Craps: The Secret of the Fives and Nines

by Larry Edell, published on Friday, December 3 2004

When playing craps you are probably aware that the 6 and 8 roll more than the 5 and 9. But, the payoff is higher with the 5/9. The 5 and 9 together will roll eight times in 36 hypothetical rolls. This means that by placing both numbers you have a much better chance of winning either the 5 or the 9 than the 7 rolling. Wanna know the secret that craps pros use to profit from the fives and nines? Let's find out! One way you can take advantage of them is to bet before the comeout. First, just place both the 5 and 9 for $5 each and call them both "on". Also make a $10 pass line bet to protect yourself from the 7. The 5 or 9 should roll eight times compared to the 7's only six times (in 36 rolls). Many times you'll win an extra $7 doing this, and if a 7 rolls you won't lose anything, as the bets will cancel out. If you are a pass-line better anyway, this is a terrific wager! If you don't like betting on the pass line, you can make a place bet on both the 5 and 9 for $5 each. Let's say the 5 hits and you win $7. Keep $2 and add $5 to your place bet on the 5, so now you have $10 on the 5 and $5 on the 9. If the 5 hits again, add $5 again, so you have $15 on the 5 and $5 on the nine. You've won $21 ($7 + $14) and still have the potential to win either $7 (on the 9) or another $21 on the 5. You are looking for any four hits, and then you just take all your bets down and wait for the next shooter. Sometimes, when the shooter is setting the dice and wants a five, he will throw a lot of nines. This is because the dies turn, so instead of a four and one (five) you get a three and six (nine), which are the numbers on the opposite sides. This is also true of the two and three (five) whose opposites are five and four (nine). So if five or nine is the point, you may end up making money on its opposite number before the point hits! Pssst...! Now you know the secret of playing the fives and nines in craps!