Understanding
Craps Part 4
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The Hardway Bet
Named that way because it's a hard way to win, just kidding, but the hardway
bet has some pretty horrible odds, so I recommend you stick with pass line bets
with odds for the most part. Actually the 'hard' bit derives from the doubles
involved. To roll a 'hard eight' means to roll it with double 4's, to roll a
'hard 6' means to roll it with double 3's. So in craps the only hardway bets
that exist are a hard 4, 6, 8, and 10. When you make a hardway bet your betting
that the hard version of what your betting on will come up before the soft
version, or a seven. The soft version is the opposite of the hard version. Two
threes is a hard six, but a 4 and a 2 is a soft six.
Odds are not completely consistent from casino to casino on the hardway bets
but generally they go like so: a hard 4 pays 7 or 8 to 1, a hard 6 pays 9 or 10
to 1, a hard 8 pays 9 or 10 to 1, and a hard 10 pays 7 or 8 to 1.
Hardway bets are usually placed to add a little spice to the game, not in any
effort to win more money. This is emphasized by the fact that the house edge is
something atrocious on these bets. For a 4 or 10 the hard way, there is an
11.1% house edge, for a 6 or 8, it's around 9%.
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are the ones you can make in the middle of the table, and
exist only on the 'next roll'. As one roll bets they can be heart racing and
exciting, an integral part of the craps experience.
These bets include:
"any seven" bet
"snake eyes" bet
"yo eleven" bet
"any craps" bet
"any three" bet
"midnight" 12 bet
"horn" bet
These bets are all simple to make, and I'll walk you through them so there is
no confusion. The previously mentioned hardway bet and field bet are also
considered proposition bets, they are separated here as they are much more
common. Each and every proposition bet has a pretty nasty house edge, so before
you make any of these bets, feel comfortable.
With the "any seven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit a 7 on
the next roll. Horrible house edge, never make this bet.
With the "snake eyes" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a two
on the next roll.
With the "yo eleven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit an 11 on
the next roll.
With the "any craps" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 2,
3, or 12 on the next roll.
With the "any three" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 3 on
the next roll.
With the "midnight" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 12 on
the next roll.
With the "horn" bet you're combining the snake eyes, 3, yo 11, and
midnight bets.
Just to illustrate the horrible house edge on many of these proposition bets I
have provided a table:
|
Bet |
Casino |
Casino |
|
Any
Seven |
4:1 |
16.67% |
|
2
or 12 |
30:1 |
13.89% |
|
3
or 11 |
15:1 |
11.11% |
|
Any
Craps |
7:1 |
11.11% |
|
Horn
Bet |
2
or 12 - 27:4 3 or 11 - 3:1 |
12.50% |