John Scarne was the first gambling author I read.

Scan said: John Scarne was the first gambling author I read.

He was also my first. While I was in the military(in the late 1940’s), the government had initiated a program to teach the men how to protect themselves against card sharks, dice cheats and con men. He was the head of the program. They would hold classes with the Chaplain and a Consultant to show you how to detect marked cards, gaffed dice and bad player bets with bad odds. They also handed out pamphlets and charts to teach you how to understand the PC against you.

After many moves in life’s trek through living in many different homes and also different countries those mementos are gone, but the memory remains.

I have read modern writers that fault his math and point of view. It amazes me that he was accurate without a hand held calculator or computer without spreadsheets. I note that he used fractions with his percents to avoid rounding errors. I have attempted to replicate some of the work with only paper and pencil and find it very difficult.

I don’t agree with him that setting the dice and carefully rolling them is cheating. He was a Consultant for the gaming industry and didn’t realize the lengths that they went to ‘cheat‘ the players!

He was also a good magician and studied many different carnival and casino games.

If you have his book, you will see that he also covers other card games and carnival games. I had five years as a police officer(midnight to eight shift)and in that line of work during those hours you meet up with more questionable characters than honest citizens. I met and mingled with all kinds and learned a few tricks of the trade along the way. I met some carnies that taught me how to beat their games. They are proud of their abilities and glad to share the information.

I have titled the chart on the left Possibilities as Probabilities is a math term that should contain fractions, decimals or Percents. The thirty-six ways are possible but the Probabilities give the correct fraction, decimal or percent.

Right click on the image and chose View Image from the drop down menu ti see the entire charts.

I was surprised that no one was bothered by the Props Layout from Wikipedia.
The gaming industry and carnie moto was/is:
Never give the sucker an even break!

I have never seen this Prop Layout in a casino, but have been told that it is used as a teaching device and a come on for Internet gaming. The new suckers?
Teach them with an easy win then switch.
Bait and switch!

Here is a spreadsheet chart with the condition that I see in the casinos today.

Yes, you do have to beware the FOR 1 payouts vs the TO 1 payouts

Due to lack of interest, I won’t do the math. Just know it is not in your favor.

great charts

Thanks Dom

Some times charts make things easier for me to understand than words. Others disagree, but Craps Math and language can be confusing.

For example:

Right Click on the chart and choose View Chart from the drop down menu to see the entire picture.

PatS Have you seen this?

This may help??????