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Craps Rules & Strategy
The game of craps is one of the most fun and social games of gambling.
Without exception, the most energetic and rowdy people in casinos are
the parties surrounding craps tables. The ability to create a team of
players and the high volumes of money that can change hands quickly
make this game one of the most entertaining in any casino.
The Game is based on the different probabilities of outcomes of two
dice. When two dice are cast, the outcome can be anywhere from two to
twelve. However the probabilities of these outcomes are very different.
Rolling a 7 with the 2 dice is the most common outcome. This is because
of the high number of combinations of dice yielding 7. In contrast, the
only way to roll a 2, is to roll a 1 with each of the 2 dice, obviously
a more difficult outcome to achieve. Game play
begins with one person rolling both dice. This first roll of a game is
called the come out roll. The object is to roll either a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10 or 11. Rolling either a 2, 3, or 12 ends the game
immediately with a loss. When the player rolls a 7 or 11, he wins
immediately. If the player rolls one of the other numbers above, he
continues to play. The number rolled, either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, is
established as the point number. Now the player has 7 chances to roll
the point number with both dice. If he succeeds, he wins. If he rolls a
7 during his 7 chances, he loses. Some casinos allow unlimited tries
before rolling a 7 or the point.
The actual game of craps is simple. The
only part that begins to get complicated is the betting part. However
this part can be masterfully understood after only observing minutes of
game play. There are many different ways that players can bet. The
shooter, the person actually rolling the dice, and everyone else at the
table is allowed to bet on every single roll of the dice. The other
people at the table can bet that the shooter will win or lose. Some
advance tactics involve betting for and against the shooter, thus
winding up with either a small win or lose extending the amount of time
a player can participate. The different types of
bets have been outlined in the following table for convenience.
| Name of Bet |
Description |
| Pass Line |
Also known as, Betting Right and
Betting with the Shooter. This bet usually pays even odds, meaning
a 20 dollar bet wins 20 dollars. Most simplistically, you are
betting that the shooter will win. You are betting he will roll a 7
or 11 on the first roll, or establish a point and then get his
point. |
| Don't Pass Line |
Also known as, Betting Wrong and
Betting against the Shooter. This bet usually pays the same odds as
above. You are betting that the shooter will roll a 2, 3 or 12 on
the come out roll. Or that if he establishes a point, he will not
achieve it. You are betting the shooter will lose. |
| Field Bet |
This is also a safe bet.
You are betting that the next roll, whether it is a come out roll
or a roll for the point, will be anything but a 5, 6, 7 or 8. Those
numbers are the most commonly rolled, however you still have the
other 8 possibilities to win. A roll of a 2 or 12 usually pays
double and a midnight, (12), sometimes triple. |
| Hardway Bet |
When betting on a hard 8 for example,
you are betting that the shooter will roll two 4's. Any 'hard' bet
signifies that you are betting the number be rolled with the same
outcome on each die. Naturally only even numbers can be bet hard. |
| Proposition Bets |
In the middle of most
craps tables there lies an area where different combinations of die
are painted with their odds next to them. You can bet on any one of
these combinations which are, snake eyes (two 1's), any seven, yo
eleven (any 11), any craps (2, 3, 12), any 3, midnight (12) or horn
(2, 3, 11, 12). A proposition bet is a bet on only the next roll of
the dice. This bet may be made at any time. |
| Come Bet |
This bet is identical to
the pass line bet, however it must be made after the point is set.
Once the bet is made, a sort of mini game develops. If the shooter
rolls a 7 or 11 you win, craps you lose, anything else and your bet
is set at that point. You are then hoping that your point is rolled
before the shooter rolls a 7. |
| Don't Come Bet |
This bet is identical to
the don't pass line bet, however it must be made after the point
has been set. Simply the Come variant of the Don't pass bet. |
| Buy Bet |
This is when you purchase
a number, and hope that it is rolled before a 7. This bet may be
made at any time. |
| Big 6 |
You are betting that a 6
will be rolled before a 7. |
| Big 8 |
You are betting that a 8
will be rolled before a 7. |
When making a bet in craps, it is customary to just call
the bet out to the dealer. The dealer will place your chip(s) in the
corresponding area and see to it that you get paid if you win. The
dealer is also responsible for changing money. When arriving at the
table a player must change his currency into chips. Some people
consider it untactful to ask for change anytime other than right before
a come out roll. When asking for change, do exactly that, throw your
money on the table and yell at the dealer for change. If you attempt to
hand your money to the dealer you will probably not get anywhere.
Online craps is much simpler, simply click the area of the table that
corresponds to your bet.
Being a good craps player means you use logic and play
the bets with the best odds. Unlike poker, for instance, craps is a
game of pure odds. If the guy next to you gives you a mean scowl, or a
pretty blond winks at you right before you shoot the dice, the
probability of outcomes does not change. If you can simply stay
consistent with the smart bets, you should be in great shape.
The best bet in craps is the pass line bet with odds.
The pass line bet with odds was not included in the table above because
of its higher degree of professionalism. I suppose it is somewhat of a
reward for those loyal web surfers who have read to the end of this
document. The bet itself isn't complicated but it separates the men
from the boys of craps. The bet involves betting more on your pass line
bet once a point is established. This is done by placing chips half way
across the pass line area. In Online poker, click the area where your
chip has been moved to next to the number on the table representing the
point. The bet pays best when the point is farther from 7. Naturally,
the 4 and 10 points have the best odds with 6 and 8 having the worst.
The house edge on a pass line bet without odds is a wonderful 1.41%.
When odds are added that house advantages shrinks even more. At single
odds, 1X, it shrinks to 0.85%, by the time you get to ten times odds,
10X, the house advantage has been obliterated down to a shocking 0.18%.
A pass line bet with odds at 10X is probably the best bet on the casino
floor. Mastering this strategy will put money in your pocket.
Another strategy used to extent your game play is to
make bets that more or less cancel each other out. If you make a pass
line and don't pass line bet at the same time, you will come out even
in the end.
* Are you a gambling professional? Could your expertise
benefit people reading this website? If so, don't
hesitate to email tips, help, or strategies to the webmaster.
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