Playing Craps

The come-out roll is the most important roll in the game of craps, since it determines the point that must be repeated before a seven is rolled. A come-out roll occurs under the following conditions:

When a previous shooter has rolled a seven-out.

When a new shooter is throwing the dice for the first time.

When a shooter has rolled a seven or eleven on a previous come-out roll.

When a shooter has rolled a craps (2, 3 or 12) on a previous come-out roll.

When a shooter has repeated a point without rolling a seven.

Rules Of Craps

The rules to craps sound complicated and scary, but really it is one of the easiest casino games to learn once you get into it. Don't get frustrated if you don't understand the rules the first time around - give yourself some time to get your mind around the game and you'll be crapping with the best of them in no time. The main reason people are reluctant to try craps is they the layout is confusing and intimidating. A lot of people are unsure about the bets, the odds and the payoffs of game.

An easy way to learn craps is to take advantage of the free craps lessons offered by many of the big casinos. The lessons will show you everything you need to know to play the game, but beware: do you really think the casino is going to show you the best way to better your odds and lower the house advantage - probably not! It's hard to explain the ins and outs of the game without having a playing table to show, but once you've been to the casino to have a look, the list of bets below will make more sense.

The game of craps is played with two dice with each die having six sides. The numbers on each die run from one to six. Seven is the easiest number to roll. Only one player at the table has run of the game at one time. Players do not have to shoot the dice when their turn comes, they may opt to pass their turn and pass their roll onto the next player.

The shooter selects two dice and the others are returned to the stickman. The shooter must make a Pass Line or a Don't Pass Line bet prior to rolling the dice. Failure to throw the dice the entire length of the table will probably cause the boxman to admonish the shooter to throw them harder.

Craps Techniques

The Come Bet: This is quite similar to the original Pass Line bet we have spoken about. It is an even money bet (ie bet $1 and you receive $1 if you win). The only real difference between the Pass Line and the Come Bet is that you make a come bet after the point has been determined on the pass line.. After you make a come bet, the first roll of the dice will establish the come point. If a 7 or 11 rolls, youare an automatic winner. But if you roll 2, 3, or 12 on the first roll you lose.

The Odds-On Come Bet: Just like in the original Pass Line Bet, you can take odds in the Come Bet. This means that you can bet additional money that the shooter is going to make his point. The odds on come bets takes place exactly the same way it does in the Pass Line, except that the dealer takes the money and places it on the come point for you.

The Don't Pass Line bet: This is the Pass Line Bet in reverse. Simply, if the first roll of the dice is a 7 or 11, you lose. If it is a 2 or 3, you win. If the roll is a 12, it is called a push and you neither win or lose. If the first roll is a point, a 7 must be rolled before that point is repeated in order to win. If the point is repeated before the 7, the "don't pass line" loses. The odds are reversed in the don't pass. The Don't Come Bets: Like the Don't Pass Line bet, the Don't Come Bets is the some as the Come Bet but in reverse. The rules are the same as in the don't pass line bet. The only difference is that the dealer places your bet on the come point as it is rolled.

Craps Terms

PASS LINE: The Pass Line is an even money bet that means if you bet $5 you will get $5 back. You will win on the pass line if the first roll is a 7 or 11. You will lose if the roll is 2, 3, or 12 - this is called craps. If the first roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, this is considered the point; the point must be thrown again before a 7, or you lose. If the point is repeated, then you win on the pass line - winning the dollar for dollar bet.

Once the point has been established you can increase your line bet by taking odds. This is done by betting additional money that the shooter is going to make his point. You place this bet directly behind the original line bet. Each point pays different odds. If you were to take the odds on a point of 4 or 10, you would get paid 2 to 1 for your bet (bet $1 and get paid $2). If the point were 5 or 9, you would get paid 3 to 2 for your bet (bet $2 and get paid $3) etc. When you opt to increase the stakes by taking the odds, you will always get paid more than you bet based on what the odds are of making that point before a 7.

The Pass Line bet is the easiest and most common bet to perform. If you are a novice at craps, it is definitely the best way to start off. Other more complicated or advanced bets include Come Bets, Odds On Come Bets, Don't Pass Line, Don't Come Bets, Place Bets, Field Bets and Proposition Bets. I will outline some of the key aspects of these bets for you.

Dealers

The Boxman: The boxman generally wears a suit and tie and remains seated during the game with his arms closely guarding the casino's chips.

The Stickman: Dealers never touch the dice. The stickman calls the game, announcing each roll of the dice and whether it's a winner or loser. The stickman is in charge of the center of the layout and places all bets for the proposition numbers.

The Dealers: There are two dealers present at the craps table. Each dealer is in charge of one end of the layout.

Where To Start

The best place to start is with a bet placed on the "Win Line". The Shooter makes his first roll (called the "come Out Roll") and you win immediately if the numbers of both dice total 7 or 11. But you lose if craps (2, 3 or 12) are rolled. However any other number rolled becomes the "Point" which means you are now betting that number will come up again before a 7 is rolled. If it does, you win.

Alternatively, a "Don't Win Line" bet is just as easy. It is simply the opposite of the Win Line bet. You lose if 7 or 11 comes up on the Come Out Roll and Win on 3 or 12. (2 is called a "Stand-Off" and you neither win nor lose). Any other number becomes the Point is rolled. If it does, you win. Alternatively, a "Don't Win Line" bet is just as easy. It is simply the opposite of the Win on 3 or 12. (2 is called a "Stand-off" and you neither win nor loose.) Any other number becomes the Point, but in this case your betting the 7 will come up before the point is rolled.

One Roll Bets

At any time when the game is in progress you may bet on the "One Roll" bets.

Any Craps - A One Roll bet which wins on a throw of 2, 3 or 12.

Craps 2 - A One Roll bet which wins on a throw of 3 only.

Craps 12 - A One Roll bet which wins on a throw of 12 only.

Any 7 - A One Roll bet which wins on a throw of 7 only.

Eleven - A One Roll bet which wins on a throw of 11 only.

Field - A One Roll bet which wins even money on throws of 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11; pays double on 12.

Horn Bet and Horn High - A One Roll Combination bet covering 2, 3, 11 and 12.

Winning Craps Strategy

As with other casino games, the goal in craps is to capitalize on the relatively short cycle of streaks that invariably occur. These are marked by prolonged passes of the dice. This means the shooter continues to roll, often times for many minutes, without sevening out. You can take advantage of these hot streaks by playing the Pass Line, backing that bet with Free Odds bets, and placing multiple Come bets, also with Free Odds. Professional gamblers disagree on the number of come bets to place.

The most aggressive players make Come bets on every roll until all the point numbers are covered. This gives them the opportunity to win many bets in a short period of time, provided the dice stay hot and the shooter continues to roll without hitting a 7. But that method is too risky. A sound strategy calls for placing a maximum of two Come bets, which, coupled with the original Pass Line bets, give the player three numbers always working for him. When one of the points is made and his bet is paid off, the player places another Come bet to keep three numbers working.

To recap: Bet the Pass Line and back up the bet with a Free Odds bet. Make two additional Come bets, also taking the Free Odds bets. Stop betting after three points have been established. If one of the Come bets is won, immediately place another Come bet. Similarly, if the original Pass Line bet is won, make another Pass Line bet. This system lets the player capitalize during a shooter's hot streak while minimizing his losses when the dice eventually turn cold.

Pass Line Bet

When it is your turn to throw the craps dice, you must determine whether to bet the pass line or the don't pass line. Most shooters, as well as most of the other craps players at the table, will bet the pass line, as it is the basic wager of craps. The pass line wager is an even money bet that wins if you either roll a total of 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or if you throw a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the come-out roll and repeat that number before you roll a 7. The pass line bet loses if the come-out roll is a 2, 3, or 12 (known as "craps") or when a 7 is rolled before the established point number is repeated.

If you successfully complete a pass, - that is, if you repeat an established point number before throwing a 7-, you get to roll the dice again. Only when you seven-out will the stickman push the dice to the next player in succession. Once you have established a point, if you roll a number other than your point or a 7, it is disregard as far as pass line bets are concerned, although these additional rolls do affect other bets that can be made at the craps table. As an example, suppose you have established a point of 8 on the come-out roll. If you next throw a 3, then a 5, a 9, and a 10, these numbers will be ignored for pass line bets. But if you then roll 7, you will lose your pass line wager, since the 7 came up before your point number. Out of 990 decisions at the craps table you can expect to lose 14 decisions more than you win.

That makes the house advantage at craps 1.41%. In other words, out of every $100 that you wager at the craps table, you can expect to lose $1.41. Of course this is in the long run. You can win because in the relatively short time you will be playing, there will be fluctuations in this house edge, so at times things will be going in your favor at the craps table. A pass line bet can be made at any time during a shooter's roll, even after he has established a point. However, a bet placed on the pass line after a point has been established is a very poor wager, since you have missed the opportunity to win on the come-out roll when the shooter throws a 7 or an 11. The only way you can now win is if the shooter repeats his point before he sevens-out.

Taking The Odds

When the shooter establishes a point on the come-out roll, any player who has made a pass line bet is allowed to "take the odds." A single odds bet is an additional wager, up to the amount of your original wager, that the point number will be repeated before a 7 is rolled. The odds bet is the best wager you can make in the game of craps, because the house has no built-in advantage. Some casinos permit players to make double odds, and even greater odds wagers. The odds bet not only has no house edge associated with it, but also has no official designated space on the craps table. Therefore, to take the odds, you must place the appropriate amount of chips behind your pass line bet in the open area of the craps layout.

The correct payoff for odds bets varies from point number to point number, depending on the odds of a 7 being rolled before a particular point is repeated. The payoff formula is the same whether you take single odds, double odds, or more. Correct odds payoffs are as follows: Points 4 and 10 pay 2-to-1 Points 5 and 9 pay 3-to-2 Points 6 and 8 pay 6-to-5 As an example, suppose you bet $1.00 on the pass line and establish a point of 4 in a casino that offers double odds. You now have the option of taking the adds for an additional $2.00. (You can also wager a lesser amount or choose not to take any odds at all.)

If you repeat the point number (4) before rolling a 7, you will get your original $3.00 back, plus an additional $5.00. Of that $5.00, $1.00 will be the even-money payback on your pass line wager, and $4.00 will be the 2-to-1 payoff for a point of 4 on your odds bet of $2.00. If you roll a 7 before repeating your point of 4, you will lose your initial $1.00 wager on the pass line, plus your $2.00 odds bet, for a total loss of $3.00. You are allowed to remove your odds wager from the craps table at any time, as a casino does not object to your taking down a bet that has no house edge. If you have difficulty at the craps table in determining the proper amount to bet in order to receive the correct odds payoff, feel free to ask one of the dealers for assistance. You don't want to lose out on any winnings that are rightfully yours.

Come Bets

A come bet is identical to a pass line bet, with one exception: A come bet may be made on every throw of the dice once the shooter has established a point. A come bet is made by placing the amount of chips you wish to wager in the designated come area of the craps layout. After you have placed a come bet, the very next roll of the dice becomes the come-out roll for that wager. Thus if the shooter rolls a 7, you will win even though pass line betters will lose. If an 11 is rolled, you will win while the line bets will not be affected.

Conversely, should one of the craps numbers come up you will lose, but the line bets will be unaffected. Should the shooter throw one of the box numbers on the first roll of the dice after you've made a wager on the come, this number becomes an established point for your come bet. To win this bet, your come point must be repeated before a 7 is rolled. Once a point has been established for your come bet, the dealer will move the chips you have wagered, to the corresponding numbered box on the craps layout to await a decision for that point. When you win a come bet, the dealer will pay you off by placing your original wager, along with your winnings, in the come section of the layout. If you do not immediately retrieve your chips, they will be in action on the next roll of the dice as a new come bet. To make an odds wager on a come point, hand the dealer the appropriate amount of chips and tell him that you wish to take the odds on that point.

Dont Pass Line Bet

As you've seen, a pass line bet is simply a wager that the shooter will win. But you also can bet that the shooter will fail to make a pass and thus lose. The don't pass line bet wins when he shooter throws a craps of 2 or 3, but not 12, on the come-out roll, or when he rolls a 7 before repeating his established point number. This wager loses when the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, or when the shooter repeats his point number before rolling a 7.

The don't pass line bet is the exact opposite of a pass line with on exception: Although a roll of 12 on the come out loses for pass line betters, it is not a winning number for don't pass bettors. It is a stand-off and nether wins nor loses. The reason for this is simple: If don't betters were permitted to win in this situation, they would have an advantage over the house. So by barring (disallowing) the number 12 on the come-out roll, the casinos retain a small edge. Some casinos bar the number 2, but the effect is exactly the same. Unlike a pass line wager, a don't pass bet can be removed after a point number has been established on the come-out roll.

This is because once a point is established you have an advantage over the house, thus the casino has no objections to your taking down the bet. Of course you should never do this. After going up against an 8 to 3 house edge on the come-out roll, you will have an overall average advantage of 18.8 after a point has been established.

Craps History

Man has played dice since biblical times, when they cast lots for Christ's garments. The phrase "the die has been cast" refers to dice. The name Craps is a more recent and modern addition to the gambling language.

As most games of chance, "Craps", as we shall call it, is a relatively simple game the complications arise from the betting more than the game itself.

Vegas Version Of Craps

In Las Vegas craps is played on a large oval shaped table with a felt top containing all the various ways of betting the game. The table is managed by four dealers, One a sort of table boss who oversees the entire game, ensures play proceeds in a proper manner and keeps a sharp eye on all money transactions. A stick man stands directly across from the table boss, controls the dice and passes them on to the player next in line to be the shooter, keeps track of special odds bets in the center of the table, and calls out the number that appears on the dice for each roll.

Dealers stand on either side of the table boss one on his left and one on his right. These dealers sell chips to the players, take odds bets and keep track of the shooters point (s). Players stand around this oval shaped table and place their bets or roll the dice in turn. These players are the most noisy group in the Casino. They also have the most fun the comraderie and excitement can be felt and heard through the Casino.

Object Of Game

A "shooter", the person rolling the dice, starts the game when all bets are down and the stick man pushes the dice to him to begin his roll. The shooter throws the dice across the table so they strike the farthest end of the table from where the shooter is standing.

This is so the dice cannot be controlled and the outcome cannot be predetermined. The first roll can have any of the following outcomes; Craps which is a 2,3 or a 12 and a loser, pass which is 7 or 11 and a winner, or a "point" number which can be 4,5,6,8,9,10. When the shooter throws a 2,3 or 12 everyone on the pass line loses, but the shooter may "keep" the dice or continue to roll. If a 7 or 11 is rolled everyone on the pass line wins and the shooter continues to throw.

When a 4,5,6,8,9, or 10 is thrown this becomes the shooters "point" and he continues to roll the dice until he (A) makes the "point" or (B) sevens out whichever comes first. If he makes his point he wins and is allowed to continue to roll the dice. If he rolls a seven while on a point he loses and the dice are passed to the next shooter and the process is repeated.

Conclusion

Well there you have it. I hope that information which I have put together from my playing experience and my research will help you to become a great craps player. But the information should really be used as a guide only and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy and correctness of the material presented. I advise you to go to you casino and take some craps lessons so that everything I've written about makes sense.

I would then advise you to read everything you can about the game, including more complicated material than this site offers. Once you've got it all together and you have a thorough understanding of the rules, the best and the odds, it's time to start playing with real money. It is unadvisable to bet with real dollars if you don't understand the game.