make up 1 loss
Please feel free to leave any comments, recommendations, suggestions or experiences you've had using this strategy in the comments section below.
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Odds For Craps Bets
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Odds In Craps Game
In the meantime…
BEST OF LUCK AT THE CASINOS!!!