Welcome to part E of our craps series. We are going to explain ‘betting the don’ts’ or more specifically betting on the ‘don’t pass’ line and the ‘don’t come’ bet.
One thing I really enjoy about playing craps is the sense of camaraderie; this is a game where everyone is in it together. For example, during the point cycle if the point number is rolled everyone wins and if the shooter rolls a seven everyone loses; so everyone wins or loses together. However, this is not the case when someone is betting on the don’t pass line or if they have a don’t come bet as they are actually betting against the shooter hitting his point number. So, if you want to be public enemy number one at a craps table then bet the don’ts!
The don’t pass line: betting on the don’t pass line is the opposite of betting on the pass line. These bets are placed on the line just inside the pass line marked ‘don’t pass bar 12’. The bet must be made before the come-out roll. Because it is the opposite of the pass line bet, if the first roll is a 7 or 11 the bet loses, if it is a 2 or 3 the bet wins and if it is a 12 the bet neither wins nor loses. When the come-out roll is a 12 don’t pass bets are a push (rather than a winner as you might suspect). This is where the casino gets its advantage on the don’t pass bet, and this is what is meant by the expression ‘bar 12’. In the same way that a pass line bettor can increase his bet by taking odds once a point number is established, a don’t better can increase his bet by laying odds once a point number is established. The odds bet is paid at true odds: the 6 & 8 pay 5 to 6, the 5 & 9 pay 2 to 3, and the 4 & 10 pay 1 to 2. As you may have noticed these odds are the opposite of the pass line odds. Once a point number has been established, the shooter must roll a seven before the point number for you to win. While you are hoping that the shooter rolls a seven, the rest of the table is yelling and cheering for the shooter to hit the point number, so you can see why you won’t be too popular betting on the don’t pass line. In fact some dealers refer to the don’ts as the ‘dirty don’ts’.
The don’t come bet: betting on the don’t come bet is the opposite of betting on the come bet. These bets are placed in the box at the end of the table which says “don’t come bar 12”. You can also lay odds on a don’t come bet and these are paid the same as the don’t pass bets. To lay odds on a don’t come bet you must give your chips to the dealer and he will put your chips on top of your don’t come bet. The chips will be slightly heeled to distinguish between the original bet and the odds on the bet. Just like a come bet, a don’t come bet can only be made once a point number has been established. Once again, for you to win the shooter must roll a seven before the point number.
The don’t pass and don’t come bets are simply additional betting options of the game of craps. These particular cr won’t make you a lot of friends at the table but if you think there are a lot of ‘cold’ shooters (ones that are failing with their pass line bets) it is the way to go. There are times when no one at the table can seem to get any sort of a decent roll going and this is the time to bet the don’ts. Other players refuse to ever bet the don’ts, considering it ‘dirty’ or unsporting in some way. When the shooters turn cold you can leave the table or start betting the don’ts, the choice is yours.
