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Snake Eyes
Introduction
Snake Eyes is a craps variant offered at the SkyCity casino in Auckland, New Zealand. It is pretty much the game of craps with all the best bets removed leaving only the sucker bets. To add insult to injury, they depress the odds on some of them compared to the normal stingy American rules. A few new sucker bets are added to the mix too. However, they do up the win on the Snake Eyes bet from 30 up to 32.
Rules
Following is a list of the bets available. All pays are indicated on a "to one" basis.
- Field — This single-roll bet pays 3-1 on a total of 12, 1-1 on totals of 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and loses on all others.
- 2 — This single-roll bet pays 32-1 on a total of 2 and loses on all others.
- 3 — This single-roll bet pays 15-1 on a total of 3 and loses on all others.
- 11 — This single-roll bet pays 15-1 on a total of 11 and loses on all others.
- 12 — This single-roll bet pays 30-1 on a total of 2 and loses on all others.
- C&E Combo — This single-roll bet pays 4-1 on a total of 2, 3, 11, or 12 and loses on all others.
- Big 5 — This multi-roll bet pays 1-1 if a total of 5 is rolled before a total of 7.
- Big 6 — This multi-roll bet pays 1-1 if a total of 6 is rolled before a total of 7.
- Big 8 — This multi-roll bet pays 1-1 if a total of 8 is rolled before a total of 7.
- Hard 4 — This multi-roll bet pays 6-1 if a hard* 4 is rolled before an easy** 4 or total of 7.
- Hard 6 — This multi-roll bet pays 8-1 if a hard* 6 is rolled before an easy** 6 or total of 7.
- Hard 8 — This multi-roll bet pays 8-1 if a hard* 8 is rolled before an easy** 8 or total of 7.
- Hard 10 — This multi-roll bet pays 6-1 if a hard* 10 is rolled before an easy** 10 or total of 7.
- Hardway Combo — This multi-roll bet pays 4-1 if a hard* 4, 6, 8, or 10 is rolled before an easy** 4, 6, 8, or 10 or any total of 7.
Footnotes:
* To roll a number the "hard way" means that both dice must land on the same number. For example, a hard 8 would be a 4-4.
** To roll a number the "easy way" means that both dice must land on different numbers. For example, a hard 8 could be rolled as a 2-6 or 3-5.
Analysis
The following table shows my analysis of the Field bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 5.56%.
Field Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 0.027778 | 0.083333 |
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 | 1 | 15 | 0.416667 | 0.416667 |
| 5 to 8 | -1 | 20 | 0.555556 | -0.555556 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.055556 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Any Seven bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 16.67%.
Any Seven Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 6 | 0.166667 | 0.666667 |
| All other | -1 | 30 | 0.833333 | -0.833333 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.166667 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Big 5 bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 20.00%.
Big 5 Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 4 | 0.400000 | 0.400000 |
| 7 | -1 | 6 | 0.600000 | -0.600000 |
| Total | 10 | 1.000000 | -0.200000 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Big Six bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 9.09%. The same odds would apply to the Big Eight bet.
Big Six Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | 5 | 0.454545 | 0.454545 |
| 7 | -1 | 6 | 0.545455 | -0.545455 |
| Total | 11 | 1.000000 | -0.090909 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Hard Four bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 22.22%. The same odds would apply to the Hard Ten bet.
Hard Four Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard 4 | 6 | 1 | 0.111111 | 0.666667 |
| Easy 4 or any 7 | -1 | 8 | 0.888889 | -0.888889 |
| Total | 9 | 1.000000 | -0.222222 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Hard Six bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 18.18%. The same odds would apply to the Hard Eight bet.
Hard Six Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard 4 | 8 | 1 | 0.090909 | 0.727273 |
| Easy 4 or any 7 | -1 | 10 | 0.909091 | -0.909091 |
| Total | 11 | 1.000000 | -0.181818 |
The following table shows my analysis of the Hardway Combo bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 9.09%.
Hardway Combo Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard 4, 6, 8 or 10 | 4 | 4 | 0.181818 | 0.727273 |
| Easy 4, 6, 8, 10 or any 7 | -1 | 18 | 0.818182 | -0.818182 |
| Total | 22 | 1.000000 | -0.090909 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 2 bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 8.33%.
2 Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 32 | 1 | 0.027778 | 0.888889 |
| 3 to 12 | -1 | 35 | 0.972222 | -0.972222 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.083333 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 12 bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 13.89%.
12 Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 30 | 1 | 0.027778 | 0.833333 |
| 2 to 11 | -1 | 35 | 0.972222 | -0.972222 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.138889 |
The following table shows my analysis of the 3 bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 11.11%. The same odds would apply to the 11 bet.
3 Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15 | 2 | 0.055556 | 0.833333 |
| All other | -1 | 34 | 0.944444 | -0.944444 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.111111 |
The following table shows my analysis of the C&E Combo bet. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 16.67%.
C&E Combo Bet Analysis
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 3, 11, or 12 | 4 | 6 | 0.166667 | 0.666667 |
| 4 to 10 | -1 | 30 | 0.833333 | -0.833333 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.166667 |
External Links
- Brochure from the Skycity Auckland casino.
- Discussion about Snake Eyes at my forum at Wizard of Vegas.