Let's Talk Craps

Which book? I ask since he has more than one book on Craps -- Basic Craps and Advanced Craps.

And do you have the ones published by "Gambler" or the rotten butchered ones published by Lyle Stuart/Kensington?

RecVPPlayer

I have most of his "So You Wanna Be A Gambler" books, including both craps books. Even books for games I don't play like slots and roulette. He's interesting to read. I've read virtually every book on craps I can find even though I haven't changed the way I play. It's always fun to read someone elses "system".

I also have many of his books and it's vastly because of him that I play Blackjack and Video Poker in a disciplined manner.

But I have to say that the more recent books that say "So You Wanna Be A Gambler" but also have John Patrick's photo on it ended up getting butchered and altered by the second publisher Lyle Stuart/Kensington.

I personally don't play Craps because for me it involves too much money to play it and I don't prefer that casino advantage (when I can face a lower one or a Player Advantage) by playing Video Poker or Blackjack depending on their rules offered or pay schedules (most especially in combination with having a good enough Slot Club return).

RecVPPlayer

I also agree with him on discipline. That's the number one problem with most gamblers. You not only have to have a loss limit but also a win limit. If you are playing craps and the second shooter you play with has a very hot roll walk away when he's done. Maybe stay for one more shooter. Too many players piss away their winnings. I realize it's easier to walk away at your local casino, just leave the table, maybe have a drink or two, drive home happy to be a winner. Not so easy in Vegas, You are on vacation, planned this trip for a long time and DAMN IT I CAME HERE TO GAMBLE I AM NOT LEAVING THE TABLE AFTER 20 MINUTES!

Yes, I really think that Discipline is the real key to it all! Most people don't know when to leave! Setting and keeping a reasonable Win Goal and Loss Limit I think helps a lot with this!

At least for me, for Blackjack or Video Poker, if I hit my Win Goal or Loss Limit, or if I have just had enough of playing, I tend to stop playing for at least 10-15 minutes if not for a longer period of time to just take in what has just happened. I may go take a rest, go eat, go walk around, or see people!

RecVPPlayer

Initial stratagy for me is to ensure I stay at the table for 4 hours. This is what most casinos are looking for to give you the best comps, so "grinding" is definetly on my mind when I walk up to a table. Breaking even money wise after 4 hours and still getting some good offers exspecially thru local casinos (Stations/Boydes) is a good thing-minimum.
I have never...not one time had anyone say anything to me about playing the "dont" side and I normally start my session by playing the dont side, exspecially if the table is cold or choppy.
1st hand, $5 pass & $5 dont pass.....if a 4 or 10 comes out I may put up to $20 odds on the dont pass bet (to win 10) and $1 on the hard 4/10 as applicable, as a hedge. If a 5 or 9 comes out I will put smaller odds on the dont - say $9 odds (to win $6). If a 6 or 8 comes out I will put $6 odds on the dont (to win $5) or take the bet down all together depending on the mood/or feel of the table.
Some casinos will not give comps while I play this way, so I try to sneak this bet in here and there helping to grind my way thru the 4 hours.
An off shoot of this stratagy is,
if I am at a table by myself or very few people, and the table is particularly cold, and I am throwing the dice, I will bet slightly heavier.... say $10 pass and $10 dont pass and if I managed to throw a 4 or 10 ONLY, I will max out the odds on the "dont pass bet', maybe $100 (to win $50) and then "set the dice" for a seven, which is 5/4 on top, 4/3 facing you and then try to hold them on axis.
It doesnt always work or they would outlaw it (like counting cards) but like I said, I only do it to start a game or if the game is cold enough to skate on the felt.

weggie

I should also add in that now all of his books are available at least through his website in E-Book format as well at a 25% Discount and he also has Videos/DVDs of a lot of different casino games as well as Computer training programs.

RecVPPlayer

Any idea how old John Patrick is?

I saw him "charting" a craps table that I was at in Connecticut years ago. Managment knew of him and were activly talking about him.
I never actually saw him bet at a table, just chart it......screw that, best way to chart is to put a min bet on the passline and see what happens (the dice dont know any better)

weggie

I agree, I've never believed in charting. Hot tables go cold instantly and vice versa. The dice have no memory.