Craps: Converting Come Bets

by Larry Edell

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret? How about the secret of converting come bets at the craps table?

Most of us were taught to play the pass line with odds, and have two come bets up.
Come bets are favored by many players because they represent the hot numbers.
By betting the come, many people believe that they can take advantage of a hot streak or a 'monster roll'. In addition, come bettors often take double (or more) odds, both on the pass and come lines, to maximize their wins.

The come bet, however, does have some disadvantages. Let us say you have a come bet on the six and eight, nine was the point, and the point was made. You now have a six and eight working on the come-out, with odds. If the seven hits now, you would win your new pass line bet, but lose the flat portion of your 'left over' come bets.

Another disadvantage is that the payoffs for come bets are not much higher, and in many cases lower, than equal place bets.

For example, a $10 come bet on the six with $25 odds returns $30 for the odds plus $10 on the flat portion, a total of $40. However, if you bet $36 on the six as a place bet, you would win back $42. In addition, you cannot take down a come bet.

If you stay on the come line with every roll eventually you will lose all of the flat portions of your bets.

Do you wanna know the secret that craps pros use to "convert" their come bets?
Let's find out with the information provided below.

Craps pros know that a number has to hit twice for a come bet to win, compared to once for a place bet. Instead of having your come bet poised to follow the trend of the table, it is easier and more profitable just to make what is called a converted come bet.

A converted come bet is a place bet that is made instead of the corresponding come bet. For example, if the first roll is say, a four and the next two rolls are 5 and 6, you might normally have come bets of $10 with odds on the 5 and 6 - $20 odds on the five and $25 on the six.
Therefore, you now have a total of $65 in play - $30 on the five and $35 on the six.. Betting the come bets and winning, you would have won $40 on the five and $40 on the six, a total of $80.

Instead of betting on the come, you could just place $30 on the five and $36 on the six, giving you $66 in play. You would win $42 on the five and $42 on the six, for a total of $84.
You can then take your bets down so you do not have to worry about the come out seven (if the point was made), or the 2, 3, or 12 (while in the come box).

The next time you want to make a come bet, try a converted come bet instead!
Pssst...! Now you know the secrets of converting come bets!

Larry Edell