Craps can seem daunting at first glance with its fast-paced action, colorful table, and seemingly complex betting options. However, beneath the surface lies a game of surprising simplicity and exciting possibilities. This guide will break down the fundamentals of craps, empowering you to confidently approach the table and enjoy this thrilling casino classic.
Understanding the basic rules and bets is crucial for a positive and potentially profitable craps experience. This guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to participate and appreciate the nuances of the game.
| Topic | Explanation | Odds & Payouts (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Gameplay | Craps revolves around rolling two dice and betting on the outcome. A "shooter" rolls the dice, and other players bet on the results. The game is played in rounds, with each round beginning with a "come out" roll. The round continues until a decision is made (either a win or a loss). | N/A |
| The Come Out Roll | The first roll of a new round. The shooter must make either a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet. A roll of 7 or 11 on the come out roll wins the Pass Line bet. A roll of 2, 3, or 12 loses the Pass Line bet (craps out). Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the "point." | N/A |
| Establishing the Point | If the come out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the "point." The shooter continues to roll the dice until they either roll the point again (winning the Pass Line bet) or roll a 7 (losing the Pass Line bet). Rolling the point wins the Pass Line bet, and rolling a 7 loses the Pass Line bet. This is called "sevening out." | N/A |
| Pass Line Bet | A bet that the shooter will win the round. This bet is placed before the come out roll. It wins on a come out roll of 7 or 11 and loses on a come out roll of 2, 3, or 12. If a point is established, the Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7. | Even Money (1:1) |
| Don’t Pass Line Bet | A bet that the shooter will lose the round. This bet is placed before the come out roll. It wins on a come out roll of 2 or 3 and loses on a come out roll of 7 or 11. A roll of 12 is typically a "push" (bet is returned) on the Don’t Pass Line. If a point is established, the Don’t Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again. | Even Money (1:1) |
| Come Bet | Similar to the Pass Line bet, but it’s placed after a point has been established. The next roll becomes the "come point." The Come bet wins if the come point is rolled before a 7, and loses if a 7 is rolled first. | Even Money (1:1) |
| Don’t Come Bet | Similar to the Don’t Pass Line bet, but it’s placed after a point has been established. The next roll becomes the "come point." The Don’t Come bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the come point, and loses if the come point is rolled first. A roll of 12 is typically a "push" (bet is returned) on the Don’t Come Line. | Even Money (1:1) |
| Place Bets | Bets placed on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) after a point has been established. You are betting that the chosen number will be rolled before a 7. These bets can be placed or removed at any time (except after a shooter has rolled a 7). | 6 & 8: 6:5, 5 & 9: 3:2, 4 & 10: 2:1 |
| Buy Bets | Similar to Place Bets, but with a 5% commission (vig) charged either upfront or upon winning. The vig is charged to provide true odds. | 6 & 8: 6:5, 5 & 9: 3:2, 4 & 10: 2:1 (after vig) |
| Lay Bets | The opposite of Place Bets. You are betting that a 7 will be rolled before a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). A 5% commission (vig) is charged on the potential payout, either upfront or upon winning. | 4 & 10: 1:2, 5 & 9: 2:3, 6 & 8: 5:6 (after vig) |
| Hardways Bets | Bets that a specific number (4, 6, 8, or 10) will be rolled as a pair (e.g., 2+2 for a hard 4) before being rolled any other way or before a 7 is rolled. | Hard 6 & 8: 9:1, Hard 4 & 10: 7:1 |
| One Roll Bets | Bets that are resolved on the very next roll of the dice. These bets have high payouts but also high house edges. Examples include: Any 7: Betting the next roll will be a 7. Any Craps: Betting the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12. Aces/Boxcars: Betting the next roll will be a 2 or a 12. | Any 7: 4:1, Any Craps: 7:1, Aces/Boxcars: 30:1 |
| The House Edge | The statistical advantage the casino has over the player. Understanding the house edge for different bets is crucial for making informed decisions. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets have some of the lowest house edges in the casino, making them favorable options for beginners. One-roll bets have the highest house edges. | Varies widely depending on the bet. Pass/Don’t Pass are around 1.41%. One-roll bets can be 11% or higher. |
| Etiquette | Craps has its own set of etiquette rules. It is important to be aware of these rules to avoid disrupting the game and to show respect for other players and the dealers. Some important etiquette rules include: Don’t touch the dice with both hands. Don’t throw the dice too hard. Don’t place bets after the dice are out. Tip the dealers. Be aware of where you are standing and avoid blocking other players’ views. | N/A |
| Dice Setting | Some players believe that they can influence the outcome of the dice by setting them in a specific way before rolling. While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, it is a common practice among some craps players. It is important to note that dice setting is not illegal, but it is not guaranteed to improve your chances of winning. | N/A |
| Bankroll Management | Setting a budget before you start playing and sticking to it. Avoid chasing losses. Knowing when to walk away is crucial for responsible gambling. Consider setting win and loss limits. | N/A |
Detailed Explanations
Basic Gameplay: Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of dice rolls. One player, the "shooter," rolls the dice, while others wager on the results. The game progresses in rounds, beginning with a "come out" roll. The round continues until a decision is made, resulting in a win or a loss.
The Come Out Roll: This is the first roll of a new round. The shooter must make either a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet. Rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll wins the Pass Line bet, while rolling a 2, 3, or 12 loses the Pass Line bet (craps out). If the roll results in a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the "point."
Establishing the Point: If the come out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the "point." The shooter continues to roll the dice until they either roll the point again (winning the Pass Line bet) or roll a 7 (losing the Pass Line bet). Rolling the point wins the Pass Line bet, and rolling a 7 loses the Pass Line bet. This is called "sevening out."
Pass Line Bet: A wager that the shooter will win the round. This bet is placed before the come out roll. It wins on a come out roll of 7 or 11 and loses on a come out roll of 2, 3, or 12. If a point is established, the Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7. This is considered one of the best bets in craps due to its low house edge.
Don’t Pass Line Bet: A wager that the shooter will lose the round. This bet is placed before the come out roll. It wins on a come out roll of 2 or 3 and loses on a come out roll of 7 or 11. A roll of 12 is typically a "push" (bet is returned) on the Don’t Pass Line. If a point is established, the Don’t Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again.
Come Bet: Similar to the Pass Line bet, but it’s placed after a point has been established. The next roll becomes the "come point." The Come bet wins if the come point is rolled before a 7, and loses if a 7 is rolled first. This allows you to place a "pass line" type bet mid-round.
Don’t Come Bet: Similar to the Don’t Pass Line bet, but it’s placed after a point has been established. The next roll becomes the "come point." The Don’t Come bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the come point, and loses if the come point is rolled first. A roll of 12 is typically a "push" (bet is returned) on the Don’t Come Line.
Place Bets: Bets placed on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) after a point has been established. You are betting that the chosen number will be rolled before a 7. These bets can be placed or removed at any time (except after a shooter has rolled a 7). The payouts vary depending on the number.
Buy Bets: Similar to Place Bets, but with a 5% commission (vig) charged either upfront or upon winning. The vig is charged to provide true odds, making them slightly more advantageous than Place Bets, especially on higher numbers.
Lay Bets: The opposite of Place Bets. You are betting that a 7 will be rolled before a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). A 5% commission (vig) is charged on the potential payout, either upfront or upon winning. This bet is often used by "wrong bettors" who are betting against the shooter.
Hardways Bets: Bets that a specific number (4, 6, 8, or 10) will be rolled as a pair (e.g., 2+2 for a hard 4) before being rolled any other way or before a 7 is rolled. These bets have higher payouts but also higher house edges. For example, a hard 4 is rolled when the dice show 2 and 2, but not when they show 1 and 3.
One Roll Bets: Bets that are resolved on the very next roll of the dice. These bets have high payouts but also high house edges. Examples include: Any 7: Betting the next roll will be a 7. Any Craps: Betting the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12. Aces/Boxcars: Betting the next roll will be a 2 or a 12. These are generally considered sucker bets due to their high house edge.
The House Edge: The statistical advantage the casino has over the player. Understanding the house edge for different bets is crucial for making informed decisions. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets have some of the lowest house edges in the casino, making them favorable options for beginners. One-roll bets have the highest house edges.
Etiquette: Craps has its own set of etiquette rules. It is important to be aware of these rules to avoid disrupting the game and to show respect for other players and the dealers. Some important etiquette rules include: Don’t touch the dice with both hands. Don’t throw the dice too hard. Don’t place bets after the dice are out. Tip the dealers. Be aware of where you are standing and avoid blocking other players’ views.
Dice Setting: Some players believe that they can influence the outcome of the dice by setting them in a specific way before rolling. While there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, it is a common practice among some craps players. It is important to note that dice setting is not illegal, but it is not guaranteed to improve your chances of winning.
Bankroll Management: Setting a budget before you start playing and sticking to it. Avoid chasing losses. Knowing when to walk away is crucial for responsible gambling. Consider setting win and loss limits. This is a critical aspect of responsible gambling, regardless of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet for beginners in craps?
The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets offer the lowest house edges and are a good starting point for new players.
What does it mean to "seven out" in craps?
"Sevening out" means rolling a 7 after a point has been established, which results in a loss for Pass Line bettors.
Can I remove my Place Bets at any time?
Yes, you can remove your Place Bets at any time except after the shooter has already rolled the dice.
What is the "vig" in Buy and Lay Bets?
The "vig" is a commission (typically 5%) charged by the casino on Buy and Lay Bets to provide true odds.
Is dice setting a legitimate strategy to win at craps?
There’s no scientific evidence to support dice setting as a winning strategy, but some players still practice it.
What should I do if I don’t understand a bet?
Don’t hesitate to ask the dealers for clarification. They are there to help and ensure you understand the game.
Conclusion
Craps, while initially intimidating, becomes an engaging and exciting game with a grasp of its fundamental rules and betting options. Start with simple bets like the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line, practice good bankroll management, and learn the etiquette to enjoy a responsible and potentially rewarding craps experience.