Craps Dice Control
The Eight Physical Elements of Dice Control Our dice control analysts have isolated eight distinct physical elements for controlled shooting; each one of which must be done with a high level of proficiency for the player to actually gain a real-world casino advantage. The eight elements of Dice Control are as follows. Intermediate and Journeyman dice control practice advice One of the major rules of craps is the dice must be thrown so they hit the opposite wall and bounce off, otherwise you will have to rethrow. Casinos put triangle shaped pyramids or bumps on the walls to produce more randomness when the dice bounce off of them. Second only to blackjack card counting is the so-called mythical art of dice control in the game of craps.Just as card counting involves careful observation of the deck to determine when the odds are in the player’s favor, dice control is the art of consistently throwing the dice roll after roll in an attempt to skew the results so fewer 7s show than is mathematically expected – quickly. This technique is referred to as “dice control” (a.k.a. Controlled shooting). It involves the art of tossing dice in a manner that helps you control the winning numbers as you play real money craps. Dice control sounds great in theory, but it’s actually a scam. I’ll explain more on this method along with why it’s a complete farce.
Craps Dice Control - Setting the Dice and Beating the Casino
Dice Setting and Casino Craps
'Dice control' or 'dice setting' is an advantage play technique used in craps to set and throw the dice in such a way as to make the dice more likely to land on certain numbers. Skeptics assert that controlling the dice in this way is practically impossible, but notable gambling experts like Michael Shackleford and Stanford Wong seem to give some credence to the notion that this might be possible. If so, then dice and craps could be elevated to a game of skill like darts or pool.
This section of our site tries to provide some basic information about how to set the dice in craps.
Dice Setting Tutorial
You don't have to be a certain size to succeed at dice control. Being left-handed or right-handed doesn't matter either. Age and gender simply are not factors either. And you can stand anywhere at the table and still succeed at dice control. With practice, anyone can become a winning shooter. All it takes is enough practice to perfect your technique.
The number of fingers used to handle the dice varies from shooter to shooter. One crapshooter might use 2 fingers, while another may opt for the 5-finger approach. And even if 2 shooters use the same number of digits, it’s likely that the positioning of their fingers will differ.
How to Control The Dice
Tossing dice can be broken down into 3 distinct elements. They are:
- Grip
- Alignment
- Delivery
Grip
For illustrations of the various acceptable ways to grip the dice, check out one of the following websites:
Most dice control instructors will tell you that the less you actually have to touch the dice the better. In other words, hold the dice where you can exert maximum control over the spin, but also try to keep contact between your fingers and the dice to a minimum. Of course, you ultimately have to find the grip which is best for you and use it.
It is also important to be sure and place equal pressure on each die. This will take some practice, but it is crucial in establishing proper dice control technique. If done properly, the 2 dice in your hand should feel as though you are holding one rectangular object. If it feels like you are holding two distinct dice, then you aren't doing it right.
Make sure that the dice have no space between them when preparing to throw. If you don’t, then the dice may fly off in different directions when thrown. If you’re unsure of whether your dice are kissing each other, you can always turn your hand over and examine your dice from the bottom (it is best if you only do this during practice, as it will draw unnecessary attention at the craps table).
Alignment
When aligning the dice, remember to do so with the lines on the craps table. This should allow you to get the proper alignment on the vertical axis.
Also keep in mind that the axis running the width of the table does not matter. This is also called the left-right axis. Before tossing the dice, it does not matter if they begin straight up, straight down, or tilted towards the target.
The axis running the length of the table, also referred to as the fore-aft axis, is very important. The heel-toe alignment of the dice needs to be parallel to the felt. To make sure that your dice are properly aligned, lower them down to the level of the table. If you’re doing it right, the edges and faces of the dice should make solid contact with the table. With practice, this will become second nature.
Delivery
To deliver the dice means to throw them against the far wall of the table. You are generally expected by the dealer to throw the dice in such a way as to assure that they will hit the opposing wall. This is done to make sure that the dice will bounce off the wall and achieve a truly random number. Of course, since dice control is about getting anything but a random number, you will want to try and deliver the dice in a way which will minimize the amount of dice reaction after touchdown.
The secret to this is achieving backspin while making sure that the dice do not move on any other axes. If properly delivered, the dice will stay together as they fly through the air, rotating only on their left-right axes.
During your delivery, you may choose to pivot with your shoulder, elbow, or wrist. Each shooter will have a different technique, and there is really no right or wrong way. It’s all a matter of which technique works best for you.
If your throwing motion pivots on the shoulder, you may find that you tend to throw in an arc instead of a straight line. This can be fixed by rotating your wrist slightly to counteract the rotation of the shoulder. This may take a lot of practice to get just right, but it should become a natural motion with time.
Tossing the dice with a pivot of the elbow looks unnatural and may bring you unwanted attention from the powers that be. While dice control is not illegal, keep in mind that the casinos still have the right to bar you from play if they think you are simply too good for them. This type of throw also places strain on the elbow, which might especially be a problem for older players.
Dice Control Tips
Be sure and watch out for your thumb when tossing the dice. If your dice tend to cross over one another after being tossed, then your thumb is more than likely the guilty party. Be sure and throw the dice fast enough that your thumb loses contact with the dice before the roll off your fingers. Otherwise, the thumb will tend to push the dice apart.
Backspin is placed on the dice to counter the forward motion of the dice and to keep them from landing on a random number after bouncing against the back wall of the table. Keep in mind, however, that backspin must always be accompanied by axis control. If not, you will still achieve random results.
Sweaty fingers can also become a problem when tossing the dice.To counter this, try placing a piece of chalk in your pocket. When your fingers begin to get sweat on them, just reach into your pocket and get enough chalk dust on your fingers to counteract the perspiration. You might also want to try antiperspirant, although some pros complain that it makes their fingers sticky.
When you throw the dice, they should rotate together in the air and their left-right axes should be parallel to the table. If one die tends to fly higher than the other one, then chances are strong that you have a problem with your grip. The dice should also bounce straight forward. If your dice are bouncing to one side, then you probably did not align them correctly.
It is also important to not draw too much attention to yourself before handling the dice. Have a good time, talk with the other players, and try not to tip off the dealers to the fact that you are an advantage player. For example, stay away from big buy-ins. You might even try fumbling with the dice a bit to give the impression that you don’t spend every waking hour in your home practicing dice control.
When tossing the dice, try and make it look as natural as possible.If you are turning your hand upside down and examining the dice, this is going to tip off the dealers. And remember that casinos have the right to bar you from the craps table and even declare certain rolls void if they do not hit the back wall of the table. Just use a little common sense and you should be fine.
Dice Control - Some Final Thoughts
This article was intended to provide a basic overview of the proper things to strive for when tossing the dice. However, practice is the key ingredient. Practice enough and you’ll be a precision shooter in no time. Then all you’ll have to do is walk up to the craps table, place your bet, and watch the happy faces of the bettors as you roll 50 times straight.
Craps seems like a totally random game. After all, you simply try to toss dice off a diamond-patterned wall.
And you don’t necessarily have to hit the wall. But casinos want you to make an attempt to ensure randomness.
These factors seemingly produce uncontrolled results. However, a small segment of the craps community believes you can influence your results with a certain technique.
This technique is referred to as “dice control” (a.k.a. controlled shooting). It involves the art of tossing dice in a manner that helps you control the winning numbers as you play real money craps.
Dice control sounds great in theory, but it’s actually a scam. I’ll explain more on this method along with why it’s a complete farce.
Basics of Dice Control
The term “dice control” says everything. You’re controlling how you toss the dice. But how do you pull this off?
Everything begins with how you “set” the dice. Setting refers to holding the cubes in a specific manner, with certain numbers covered and exposed.
The V-shape is one of the most classic sets. It involves holding the dice so that the threes form a V-shape. It’s supposed to reduce your odds of throwing a seven.
The next matter is to toss the dice in a consistent manner. You’re aiming to kiss them off the back wall and reduce randomness.
This feat certainly isn’t easy when considering the diamond-patterned wall. But then again, you don’t need to control the outcome very often to gain an edge.
Assuming you can reduce your “sevens rolls ratio” (RSR) by just a bit, then you can swing the odds in your favor. RSR alludes to the ratio of rolls that produce a seven against those that don’t.
Your odds of rolling a seven are one in six, or an RSR of 6:1 (16.67% of the time). But if you can improve to just 6.5:1, then you’re guaranteed profits over time as a “right” bettor (e.g. pass line). Do even better than this, and you’ll be rolling in the winnings.
Experts advise either buying a real craps table or rigging your own for practice purposes. The latter option is more feasible when considering the cost and space requirements of a real table.
These experts also claim that you must practice for months to develop a consistent toss. This seems reasonable when considering how impossible it is to actually control your throws.
You supposedly need to approach this method like a professional athlete hones their craft. A pro basketball player doesn’t just start out hitting 80% of their free throws. Instead, they need to work up to these skills.
The same is allegedly true of dice control in that practice makes perfect. Top craps players are said to toss dice for hours a day outside of the casino.
What’s the Promise of Dice Control?
Some of the biggest proponents of controlled shooting include Dominic LoRiggio, Chris Pawlicki, and Frank Scoblete.
These gambling authors claim that craps is a beatable game. They also contend that you can make a fortune over time with enough hard work.
Scoblete often writes about a late gambler who went by the nickname “The Captain.” He claims that The Captain regularly beat casinos out of big winnings.
Besides earning money, another benefit of dice control is that it flies under the casino’s radar. Staff members will turn a blind eye towards controlled shooters. Therefore, you can use this technique without being hassled.
One more benefit is that dice control is physical in nature. You’ll find that perfecting your dice toss is more fun than sitting around counting cards or trying to see the dealer’s hole card (a.k.a. hole carding).
You may even come to love the practice element. You can treat this matter like a fun game where you want to be the best.
Why Is Dice Control a Complete Scam?
The biggest question mark surrounding controlled shooting is that it’s not banned by casinos. Gambling venues normally don’t care if somebody sets the dice and throws with the same consistency every time.
Casinos are staunchly against allowing advantage gamblers to run over them. They harass and even ban successful card counters to prevent this from happening.
Yet they could care less when it comes to dice setters. Dealers allow these so-called advantage players to set dice within reason.
Now, the aforementioned gambling authors will tout how casinos do harass controlled shooters. They’ll conjure up stories about a dealer or pit boss trying to back off a dice controller.
Another problem with dice control is that there are no reliable examples of successful players. Scoblete’s examples of The Captain are the only stories we have to go off of. But Scoblete has no actual proof that The Captain truly beat casinos or even existed.
Contrast this to other advantage play techniques, like card counting or wheel bias. Both of these strategies have produced documented cases of big winners.
Perhaps another fishy sign is the dice control courses run by LoRiggio and Scoblete. The pair operate Golden Touch seminars, where they teach players controlled shooting for the low price of $1,500.
Craps Dice Control Video
Of course, they claim that the lofty cost is due to them giving away such valuable information. However, paying $1,500 for an advantage gambling method that’s unproven is over the top.
Many craps enthusiasts want to believe that the game can be beaten through skill. But looking at the facts, things just don’t add up.
Is There a Reliable Way to Beat Craps?
I strongly contend that there’s no legal way to beat craps on a consistent basis. You actually can top the casinos through dice sliding. However, this technique doesn’t satisfy the legal requirement.
The only real way to win in craps is by making good bets and backing them with odds. You start this process by focusing on pass line, come, don’t pass line, and don’t come.
Pass line (made on come-out roll) and come (made after) both have a 1.41% house edge. Don’t pass line (made on come-out roll) and don’t come (made after) each have a 1.36% house advantage.
You can back any of the four aforementioned bets once a “point” number has been established. Betting bigger odds means that a larger portion of your wager won’t be subject to the casino house edge.
Here’s an example to illustrate how larger odds lower the overall house advantage on your wagers:
- 2x odds pass line = 0.848% house edge
- 2x odds don’t pass line = 0.682% house edge
- 5x odds pass line = 0.326%
- 5x odds don’t pass line = 0.227%
- 10x odds pass line = 0.184%
- 10x odds don’t pass line = 0.124%
- 20x odds pass line = 0.099%
- 20x odds don’t pass line = 0.065%
The problem with higher odds is two-fold:
- You must be able to afford the bet.
- Most casinos don’t offer 10x or 20x odds.
Regarding the first point, your odds bet needs to match its multiple in relation to the original wager. If you bet $10 on pass line and take 10x odds, for example, then you must wager an additional $100 ($110 total).
As for the second dilemma, you may not find a casino in your area that allows higher than 5x odds. But you can still benefit with odds ranging from 1x to 5x.
Craps Dice Control Advantage
Conclusion
I seriously hope that you haven’t paid for any dice control courses or worked on your toss for long. If so, then you’ve been scammed!
Controlled shooting simply doesn’t work. Instead, it’s the invention of clever gambling authors who want you to believe that craps can be beaten for the right price.
If you’re serious enough to spend hours practicing your toss and, most importantly, pay $1,500 for a course, then you can win.
But this narrative is complete BS. You merely need look at how casinos couldn’t care less about controlled shooters to see the truth.
Dice setters fall into the latter category. Nobody can toss a pair of small cubes 12 to 14 feet down a table, hit a diamond-patterned wall, and expect consistent results.
You’re better off throwing your time into a real advantage play technique, like card counting or hole carding. Leave controlled shooting to the delusional crowd who believes that they can make long-term profits.
Assuming you like craps, then you can still give yourself a reasonable chance to win. All you need to do is make bets with the lowest house edges and back them with odds.
You may not gain the upper hand on casinos this way. But at least you’ll have decent odds of winning, without blowing time and money on dice control.