DICE CONTROL 101-BASICS OF DICE CONTROL

DICE CONTROL 101

BASICS OF DICE CONTROL

by Jerry "Stickman"

Jerry "Stickman" is an expert in craps, blackjack, video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. The "Stickman" is also a certified instructor for Golden Touch Craps and Golden Touch Blackjack. His current book, " Specific Slots Machines That Give the Players the Edge!" provides mathematically proven advantages over the house on some slots and it is available in our store. You can contact Jerry "Stickman" at stickman@goldentouchcraps.com.

Editor�s Note: I have played craps with Jerry many times and his throw is a thing of beauty. At one memorable session, he threw so many consecutive 6s that I lost track of the number. He is a master at dice control so pay close attention to what he has to say about it.

Of all the games in a casino, Craps is the only one where the player is handed the means to make money � the dice. In effect the casino says, "Here, take the dice and try to beat me." It is the numbers that a player throws which ultimately determines whether he wins or loses. As long as a few basic rules are followed, the dice shooter can throw the dice any way he likes.

In this series of articles for the BJI, I will examine and explain the fundamentals of dice control (no experience required). Throwing dice is very similar to pitching a baseball in that it is a physical event subject to the laws of physics. Gravity and Newton�s laws of motion are all in play in a controlled dice throw.

Ideally, we would like to be able to glue the two dice together. That way they would only land on the numbers on the exposed faces of the dice. As long as the numbers we wanted were on the exposed faces, we would win. Unfortunately for players, the casinos frown on gluing the dice together � or putting any foreign substance on them for that matter � so the dice controller must do something else to try to create the same outcome as gluing the dice together.

When the shooter launches the dice in the air towards the back wall, the dice have six degrees of movement. By putting backspin on the dice, three of these degrees of movement can be eliminated. By eliminating half of the degrees of movement, the shooter improves the chances of making money.

Putting a backspin on the dice does several things. It keeps the dice together and prevents them from randomizing in the air, and it also acts as a brake when the dice hit the table layout. We want the dice to hit flat in order to dissipate as much energy as possible before they gently hit the back wall and die.

The shooter can control everything up to the point where he releases the dice. The stance, dice set, grip and delivery are all within the shooters control. These are the things the dice controller must get down perfectly in order to be successful, because once the dice leave the hand, they are influenced by air currents, gravity, imperfections in the table surface, and the rubber pyramids on the back wall. Each of these influences chip away at the perfect throw. Fortunately, you do not need to be perfect to have an advantage at craps any more than you need to throw a strike with every pitch in baseball to get the batter out.

The techniques that will be presented in this series will give you the best chance to have your dice throw start perfectly and end so that you will have an edge over the casino when the dice come to rest. Nowhere do these techniques contradict any of the normal rules for craps. The casino says the dice must hit the back wall, and these techniques will cause the dice to hit the back wall. In fact, if you don�t hit the back wall with both dice, you will not have an advantage.

Future installments of Dice Control 101 will include the following topics:

• Where to Stand

Would you rather pitch from the pitcher�s mound or from second base? How about putting � a five-foot putt or a 20-foot putt? Obviously, the shorter the distance from start to finish the better the results. The same holds true for dice control.

• The Stance

Why do baseball players take a certain stance at the plate? How about golfers? The same holds true for the dice controller. Certain stances are better than others for consistency and long term results at the table.

• Scanning the Dice

Have you ever watched pitchers prepare for a pitch, or golfers prepare for a putt? That same concentration and focus is required to help gain an edge in craps.

• The Dice Sets

A pitcher will set a baseball a certain way to throw a curveball and a different way for a fast ball. Different dice sets are used for different purposes at the craps table.

• The Grip

Just as a pitcher grips the baseball a certain way for best results, the dice grip is crucial to getting an edge over the casino in craps

• The Delivery

Pitchers in baseball, golfers, and even bowlers all have a very specific delivery that helps ensure optimum results in their respective games. The delivery of the dice is no less important for an advantage over the house in craps.

• Betting

Let�s say you have practiced and practiced, and have learned all the basics of dice control and have a bonafide three percent edge over the house. Will this edge make you a winner in the game of craps? Maybe, and maybe not � it all depends on how you bet.

• Discipline

As with any endeavor where risk is involved, discipline is a key factor to long term success. In casino gambling, having the discipline to only play when you have an advantage, to only place the best bets, and to play within your means, will make you a long term winner.

• Money management

To be a successful dice controller you cannot be sweating the money you have on the layout. The best way to do this is to have a separate gambling fund. This should be a separate bank account that is only used for gambling. Until you have this account you are setting yourself up for failure.

As stated earlier, until you release the dice, you have control. Learning the techniques mentioned and practicing them until you perform them nearly perfectly, will put you well on your way to having an advantage. The time spent on stance, dice sets, grip, and delivery will ultimately determine how good you are going to be. You must learn the elements of dice control to have any chance at beating the game.

Jerry "Stickman"

Editor�s note: Stay tuned for more tips on how to become a dice controller in future issues of BJI. Can�t wait? The "bible" on dice control is the Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution book.