LEARNING the ODDS - In the game of Craps you can take odds on the PASS LINE and on the COME line. Lets cover the PASS LINE where we get 2 odds. LetÆs say the point is 4 and you have $2 on the PASS LINE, you the put $2 behind your PASS LINE bet. This means you are taking odds on the point, in this case the 4. Now, letÆs refer to the layout. As youÆll notice 2 odds are 2 to 1 on the 4 and 2 to 1 on the 10. Now if a 4 is rolled before a 7, the dealer will pay you even money on your PASS LINE bet and 2 to 1 on your odds.
REMEMBER the 4 and 10 pay the same, 2 to 1. What if the point is 5. LetÆs refer back to the layout. The odds on the 5 are 3 to 2, the same as the 9. Now if the 5 is rolled before a 7, the dealer will pay you even money on your PASS LINE bet and 3 to 2 on the odds.
REMEMBER, the 5 and 9 always pay the same; 3 to 2. LetÆs say the point is 6. Notice on your layout that the 6 and the 8 paid 6 to 5. If your bet is anywhere between $2 and $5 on the PASS LINE you must put $5 on the back line to take odds and if the 6 rolls, the dealer pays you even money on your PASS LINE bet and $6 for your $5 bet on the back line.
REMEMBER, the 6 and 8 pay the same; 6 to 5. Before we go any further, you might like to know why the odds are what they are. The casinos just didnÆt make the odds up. In Craps, the odds are all figured around the 7. The 7 can be made more ways than any other number. Six ways, six 1s, 1:6, 5:2, 2:5, 4:3 and 3:4. Now the 4 and 10 can be made three ways. The 4; three 1s, 1:3, and 2:2 and the 10, 6:4, 4:6 and 5:5. The 7 can be made 6 ways, the 4 and 10 three ways therefore, 6/3 equals 2 to 1. Now the 5 and 9 can be made four ways. The 5; four 1s, 1:4, 3:2 and 2:3 and the 9; 6:3, 3:6, 5:4 and 4:5. Again, 6/4 equals 3 to 2. The 6 and 8 can be made five ways. The 6; 5:1, 1:5, 4:2, 2:4 and 3:3 and the 8; 6:2, 2:6, 5:3, 3:5 and 4:4. Therefore, 6/5 equals 6 to 5. You might say 5:1 and 1:5 are the same but remember there are two dice, 1:5 and 5:1. All Hardways can only be made one way like 5:5. I hope this will help you in learning how the odds are figured.
