Teach
07-27-2008, 08:00 PM
Abstinence. Condoms. The pill. IUDs. Patches. Diaphragms. Coitus Interruptus. And then there's --- "The Rhythm Method." Well, I freely admit it. I use "the Rhythm Method." No, not the birth-control rhythm method (put away your ovulation thermometer), but the dice-setting (dice-influencing) "rhythm method."
For years, when I shot craps, I was what most crapsters would call: a random roller. A "Chicken Feeder." A "Spreader" "Sowee!" Pick up the cubes and toss them down the layout ("make sure you hit the back wall"). Well, one day, I was in a casino in southeastern CT called Mohegan Sun. I was shooting craps --- and not doing very well. Just then there's this new shooter on the outer hook. What immediately catches my attention is that he's "arranging" the dice (not just picking them up and throwing them). He's sets the dice and then, with a claw-like grip, he daintilly tosses "the bones" down the length of the table. They gently land at the other end (barely "kissing" the wall). A "natural." Well, this guy (I later learned his name was Mike) held the cubes for 31 straight rolls! In craps, that's an eternity. Betting on his tosses, I quickly became "fat and healthy."
After Mike sevened-out, I asked him if he'd share some of his knowledge. When we sat down, he said, "'Teach' (I had introduced myself), I used to be just like you. I'd pick'em up and toss'em. I'd hope for the best. But," he continued, "I had an engineering background. I had taken several courses in physics. Now, I realize," he continued, "this is not an exact science. This isn't the Pythagorean Theorem or Newton's Second Law of Gravity. Yet," he went on, "I always felt that I could somehow influence dice outcomes by the way I set and threw the dice. Let's look at it this way. If you play the pass line or don't pass in craps, the House advantage is minimal. And, if you take the maximum free odds, that further reduces the House edge. So, if you can further improve your chances by setting the dice in a manner you believe will give you an even added advantage --- it's an even game. In fact, you, the shooter, may actually have an edge on the House. Yes! An advantage!"
Well, Mike went on to say that he practiced, practiced and practiced at home. He even built a casino-like practice table. He mentioned he kept all kinds of records. He went on to say that he's ahead of the game.
When I returned home, I tried some of the things that Mike had talked about. Only, I practiced in a spare room against a wall. I began to notice that there was something to what Mike had discussed. But, when would I get a chance to try it out?
It so happened that in just a couple weeks, My friend "Bucko" and I were going to be in Vegas; we were staying at the Strat. During our visit, we ventured up to "the Strip". We happened to visit the Bellagio. We shot craps there. If I recall, it was a $10 table. Eventually, I got the dice. I'm on the hook as my dice-shooting mentor, Mike, had been in CT. There are three or four others at the table. I particularly notice out of the corner of my eye this broad-shouldered fire-plug of a guy (he looked like an NFL linebacker) standing to the right of the stick at SR1. I also notice he's going against me; he's betting the DP and DC.
Well, I open up like a literal "house on fire." I was like a rapid-fire machine gun. It was: pass. pass. pass. pass. "Big Al" (I later learned his name) quickly changed from being "a wrong bettor" to "a right". And, I might add, he was betting a bunch of "Boston Blackies" ($100 chips). I'm making decent money for my own account, but "Big Al's" making a bundle.
Finally, after a lengthy and profitable "hand," I did seven-out. "Big Al" comes over and introduces himself. He tells me he's from Chicago. One of the first things he says is, "You use 'the rhythm method.'" Being the wiseguy, I said, "No, I use condoms." He laughed. He said, "No, the way you set and shoot the dice," he continued. I said, "Yeah, I've been working on it."
Well, "Big Al" invites "Bucko" and me to join him at the Bellagio's luncheon buffet. "My treat," he says. While we're enjoying a scrumptious lunch, "Big Al's" asking me more questions than a district attorney at a grand jury hearing. I just tell him that I recently learned the dice-setting method and that I'm still a work in progress. Before we leave, "Big Al" wants to know where we're staying; he tells me he's going to call me tomorrow so that we can shoot craps again. I say, "OK".
The next day, "Big Al" calls. I really don't want to shoot craps with him. I give him some lame excuse. I never did hear from "Big Al" again. But one thing I did remember about my chance meeting with this moose of a man; it was his interest in the concept of the "rhythm method. It aint just about sex, anymore.
For years, when I shot craps, I was what most crapsters would call: a random roller. A "Chicken Feeder." A "Spreader" "Sowee!" Pick up the cubes and toss them down the layout ("make sure you hit the back wall"). Well, one day, I was in a casino in southeastern CT called Mohegan Sun. I was shooting craps --- and not doing very well. Just then there's this new shooter on the outer hook. What immediately catches my attention is that he's "arranging" the dice (not just picking them up and throwing them). He's sets the dice and then, with a claw-like grip, he daintilly tosses "the bones" down the length of the table. They gently land at the other end (barely "kissing" the wall). A "natural." Well, this guy (I later learned his name was Mike) held the cubes for 31 straight rolls! In craps, that's an eternity. Betting on his tosses, I quickly became "fat and healthy."
After Mike sevened-out, I asked him if he'd share some of his knowledge. When we sat down, he said, "'Teach' (I had introduced myself), I used to be just like you. I'd pick'em up and toss'em. I'd hope for the best. But," he continued, "I had an engineering background. I had taken several courses in physics. Now, I realize," he continued, "this is not an exact science. This isn't the Pythagorean Theorem or Newton's Second Law of Gravity. Yet," he went on, "I always felt that I could somehow influence dice outcomes by the way I set and threw the dice. Let's look at it this way. If you play the pass line or don't pass in craps, the House advantage is minimal. And, if you take the maximum free odds, that further reduces the House edge. So, if you can further improve your chances by setting the dice in a manner you believe will give you an even added advantage --- it's an even game. In fact, you, the shooter, may actually have an edge on the House. Yes! An advantage!"
Well, Mike went on to say that he practiced, practiced and practiced at home. He even built a casino-like practice table. He mentioned he kept all kinds of records. He went on to say that he's ahead of the game.
When I returned home, I tried some of the things that Mike had talked about. Only, I practiced in a spare room against a wall. I began to notice that there was something to what Mike had discussed. But, when would I get a chance to try it out?
It so happened that in just a couple weeks, My friend "Bucko" and I were going to be in Vegas; we were staying at the Strat. During our visit, we ventured up to "the Strip". We happened to visit the Bellagio. We shot craps there. If I recall, it was a $10 table. Eventually, I got the dice. I'm on the hook as my dice-shooting mentor, Mike, had been in CT. There are three or four others at the table. I particularly notice out of the corner of my eye this broad-shouldered fire-plug of a guy (he looked like an NFL linebacker) standing to the right of the stick at SR1. I also notice he's going against me; he's betting the DP and DC.
Well, I open up like a literal "house on fire." I was like a rapid-fire machine gun. It was: pass. pass. pass. pass. "Big Al" (I later learned his name) quickly changed from being "a wrong bettor" to "a right". And, I might add, he was betting a bunch of "Boston Blackies" ($100 chips). I'm making decent money for my own account, but "Big Al's" making a bundle.
Finally, after a lengthy and profitable "hand," I did seven-out. "Big Al" comes over and introduces himself. He tells me he's from Chicago. One of the first things he says is, "You use 'the rhythm method.'" Being the wiseguy, I said, "No, I use condoms." He laughed. He said, "No, the way you set and shoot the dice," he continued. I said, "Yeah, I've been working on it."
Well, "Big Al" invites "Bucko" and me to join him at the Bellagio's luncheon buffet. "My treat," he says. While we're enjoying a scrumptious lunch, "Big Al's" asking me more questions than a district attorney at a grand jury hearing. I just tell him that I recently learned the dice-setting method and that I'm still a work in progress. Before we leave, "Big Al" wants to know where we're staying; he tells me he's going to call me tomorrow so that we can shoot craps again. I say, "OK".
The next day, "Big Al" calls. I really don't want to shoot craps with him. I give him some lame excuse. I never did hear from "Big Al" again. But one thing I did remember about my chance meeting with this moose of a man; it was his interest in the concept of the "rhythm method. It aint just about sex, anymore.