craps Archives - Brango Magazine

Jan 02

Lucky Number 6, The Highest Number of the Dice

How often do you bet on lucky number 6? Six is the symbol of luck in many countries in the world. People appreciate it as one of the harmonious numbers that brings balance and healing. In numerology, six represents energy, family, harmony, idealism. Today, we know that lucky number 6 is one of the “perfect numbers”. Still, it is not always recommendable to bet on this number. Why? Let’s look at the lucky 6, the highest number of the dice.

Number 6 in Craps

Everyone notice the Big 6 and the Big 8 on the Craps table, for example. Fans of the game know that betting on these pays even money. Basically, in case when you place the bet and a 6 or 8 is rolled out, you win that same amount you placed. Moreover, your bet remains until a shooter sevens out.

Now, every professional will tell you not to bet on the Big 6 and the Big 8, although it pays even money. The thing is that betting on these numbers on another part of the table is more profitable in the end. The so-called “place bets” remain non-active during the come-out roll. It means your bet is safe in case a 7 rolls out.

Nevertheless, it also means that they do not pay if a 6 or 8 gets rolled out. However, at least your bet will not be at risk. It is no wonder that 6 is commonly called the “motherhood number”. It protects or as some like to say – “it is the glue that keeps a family or community together”.

Number 6 in Ancient Times

Ever since the ancient times, number six has been the symbol of perfection. Many believe that 6 is the most harmonious of all single digits. Ancient Greeks worked hard on proving the divine origin of number 6. They devised the calculus that stuck around till present day.

Namely, mathematicians believe that the number is perfect if when all the number’s divisors, except for the number itself, add up to the sum which is that same number itself. For example, we can divide 6 with 1, 2 and 3. When we add these number (1+2+3), the result we get is 6.

The Pythagoreans thus, considered number 6 to be the first of the rare, perfect numbers. They developed the system further, proving 28, 496, and 8,128 to be perfect as well.

Number 6 in Numerology

Numerologists believe that lucky number 6 is of a divine nature. It is a whole, round number that can be divided to two equal parts. And although those parts are odd numbers, which seem incomplete in a way, the six harmonizes them and encompasses them to look as a whole.

In Tarot, for example, six is the number of a Lover. Interestingly, number 6 is the symbol of a Venus, the goddess of love. Furthermore, in Roman mythology, Juno was the queen goddess married to Jupiter. She was also the protector of marriage. Nowadays, we call the 6^th month of the year-June, after the goddess herself. It is no wonder that majority of people strive to organize the wedding during this warm, flourishing and fruitful month.

Do you ever bet on the Big 6 in any of the bet safe casinos?

Sep 23

The Longest and The Biggest Winning Streak Ever

By Tom Wolfe Lifestyle No Comments

“The Run” was the longest and the biggest winning streak ever. It was made in poker. The player Anargyros Karabourniotis a.k.a Archie Karas made history. He reportedly won more than $40 million in two and a half years. This case fascinates the poker world even after so many years.

“I’ve gambled more money than anyone in the history of the planet. What most gamblers make in their whole life, I gamble in one roll of the dice. Unless the casinos decide to raise their limits after I’m gone, I don’t think anyone will ever gamble more than I have. I’m the biggest ever.”

The Background of Archie Karas

Archie Karas was born in 1951 on the island of Cefalonia, Greece in the Ionion Sea. His family was reportedly very poor. For a while he tried to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a carpenter. However, his relationship with his father proved to be a tough one. The misunderstandings eventually led to Archie fleeing from the island. He headed to the USA. Therefore, he onboarded a ship to Portland, Oregon.

Once there, Archie Karas found a job as a waiter. The interesting thing is that the restaurant he worked in was connected to the bowling alley and a pool hall. He frequently got in touch with various people and learned English and Spanish by himself. He quickly switched his interest from playing pool to playing poker and he rapidly advanced in earnings.

Coming to Las Vegas

The next logical step in the life of Archie Karas was The Mirage Hotel and Casino. The luck was obviously on his side from the very beginning. He reportedly stumbled upon one of his old friends who became quite wealthy in the meantime. That man offered to loan him $10,000 in gambling purposes. Archie took it and quickly made $30,000. He then returned $20,000 to his friend and kept $10,000 to himself.

His next endeavor was playing pool in high stakes. This is when the biggest winning streak started. His opponent was a gentleman whose identity Archie always tried to keep a secret. Archie started playing with the stake of $10,000 and quickly raised it to $40,000 a game. In a revanche game, asked by the mysterious man, Archie reportedly won $3 million. This caused a lot of interest among gamblers and many of them wanted to meet Archie and play against him.

The First Grand Poker Win

Archie Karas drew attention of Stu Ungar, who was a three-time Poker Champion of a World Series. Stu Ungar challenged Archie for a game of Heads-up Razz and eventually lost $500,000. After this event, Ungar challenged Karas once again. This time for a 7-card stud game. Again, it ended successfully for Archie Karas who walked away with additional $700,000.

During the following six months, Archie played against some of the most prominent players in the gambling world. He managed to earn $17 million playing poker and shooting pools.

The First Enormous Craps Win

Being a high roller at poker is a demanding thing, both financially and psychologically. In time, less people were ready to confront him, so Archie finally switched to the game of Craps. The first noticeable win came after betting the maximum of $200,000 on the 4 and 10 for 1 to 4.6 odds at the Binion Casino. After two rolls, Archie Karas earned $920,000. The rest of that day went into history, as he managed to accumulate the amount of $40 million.

Gambler’s Luck

Knowing when to quit is an art. We can bet you have heard this advice many times before. Some of you maybe even know how to control the impulses and let it go. However, it is in both the human and the gamblers’ nature to be curious and ask: “what if”. Furthermore, many gamblers accept the fact that the same way money came to them, it may as well slip through their fingers.

The same questions and doubts troubled Archie Karas. Eventually, he decided to continue gambling and lost all of his money in less than a month. There were some attempts to win at Baccarat, but unfortunately, he lost almost $17 million playing it.

Archie Karas, the owner of the longest and the biggest winning streak ever, was arrested in Las Vegas in 2013 under suspicion of cheating in Blackjack at Barona Casino. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years of probation and $6,800 fine. He continues to live in Las Vegas, and he visits his family in Greece every year.

Would you dare to challenge this man for a game of poker?

Aug 26

Craps Is the Game of Numbers and Dice Shooting

By Tom Wolfe Tips & Tricks No Comments

The same as some other games, Craps is the game of numbers and dice shooting. Many players got the habit of trying out their luck without thinking too much. Although, all games depend on luck partially, knowing your numbers and planning bets can get you a long way.

Moreover, Craps involves dice shooting. Although it may not seem that way, there is a pop-science behind that ritual as well. Some of the most prominent connoisseurs of the game gave their opinions on the subject. Today, among the game basics, we also present the best shooter profile, as described by Frank Scoblete, a well-known casino specialist and book author.

The Numbers

If you are just getting to know the game, it may be news to you that Craps is a game of eleven numbers (2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12). Numbers and dice shooting are inseparable. The dice itself has six sides displaying six pits (1,2,3,4,5,6). There, since we have two dice, six sides each, the number of possible combinations is 36. Possible combinations within the eleven numbers are:

2 = 1:1

3 = 2:1, 1:2

4 = 2:2, 3:1, 1:3

5 = 3:2, 2:3, 4:1, 1:4

6 = 3:3, 4:2, 2:4, 5:1, 1:5

7 = 4:3, 3:4, 5:2, 2:5, 6:1, 1:6

8 = 4:4, 5:3, 3:5, 6:2, 2:6

9 = 5:4, 4:5, 6:3, 3:6

10 = 5:5, 6:4, 4:6

11 = 6:5, 5:6

12 = 6:6

The Bets

When placing bets, a player has the aim to lower the so-called “house edge”. The experts say that if a player makes the bet with wrong numbers, the house-edge is increased. Therefore, they advise to try slowing down the game. If a player makes too many quick decisions, the chances are majority of those would be wrong choices.

Each player knows his or her red lines, abilities and skills. Majority of players decides on placing several bets and combining Pass Line bets with two Come bets and/or Place bets. Additionally, adrenaline-driven players prefer “Crazy Crapers” bets, for example. The thing is that with these bets, a player risks a lot. Although, if having luck on his or her side, the amounts that he or she can win are astounding.

In order to prolong the game experience and go for the more reliable style of gambling, the experts say that you should keep less, but steady betting style. The above-mentioned Frank Scoblete even advocates for a single bet. His explanation is interesting. He says:

“If the player makes two of the best bets at craps, the Pass Line and Come bet, and goes on three of them at once, he will face a house edge of 1.41 percent on each of the numbers he bets. So, a $10 bettor’s expectation is to lose around 42 cents. If the player only makes one such bet, his expectation is to lose 14 cents.”

The Ultimate Dice Shooting Style

Mr. Scoblete differentiated several shooting styles. The Rhythmic Roller (a.k.a. Dice Control, Precision Shooting, Dice Influence) being the most successful one. He claimed that this particular style is not just the physical skill of throwing the dice in a certain manner. It entailed the comprehensive attitude towards the game and a player’s place in it. He also claimed that there are but a few people who are able to master it. In order to describe it more clearly, he derived the list of main elements of this style, as follows:

Proper setting the dice in a way that encourages certain numbers to appear or in order to reduce the appearance of the seven.
Correct gripping of the dice so there is little or no friction when released.
Real arc on the dice, which changes depending on the table.
True bounce of the dice on the table so there is not too much friction or activity on the dice from a table’s layout or the pyramids at the back wall.
Playing at good tables for one’s throw.
Proper betting on oneself.
Avoidance of all poor bets such as the hardways, the horn, the field, and all place bets except perhaps the six and the eight.
Extremely small bets on other players. One small Come or Pass Line bet is recommended.
Regular at-home practice.
Honesty about your actual skill.

What kind of a shooter are you?

craps