Gaming Guru

What Do You Do When the Stick Calls the Wrong Number?

I saw the article you published The Best and Worst Craps Dealers. The only ones you didn't cover were the imbeciles such as the ones I run into more often than not. Tell them to give me $170 across and they don't know what to do with the extra $10 (making the 5 and 9 a decent buy bet). Or when I tell them $64 across and watch them put my bets in place I see they didn't put any money on the point. When I ask why, they tell me "if you want the point then you have to tell me." I generally retort, "What part of $64 ACROSS did you NOT understand?" And our relationship goes downhill from there.

Ironically, I had no line bet working at any time that has happened. Or, perhaps, I was the DP. But they never check. The good dealers will specifically ask "including the point?" when I make that bet. And the better dealers will tell their relief that I cover the point with my across bets.

Anyway, every once in a while I will be at the hook and, of course, can see the dice up-close when they land. From time to time I will hear the stick call the number and it isn't what I am looking at. One time I was about to yell to the stick to take another look but he had already pushed them toward the Box and they tumbled several times (destroying evidence?).

What is player protocol or procedure when an event like that happens?

Thank you,
Bob

Dear Bob:

The very first time you make a bet such as $64 across explain how you want the money spread out. Tell the dealer, "Ten dollars on the 4, 5, 9 and 10 and $12 on the 6 and 8." I know that might sound silly but do it once and they never get the bet incorrect after that (I hope).

I wonder sometimes what is taught in the dealers' schools when it comes to handling multiple bets. You would think all dealers would be good dealers but obviously some are not fully equipped to understand your bets.

As far as the dice not being called correctly, this is something I have rarely seen in my 20 years at the tables. If it happened once, then it was a mistake, but if you are seeing this happen a lot (especially if they are calling, "Seven out!") then I would tell the pit boss to look at the tapes. This would be evidence of cheating.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete