Craps Buy Vs Place
The pass line bet with odds is the best craps bet you can make because it has the lowest house edge. However, players can also wager on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 at any time with a Place Bet. These numbers are sometimes referred to as “point numbers” or “box numbers,' and the wagers go in the big boxes shown on the layout. Place bets are very valuable when a shooter is rolling many numbers, as you'll get paid each time the number repeats.
How to Make Place Bets
- Everything about the Buy bet is the same as the Place bet except that it pays true odds (and you have to pay a price to get those true odds) and your chips go in a different position on the table layout. The key aspect of the Buy bet is that it pays true odds so let’s focus on that.
- In exchange, the casino pays Buy bets at true odds. Since the house edge is less than 5 percent on 5, 6, 8, and 9, it doesn't pay to buy these numbers. However, buying the 4 or 10 can reduce the house edge to 4.76 percent. Unless the player tells the dealer his numbers are 'working,' Place and Buy bets are usually off on a come-out roll.
The Place 4 / Place 10 wager wins if a 4 or 10 combination is rolled before a 7. Like the bet above, you lose when 7 comes up first. This wager offers 2:1 true odds, but only a 9:5 payout when you win. The result is a 6.67% house edge.
To make a place bet you put your chips in front of you on the layout and tell the inside dealer which numbers you want to cover. The dealer will then move your chips to the numbered box you want to wager on. Place bets are not self-service bets.
The dealer keeps track of which bet belongs to which player by placing them strategically inside the box.
Winning Your Bet
After you place a number it must roll before a seven appears in order to win. When the shooter sevens-out, you lose all of your place bets. When you win a place bet the dealer will push you your winnings but the original bet stays where it is and keeps winning if the number keeps rolling.
Your original bet will stay on the place number until the shooter sevens out or until you ask the dealer to take your bet down. You can take down your place bets anytime you want to. If the shooter makes their point the place bet will be turned-off for the come-out roll. Want it to work (win or lose) on the come-out? You've got to tell the dealer before the shooter releases the dice!
The Pay Out
The true odds of rolling the numbers six and eight are 6 to 5 but a winning place bet on these numbers pays $7 to $6, so you must make your place bets on these numbers in multiples of six dollars. The house edge on the 6 and 8 is only 1.52 percent which makes it a very good bet.
The true odds of rolling a five or nine are 3 to 2 but a winning place bet on these numbers pays $7 to $, so you must make your place bets in multiples of five dollars. The house edge on the 5 and 9 is 4-percent.
The true odds of rolling the for or ten are 2 to 1 but a winning place bet on these numbers pays $9 to $5. These numbers require bets in multiples of five dollars. The house edge on the 4 and 10 is 6.67 percent.
Place Bets
Buy Bets
A Buy Bet is very similar to a place bet, but with slightly better odds for the player in the 4 and 10. When betting on a number with a buy bet you pay a 5 % commission to the house. Since the minimum chip value at the casino is a dollar you will be paying at least that much. It is not worth it to buy a number for less than $20.
If you are betting more than $10, buying the 4 and 10 is better than placing them. This is because you are being paid 2 to 1 instead of 9 to 5. Some casinos only charge you the commission on buy bets when you win. Ask the dealer at the table if this is their policy. If you have a choice of casinos to play in, always choose the one that only charges a commission on winning buy bets.
Best Way To Play Craps And Win
Buying the 6 and 8 is not worthwhile. You will actually have a higher house edge because of the commission.