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The Big Six and Big Eight

S. Stoynova (editor) |

Complete Guide to Big Six and Big Eight Bets in Craps

One of the main reasons why the game of craps enjoys such an overwhelming popularity is that it ranks among some of the most exciting games to which casino operators have dedicated a substantial part of their floors. The same goes for interactive casinos as craps can be found in most of the decent casinos which are available on the web.

Despite the fact that the game is based on placing a bet on the outcome of the roll of two dice, some gambling enthusiasts are still reluctant to give it a try due to the fact that they consider it too complicated. The main reason for this is that while playing craps, players can pick from a host of different bets, which, at the beginning, might make wallowing in the game quite a hard task, especially if you do not have that broad experience under your belt.

Even though the most confusing thing about the game of craps are the various different types of wagers that can be made, once you learn the ins and outs about them, you will find out that most of them follow some quite straightforward principles, which makes them extremely easy to grasp. The Big Six and the Big Eight are some of the most popular betting options players have while they revel in the game of craps as they work in an extremely simple manner.

The current publication will explain in detail the essence of the Big Six and Big Eight wagers, as well as their specifics. In a nutshell, craps lovers bet that the 8 or the 6 will roll before the 7. Therefore, when placing a Big Six or Big Eight bet, the only numbers that matter to them are the 7, the 6, and the 8, with the rest becoming neutral. These bets can be placed both together and individually. We will also compare the two wagers to give players a clear idea of the more advantageous one.

The Big Six and the Big Eight Explained

In the first place, we should note that the Big Six and the Big Eight have a lot in common with the Place bet. Perhaps, one of the plainest differences stems from the fact that their position on the betting layout is different and also that the payoffs they offer differ. Another thing craps lovers should also take into account is the fact that unlike the Big Six and the Big Eight, which are constantly working, the Place bet remains turned off throughout the come-out roll as long as you do not decide to make it a working one.

Still, it is worth noting that these particular bet types do not get much of a play and this can be attributed to the fact that the edge the house enjoys is really overwhelming as it stands at 9.09%. It goes without saying that this makes these bets quite unfavorable to craps lovers. As a matter of fact, presently, these bet types are not that common, which is the reason why it might be hard for you to find a craps table which features the Big Six and the Big Eight.

Of course, this does not mean that craps lovers will be unable to find a casino that offers these particular bet types at all. If you have managed to do so, you should be informed that the Big Six and the Big Eight are two separate ways of wagering while playing craps, meaning that the payoffs you can enjoy are not interrelated as well. Hence, craps lovers should also bear in mind that it is up to them to decide whether they prefer to make these wagers together or one at a time.

Once you have found a craps table which features these two bets, you need to know that they are positioned by the pass line. Now, if you take a closer look at the betting layout, you will notice that there are two separate boxes which are labeled “Big 6” and “Big 8”. Another important aspect of these two bets is that they are self-serviced, meaning that craps lovers should make them themselves, without any help from the dealer. Thus, gambling aficionados who are intent on making a Big Six or a Big Eight need to position their chips in the box, which corresponds to the number on which they prefer to place their bet on.

Avid craps lovers should be informed that as long as they have placed a Big Six or a Big Eight Bet and eventually, it has turned out that their bet is a winning one, once their winnings are placed in the respective box by the dealer, they should make sure that they have picked them up due to the fact that otherwise, leaving your winnings there will be considered as making a new bet. Another peculiarity of these bets is that players are allowed to make them above or at the table minimum. Additionally, the Big Six and the Big Eight bets are working all the time and you are allowed to take them down whenever you wish.

Gambling enthusiasts who do not have that broad experience at playing casino games, and more precisely at playing craps, should be informed that the Big Six and the Big Eight also list among the bets which play against the 7. Perhaps, now you wonder what this means. Thus, if you have placed a Big Six bet, it will be a winning one as long as the 6 shows before the 7. If this happens, craps lovers will be paid even money. The other possible scenario is the 7 to appear first. As you can probably guess, this situation is not beneficial to you due to the fact that your bet will become a losing one. The same refers to Big Eight Bets as in the event that the 8 appears before the 7, your bet becomes a winning one. If, however, the opposite happens, your bet turns into a losing one.

Gambling enthusiasts should keep in mind that when they place a Big Six bet or a Big Eight bet, the rest of the numbers are of no importance. Since the remaining numbers are neutral, therefore when you place one of these bets or you place them together, they simply will not mean anything in regard to the fact whether you will win, or you will experience a loss.

Playing the Big Six and the Big Eight

Even though craps lovers will not see other players making a Big Six or a Big Eight bet that often, from time to time, this might happen. Still, if you encounter such a gambler, the first thing that should hit you is that virtually, the player in question might not possess any knowledge of the game.

Still, let’s take a closer look at the Big Six and The Big Eight Bets in order to make sure that you are aware of all their peculiarities. As it was already mentioned, the areas dedicated to these two bets are positioned at the corners of the betting layout. Even though these bets are not quite favorable to players, they are quite straightforward and the rules they follow are easy to comprehend. Craps lovers simply make their stakes that the 8 or the 6 will show up before the 7.

Now, let’s presume that you have decided to wager $5 on the big 6. You place your chip on the respective area of the betting layout and you wait for a decision to be made. The first number that shows is 12. As it was already mentioned, when making a Big Six or a Big Eight, the only numbers that matter to you are the 7, the 6, and the 8. Thus, since a 12 has appeared, the game continues due to the fact that it is one of the neutral numbers. Now, if we assume that the number that appears after a new toss is 5, this will once again mean that the game should continue for you due to the fact that it also lists among the numbers that are of no importance to you.

After this, a new toss takes place and the number which shows this time is 6, meaning that your bet becomes a winning one due to the fact that the 6 has popped up before the 7. As it was already stated, these bets pay even money, which in other words means that in our case, you will be granted another $5.

If we presume that this time you have decided to make a Big Eight bet and once again to stake $5. The number, which shows after the first roll is 2, which does not influence the course of the game for you. Another roll occurs and the number which shows is 9, which once again is a neutral number. Then, if we assume that 7 shows, this will automatically make your bet a losing one simply because the 7 has popped up before the 8. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about making a Big Six or a Big Eight bet.

The Big Six and the Big Eight Odds

One of the key things you should remember about the Big Six and the Big Eight bets is that both of these bets pay even money, which was already illustrated above. If we return to the example we gave, and we assume that you have made a winning $5 bet, you will be rewarded another $5. Still, craps lovers should bear in mind that if they want to make use of one of these two bets, the ways in which they can experience a loss are six, whereas the ways, in which their bet can turn into a winning one are only five. Therefore, the losing combinations outnumber the winning ones. Considering the fact that the Big Six and the Big Eight bets grant even money, most of the gambling enthusiasts might expect that the number of the winning and the losing combinations is equal. As you can see, this is definitely not the case with these two bets.

As long as you decide to place one of these bets or you prefer to place them together, in the first place, you should be well aware of the fact that the edge the house enjoys is the staggering 9.09%, which explains why the Big Six and the Big Eight bets do not list among the most well-liked ways of wagering while playing craps. The house edge per bet made is 2.78%, which once again is quite a high value. Perhaps, now you have come around to the opinion that the aforementioned bets are disadvantageous to craps lovers and now you know why most of the craps lovers refrain from placing them.

Should Gamblers Opt in for the Big Six and the Big Eight Bets

Once gambling enthusiasts are well aware of the fact that the Big Six and the Big Eight bets come with such a whopping house edge, now you understand why most of the players will advise you to abstain from making these bets. Perhaps, now, you already know why most of the craps tables even do not feature such bets. In essence, if you insist on making bets namely on the 6 and the 8, you should know that your betting options do not come to an end with the Big Six and the Big Eight.

Instead, as it turns out, making a Place bet is a more propitious option due to the fact that the house edge this particular bet comes with is quite lower when compared to the advantage the house has when you make a Big Six or a Big Eight as it stands at 1.51%. Another thing you might also appreciate is that the Place bet offers better payoffs, which is yet another reason why you should contemplate making use of it instead of making a Big Six or a Big Eight bet.

If you ask more experienced gamblers whether making a Big Six or a Big Eight bet is a good idea, they will tell you straight off that you should beware of these two bet types simply because they are considered a bad investment. What is more, since making a Place bet on 6 or 8 is a better option as the payoffs you are offered are 7 to 6 (7:6), there is simply no reason why you should make a Big Six or a Big Eight Bet that turn out to be less advantageous for craps lovers.

The Big Six and the Place Bets Compared

Now, we will compare the Big Six bet and the Place bet so that you could get a clearer idea of why the latter is the better option you are advised to go for. In order to make the comparison between these two bet types, we will assume that first, you have made a $6 Big Six bet, which pays even money. Now, let’s presume that at the craps table, there is another player who has decided to make a $6 Place Bet on 6. As it was already mentioned, a winning Place bet on the 6 will reward you $7 for every $6 you wager due to the fact that such bets pay 7 to 6 (7:6).

If we assume that the number, which has come out is 6, this will mean that both of the bets are winning ones. Here comes the most pronounced difference, which illustrates why it would be better if you go for Place bets. Since a winning Big Six bet pays even money, this means that your bet will bring you another $6. Still, this is definitely not the case with the other player at the craps table who is given $7 for his stake of $6. It goes without saying that making a Place bet on the 6 is a far more beneficial option.

As you can see, the amount you will pocket varies and it all depends whether you have made a Place bet or you have decided to make a Big Six bet. Perhaps, this is the moment when you have become convinced that going for a Place bet is a better option than opting in for a Big Six or a Big Eight bet. As it was already mentioned, if you ever encounter a person who has decided to make a Big Six or a Big Eight bet, you can be sure that in most cases, the player lacks experience and he/she does not know the ins and outs of the game of craps well yet.

Conclusion

The Big Six and the Big Eight are self-serviced bets and give players the chance to make bets on 6 and 8. Considering the fact that they are not interrelated bets, this means that they do not have an effect on one another, which therefore means that gambling enthusiasts can place them together or one at a time, depending on their own preferences. These two bets pay even money, but the most important thing you should remember about them is that the edge the house enjoys is the staggering 9.09%, which is the reason why most of the craps lovers who have a good knowledge of the game will recommend you to refrain from making such bets.

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