The Secrets of Hop Bets

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?

How about the secrets of hop bets?

A hop bet is a little understood one roll, verbal bet you can make on any combination of numbers. For example, if you have an intuitive notion that the combination 4&1 will appear on the very next roll of the dice, you can place a bet for "4&1 hopping". If the 4&1 do appear, you win. If 3&2, or any other combinations come up, you lose.

The payoff for a hop bet is usually 15:1. This means you can bet 2&3 hopping, or 4&2 hopping, or even 3&4 hopping. If you bet $5 on any of these bets and the very next roll is for exactly the numbers you bet, then you'll win $75.

Wanna know the secrets that craps pros use to win with hop bets?

Let's find out!

Most people don't know this, but you can bet on hardways hopping and get a higher payoff. If you think a hardway four is "due" you can bet, for example, "$5 2&2 hop". Now the good thing about hard way hops is that they pay double - instead of 15:1 (on a regular hop bet) you get 30:1 on your wagers! So, if you bet $5 hardway 4 hop, and the very next roll is 2 & 2, you'll win $150 (at 30:1) instead of $35 at 7:1 - $110 more!

Remember though, a hardway hop (at 30:1) is for one roll only, while a regular hardway bet (at 7:1 or 9:1) stays up until it wins or loses. Also, make sure your favorite casino pays 30:1 on hard way hops. Some of the older casinos still pay 15:1, so ask first to make sure.

At 30:1 this means you can bet $5 hard way hopping on the 4,6, 8 or 10 and win $150 as opposed to winning $35 (7:1) on the 4/10 or $45 (9:1) on the 6/8.

Many people also use hop bets when someone is setting the dice and has developed his own signature roll. This is usually evident when the shooter bets big on a certain number. Let's say the point is six and he buys the 4 or 10 for $50. Instead of you buying the same number you can "hop" it and win lots more money!

You can also hop the seven on the comeout. This is rarely done, but it can be very profitable - if you do it correctly! The seven can be made three ways - 3 & 4, 2 &5, and 1 & 6, so your bets must be in multiples of $3. You can use a simple $3 progression ($3, $6, $9, etc.), especially if the shooter sets the dice and bets big on the passline.

Finally, if you like to lay bets, you probably thought of hedging your even lay bets (4, 6, 8 or 10) with a hardway wager. If the hard ten rolls, you lose your $80 lay bet but win $84 (at 7:1) from the hard way. Now, instead of betting $12 hard ten you can bet $3 hard ten hopping, which can pay 30:1 instead of 7:1. Remember though, that this is a one roll bet so it must be replaced on every roll. However, if you lose the $80 when the hard way rolls you can win $90 ($3 at 30:1) on the hard ten. And if you win your lay bet you will only lose $3 instead of $12.

Pssst...! Now you know the secrets of the hop bet!

(c) 2005 by Larry Edell

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