Gaming Guru

How do I deal with a bouncy craps table?

Hi, Frank,

Since I travel to Atlantic City, Biloxi, Reno, or Las Vegas to shoot craps a couple of times a month, I am finding that more and more craps table layouts are being re-surfaced with a rubbery type of felt. Tables that have the standard felt covering are becoming harder to find.

It seems that even with all my hours of practicing setting the dice and executing a controlled throw, the results are equivalent to a random shooter because of all the bounce on the table. Do you have any suggestions on how to overcome the bouncy rubber felts?

Also, I have read most if not all of your books on dice control and look forward to the next one.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Hi, Cheryl:

The casinos have placed these felts (usually synthetic fibers of various kinds) not to thwart controlled shooters but to make the lettering more vibrant and to allow a host of layout colors and configurations. The problem with these surfaces is that the layout does two things: it causes the dice to leave the table more often than they used to, causing more delays and more calls of "same dice," and the dice as they smack the surface when landing just don't sound right.

Given a choice most experienced craps players, those who love the game, will look for the old style layouts. I have not heard one good comment by actual players about these new layout fabrics. "They just aren't right," is the lament.

Can you develop a controlled throw that works on these tables? Absolutely. We teach just such a throw in our Golden Touch Advanced Dice Control Class.

For your great letter, I am giving you a free 10-day subscription to my private, members-only web site at www.goldentouchcraps.com. With over 5,000 members on this private site, the discussions are lively, intelligent and fun.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete