LESSON 2: PLACE BETS & COME BETS
AFTER establishing a point and taking odds, while the dice are in "the middle," players are encouraged to make whatever side bets they want. Of the six "regular numbers" on the layout, one is now the point and the other 5 are available to place bets or "come on" to. These two types of side bets are the best way to diversify one's investment on a particular shooter. Each have their own set of odds, "place bet odds" versus come bet or "true odds," which are calculated based on the inherent probabilities of each number. Don't worry about learning the probabilities, odds and payouts for each of the regular numbers. Players should instead concern themselves with WHICH numbers to bet on and HOW at this point.
Place Bets: Player chooses numbers
Most common of all the side bets in craps, players simply set their chips in the COME section and tell the dealer which number or numbers they wish to bet on. The dealer should use what you give him or her and make change if necessary. Each time a number with a place bet on it rolls the dealer pays you. If the shooter makes his or her point, place bets stay on the numbers but are off (can't win or lose) until a new point is established. When a "seven out" occurs place bets all lose. Players may "press" or "come down" on their place bets at any time by notifying the dealer.
Come Bets: Dice decide
Often times a player will want to make additional bets but is unsure of which numbers will be profitable. To let the dice decide your next investment, set $5 or $10 in the COME directly in front of you. Exactly like the PASS LINE on the come out roll, one of three things will happen to a come bet on the next roll. 7 or 11 - win; 2, 3 or 12 craps - lose; 4,5,6,8,9 or 10 - point. Point means the come bet is now a contract bet on the number just rolled. The come better may take odds by giving the dealer an additional bet to be placed distinctively on top of the original come bet. These odds can be increased, decreased or removed entirely at the come better's will. The original or flat bet, however, may not be taken back. Now the number this come bet has traveled to must roll again before a seven for it to win. If the number does come again the dealer will pay the combined come bet + odds and remove the entire bet from the number for the player to collect. The come better has won and can come again if he or she has not already done so. Many refer to a come bet as "a game within a game" because of its likeness to the PASS LINE wager. An advantage of come bets is the gradual pace at which money is put in action versus placing all the numbers at once.
Working or Off?
Bets are either in action or turned off. Place bets and come bets (that have already traveled to a number) lose on 7 if a point has been established. If the game is in come out mode, place bets are automatically turned off as indicated by the puck. Come bet odds are off as well, but their respective flat bets always work. So if a winner 7 rolls on the come out, a come better loses all his or her original come bets but the odds are returned. Players have the option to work their place bets and/or come bet odds on the come out roll. Simply notify the dealer by saying "work my place bets" or "odds work" (for come bets).