Craps 301: Two advanced topics

Wow, it's been a while since I have blogged. I've got a lot of topics lined up, so here we go. Multiple posts coming in rapid fire fashion.

Everytime I go to Iowa and gamble, I see and learn something new. Two subtle things I noticed:

1. Some of you may know my favorite bet on the table when I am drunk, winning, or (hopefully) both. It's the Horn High Ace Deuce on the come out roll.

Many people like to play the Horn High Yo - a horn bet with the extra dollar on the 11; some play the Horn High 12 (for a $57 hit if a 12 comes) or the Horn High 2. But no one gives any love to the 3. So I do.

So, a $5 Horn returns $26 on a 2 or 12, $11 for an 11, and $27 for a 3. If I hit it, then I press it up one unit for the next roll.

This sequence of rolls came up in Iowa:

with the $5 Horn High Ace Deuce on, a 3 came up. $27! I pressed to $10.

Next roll: 12. Yes sir! That's $52 more. I pressed to $15.

Next roll: 2. What does that pay?

I had no idea. After a quick conference, they slid me $81. I pressed to $20, and the next roll had a "1" on one die - but a "3" on the other. (For a moment, I thought is was an Ace Deuce).

I asked them later. Was that the right payout?

They told me that I shouldn't bet the Horn High Ace Deuce. I should instead play it as a 4 C - 1 E. Payout is slightly better on units of 5. It pays out $27 for any craps and 11 for an eleven - compared to $26 on the 2 and 12 for a Horn High Ace Deuce. So they paid we $81 for a $12C - $3E instead of $78 for a true horn high ace-deuce.

Food for thought. Will I never say the fun phrase "Horn High Ace Deuce" ever again? Will I have to go to a more boring 4C-1E? I think this will depend on how drunk I am.

2. Buying the 4 and 10. Now, I never play with enough cash to regularly buy the 4 and 10, but I understand the bet to be that you pay $1 commission when the number hits, up to $25. For instance, you buy the 10 for $25; if it hits, then you get $50 (true odds) for a $1 commission (you pay the dealer when you get your $50; in essence, you win $49).

Someone in Iowa wanted to buy the 4 - he plopped down a green chip and said "buy the 4 for $25".

The dealer said, "$1, please".

Apparently, in all Iowa casinos, you pay the commission up front. So you are betting $26 to win $50 - instead of betting $25 to win $49. I asked the dealer, and he said Iowa regulations dictate this - the commissions are taken ahead of time. Has anyone else seen this in any other casinos?

Fascinating.