There has been much publicity recently about controlled shooting at the craps table. Many experts who once scoffed at the notion of a player having the edge at craps are now backing the validity of controlled throwing. (Sometimes called, dice control or rhythm rolling) Many players wonder if dice control really works.

Part of the reason for some of the skepticism is the words "dice control" which is misleading because no one can control the outcome of the dice on every single roll.

The concept behind controlled throwing is to start by setting the dice in a certain manner gripping them and throwing them the same way each time. This produces a "controlled throw". The desired result is to alter the random outcome of the two dice when they land. You are trying to skew the sevens to roll ratio so the seven comes up less times than with a random throw.

Most craps players have witnessed a hot roll as the shooter threw number after number. By throwing the dice in the same manner each time some shooters get into a rhythm that has produced monstrous rolls. Some shooters who try to practice rhythm rolling do this consciously, while others are unaware that they are doing it.

How to Roll Consistently
Controlled throwing consists of several components. The first is the set. How you set the dice can affect the outcome. One of the most popular sets is the 3-V set where you have threes in a "V" formation. This gives you the hard six (3 and 3) on top, the six, (5 and 1) on the front, the eight on one (6 and 2) on the back and the Hard eight (4 and 4) on the bottom.

There are no sevens showing on the dice with this set.

After setting the dice you must use a smooth delivery that is strong enough to get the dice to the end of the table but without too much force that will cause them to bounce hard against the back of the table. You also want to make sure that you follow through with your throw. You want to practice so you are throwing the dice the same way each time. Your goal is to throw numbers while avoiding the seven. Throwing the same way can produce repeating numbers.

There are 36 combinations that can be made from of pair of dice. There are six ways that a seven can be made. See understanding dice odds. This means that with a random roll the mathematical probability of a seven appearing will be once in every six rolls, which is a Sevens to Rolls Ratio (SRR) of 6. The house edge is calculated with this ratio. If you throw the dice 42 times and roll seven 7's you have a Sevens to Rolls Ratio of 6. (42/7 = 6) If however you have one non-random roll and throw seven 7's in 43 rolls you have an SRR of 6.14 this is enough to negate the house edge on the 6 and 8 place bets. Just one controlled throw out of every 43 rolls of the dice would eliminate the house edge and yield a break-even game.

It Takes Practice
For those interested in learning more about dice control, there are two excellent books on the market: The Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution by Frank Scoblete and Dominator and Wong on Dice by Stanford Wong. These books can teach you the basics but the rest will depend on how much effort you want to put into practicing.

Controlled throwing of dice is a physical skill which requires hours of practice to master. It is not easy and some players who try never master it. Perfecting a controlled throw is not enough to guarantee you winning sessions at the craps table. You will also need to learn how to bet properly to take advantage of your edge.

If you are interested in taking a hands on seminar to learn how to control the dice, visit the Golden Touch Craps website.

Note: In compliance with About.com’s full disclosure policy, I have to report that I am an instructor for Golden Touch Craps, a company that teaches dice control seminars and I contributed to the book Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution.