Is it true never to buy a half point or point, and never to play a parlay, just like you should

never bet the field in craps.  Are these statements correct?  I play the math, only, and I don't know how you can justify buying points and parlaying.

Someone please teach me.

Never play the field and don't buy any points.  If you are that close on the fence about the game then pass.

Bigger juice parlays are fine if you don't want screw with the spread.  Anything to get the juice down.

Most of the time you are paying -115 or even -120.  That's huge.  Tough enough to break even at winning 52.3% of your games.

Go back through the games this year and see what happened it you bought the half point on all 3's and 7's.  Much more often than not it doesn't make any difference. 

 I found situations where selling a point(s) was a profitable move. I don't have that option anymore since I no longer have an online book. I agree with Lippsman..............if you feel you have to buy points then you should consider it a no-play. I find it amusing to read posts here where people tout a big play only to announce that they're buying the hook...........makes no sense at all.

The occasional parlay is ok if you happen to love 2-3 plays..........but as a regular practice? No.  

Parlays are sucker plays and always have been.  Even if you're a pretty successful capper, I believe that in the long run you'll make more money if you DON'T parlay.  There's a reason why parlaying is not popular among the best cappers.  However, I do like moneyline parlays.  I've made good money picking 2-3 team NFL moneyline parlays. 

Buying points is a waste of time and money.

Here is your defitive answer.....

The reason you dont buy points is simple - YOU RARELY GET THE SAME VALUE THAT YOU DO BY NOT BUYING POINTS.  In other words, you pay a relative premium to buy points.

So if the Jets are -4 -110, and you can buy to -3.5 - you are almost always going to pay a premium to do so.  If the REAL value of that half point is 15 cents, you will have to pay more - lets say 20 cents.

Thats it.  Everyone in this thread is going to try to tell you differently - about what numbers to buy and what not to buy - and lots of emotional psychobabble about saving wagers by buying points - the bottom line is VIG and PREMIUMS.

If you can buy points for their ACTUAL VALUE or cheaper, there is no reason not to buy - in fact they can be favorable.  But this is rare - and for the recreational gambler - almost non-existent.  The rec gambler is almost always paying too much for the points the buy.

never bet the field

buying points is justified in the right spots.  

Dont let anyone tell you otherwise