Question: Why do you sometimes turn off your place bets?

No, it is not just superstition. When I see a "craps/eleven" thrown after a point is established, I get a little nervous. Although mathematically, one roll of the dice has nothing to do with the last - or next roll, anyone who has played craps for any length of time knows that the dice do tend to "trend". I try to take advantage of these trends by turning my bets on and off.

How do I take advantage of these trends?

If I am the shooter and see a craps/eleven come up, I adjust my grip, release and angle of the dice to the table, so the dice will land as flat and soft as possible. If I see another craps/eleven, I will call all of my place bets off and place a "horn bet". This way I have no exposure on my place bets, but have covered myself with a horn bet to catch the next craps/eleven should it show up. Then I change my dice set and try to hit my point.

Yes, you are right, the horn bet is a "high vig" bet, and the casinos love to see these types of bets. But if the horn numbers are coming, why not bet them? As my friend Steve "Heavy" Haltom of Axis Power Craps (http://axispower.proboards12.com) says, 
" See a horn - Bet a horn." 

If a horn number hits, I will press it one unit at a time. I leave all my place bets "off" until I start seeing place numbers again. And my place bets will remain "off" for a total of two rolls after the place numbers come back.

Too often I see 7's very soon after craps/eleven numbers. I would rather lose a payoff on one of the place numbers and be wrong, than lose my entire bet spread by leaving my place bets unprotected. Remember you have to be wrong five times before this will cost you any money.

You may not agree with this philosophy, but in my personal experience this strategy has worked very well for me. 

Remember to always bet the way you feel most comfortable, and with strategies that work for you as a player. But you may want give this strategy a try the next time you see the craps/eleven appear.

The Dice Coach