Are there signature numbers in craps?

There is always a lot of well-meaning talk in craps circles about signature numbers, meaning those numbers that are appearing with a tremendous frequency during the short run of a session or several sessions. Many of the "experts" are deep believers in the power of signature numbers.

Now, there is little doubt that certain skilled shooters, using just about any set that SmartCraps recommends to them individually, will tend to hit some numbers more than other numbers or with much greater frequency than even a high SRR would indicate. To deny that is to deny reality. Signature numbers do in fact exist.

But...

Will a signature number on your practice table or receiving station translate into the same number when you play on a casino's layout at distances which are somewhat or quite different from the distances you usually stand in relation to the back wall at home?

If I tend to throw many more 4s than 10s, will I still throw more 4s in the casino than I would throw 10s? The answer is probably not. I might wind up throwing more 10s at casino #1 and more 5s at casino #2 and so on. Signature numbers do not necessarily translate well from table to table and casino to casino.

I know in the casinos I tend to throw many more 6s than I do 8s. Maybe that is because I always use the two threes on top whether I am using the hardway set or the 3V set. In practice, I don't notice many more 6s than 8s. My practice box is not the same as the casinos' tables and my casino performance is not the same as my practice performance.

So don't get crazy trying to figure out your signature numbers during practice. It's enough to know through your SRR and (when you are ready) your SmartCraps analysis that you are changing the nature of the game because of your throw. If you try to anticipate signature numbers in the casino based on signature numbers at home, you might be in for a grim surprise.

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.