How to Play Craps

H ere’s an obvious but very important piece of advice that will save you money: never play craps, either live or online, without knowing how to play the game. Learn the craps rules.  If you don’t heed this advice, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll lose your entire buy-in.  You think, “Well, duh, why would I risk my hard-earned money on something I have no clue about?”  Sadly, a lot people do it, especially when they’re all hopped up on the excitement of Vegas.  Here’s a typical scenario.

You’re at the craps table and notice in the distance someone strolling along the casino floor.  He hears the yelling and clapping at the craps tables.  His pace quickens to see what all the fuss is about.  He thinks, “Those people are winning tons of money, I better hurry up and get some.”  He finds an open spot at the table, squeezes between two other players, and drops a cool hundred onto the layout.  He doesn’t have a clue, so he asks the one of the crew members, “How do you play this game, what do I do?”  Fifteen minutes later, the guy walks away broke and baffled.  Trust me, that scenario happens more than you may think.  Learn the game before you play.  You’ll save tons money and have much more enjoyment.

This article focuses on the very basic premise of the game and if you just want to play craps for fun click here.

You play craps with two dice and the result of throwing them determines whether you lose or win.  The two dice have 36 potential ways for a number to appear.  The way you determine how many potential numbers can appear is by multiplying the six numbers on one die (“die” is singular, “dice” is plural) by the six numbers on the other die.  So, 6 multiplied by 6 equal 36.  The potential numbers that can appear range from 12 (as the high) to 2 (as the low).  Because seven has the most potential ways to appear, the game’s premise is built around the seven.

A Lesson on How to Play Craps

In this lesson, let’s not worry about how to bet.  Let’s just learn the basics of the dice game’s premise.  The initial roll for each new starting game is always identified as the “come-out roll,” or “come-out” for short.  The stickman shouts something like, “Coming out, please make your bets, there’s a new shooter coming out!”  The game keeps going until the shooter rolls a particular number that makes what’s called a “decision” to conclude the game.  It doesn’t matter how you bet before the shooter rolls the come-out, a decision is made and the game concludes immediately if the shooter rolls a 12, 11, 7, 3, or 2.  These numbers are called “naturals.”  Notice that the naturals are the two lowest numbers in the range of possible numbers (i.e., 2 and 3), and the two highest numbers in the range (i.e., 11 and 12), and the number directly in the middle of the range (i.e., 7).  Again, if a natural appears on the come-out roll, a decision is made and the game concludes immediately.  On the come-out, if the shooter rolls anything but a natural, then it’s identified as a “point number.”  Unlike a natural, the game continues if a “point” is determined on the come-out.  The potential point can be a 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4.  Notice there are three numbers on the low side of 7 (i.e., 4, 5, and 6), and three numbers on the high side of 7 (i.e., 8, 9, and 10).

If the shooter rolls a point, she continues shooting the dice until she rolls a 7 or the point again, at which time a decision is made and the game concludes.  The type of bets you make decide if you lose or win.  Suppose you like the number 7 and you bet on it (this is called betting on “Don’t Pass” or betting “against” the dice).  If the shooter rolls a 7 instead of the point, then you win, but you lose if she rolls the point again before a 7.  On the other hand, suppose you dislike the number 7 and you bet against it (this is called betting on the “Pass Line” or betting “with” the dice).  If the shooter rolls a 7 instead of the point, then you lose, but you win if she rolls the point again before a 7.

Depending on how you bet before the come-out, a natural will determine if you lose or win.

By betting with the number 7, you:

•  Lose when an 11 or 7 shows,
•  Win when a 3 or 2 shows, or
•  Tie when a 12 shows.

By betting against the 7 (i.e., betting on the point), then it’s almost the exact opposite:

• Lose when a 12, 3, or 2 shows, or
• Win when an 11 or 7 shows.

Again, don’t worry about what bets to make or how to make them, the purpose of this lesson is to understand the importance of the number 7 and that most craps bets are based on the 7.

If the come-out results in a point being determined, then the only relevant numbers for that game, in terms of a decision to conclude the game, are the 7 and whatever number the point is.  All other numbers are irrelevant for that game.  For example, suppose the shooter’s come-out is a 9 (i.e., she establishes 9 as the point).  For that game, she can roll as many times as it takes to show another 9 or a 7.  She can roll for hours and the game will not conclude until either a 7 shows or a 9 shows.

If the come-out results in a natural (which concludes the game immediately), then you keep the dice and continue rolling the next game.  If you establish a point on the come-out and if you then roll the point again before a 7 (which concludes the game), you keep the dice and continue rolling.  However, if you establish a point on the come-out and if you then roll a 7 before the point (which concludes the game), you do not get to continue rolling the next game.  Instead, the “stickman” passes the dice to the next player on the left.  The next player is not required to roll the dice.  If a player doesn’t want to shoot, he simply tells the stickman, “No thanks.”  The stickman simply moves the dice to the next person on the left who wants to roll the next game.

Let’s do a quick review.  The first roll of a new starting game is called the come-out.  The come-out can have one of two basic outcomes:

•  The come-out can be a natural (i.e., 12, 11, 7, 3, or 2), in which case the game concludes immediately; or
•  The come-out can be a point number (i.e., 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4), in which case a point is determined and the game continues.

Remember, in terms of a decision that concludes the game, once a point is determined, the only relevant numbers are the 7 and whatever number the point is.  All other numbers are meaningless in terms of a decision to conclude the game.  The following scenario illustrates how games conclude with decisions (forget about betting, just concentrate on how a game starts and ends).  Suppose you’re the next shooter.

1. You roll an 8 on the come-out roll, so the point for this new starting game is 8.  The dealer turns the puck ON and places it in the 8 point box indicating that 8 is the point.  (The “puck” is discussed in the article on the craps table and equipment.)
2. After the point is determined, the only numbers that matter for that particular game, in terms of a decision to conclude the game, are whatever number the point is and 7.  You roll a 12, which doesn’t matter, so the game continues and you roll again.
3. You roll a 4, which doesn’t matter, so the game continues and you roll again.
4. You roll an 8 (i.e., you roll the point).  A decision is made and the game concludes.  The dealer turns the puck OFF (black side up) and places it on the side of the table indicating that a new starting game is about to begin.
5. Since you rolled your point, you continue shooting the next game.  You roll a 7 on the come-out roll for the new starting game.  A 7 on the come-out is a natural, so a decision is made and the game concludes immediately.  You continue shooting the next game.
6. You roll a 12 for the come-out roll for the new starting game.  A 12 appearing for the come-out is a natural, so the game concludes immediately.  You continue shooting the next game.
7. You roll a 5 on the come-out roll, so the point for this new starting game is 5.  The dealer turns the puck ON (white side up) and places it in the 5 point box.
8. You roll a 10, which doesn’t matter, so the game continues and you roll again.
9. You roll a 7 (i.e., a “7-out”).  A decision is made and the game concludes.  The dealer turns the puck OFF (black side up) and places it on the side of the table.  Because you rolled a 7-out, you turn ends and the dice move clockwise to the next player who wants to shoot.

If you shoot the point to conclude the game, you have the option to throw the two dice that you used previously to begin a new game, or select another two dice from those that the stickman offers you.  If you make your point, the dice you used to make it are deemed lucky.  That’s why you rarely see someone ask for two new dice when they make their point.

If you roll a 7-out to conclude the game, your turn as the shooter ends.  The stickman then uses his “mop” (or “whip,” which are terms for the stick) to slide them along the tabletop to the person to your left.  That person then picks two dice and makes the come-out to start another game.

Here are a few links to internal pages about how to play craps:

• The Wisdom of Setting Win/Loss Limits
• How to Properly Plan and Budget Your Gambling Vacation
• Don’t Fight a Cold Table, Adapt to It
• Know When to Quit
• Never Surrender If the Dice Don’t Cooperate
• What Does It Mean to “Color” at the Craps Table?
• Craps Rules, a bit of everything!
• The Longest Craps Roll in History
• Craps Variation called Crapless Craps & Street Craps
• Craps Felt, Craps Dice & Craps Stick – Buy on Amazon

 

Betting Options when Playing Craps and Odds

In craps, there are many different betting options available to players. Here are some of the most common bets you can make

• Pass line bet: This is a bet that the shooter will roll a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or will roll the point number before rolling a 7.
• Don’t pass bet: This is the opposite of the pass line bet, and it wins if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll, or if they roll a 7 before the point number.
• Come bet: This is a bet that the shooter will roll a 7 or 11 after the come-out roll, or will roll a point number before rolling a 7.
• Don’t come bet: This is the opposite of the come bet, and it wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 after the come-out roll, or if they roll a 7 before the point number.
• Odds bet: This is an additional bet you can make after a point has been established. It pays out at true odds and has no house edge.
• Place bet: This is a bet that a specific number will be rolled before a 7.
• Field bet: This is a bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
• Big 6/Big 8 bet: This is a bet that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7.
• Hardways bet: This is a bet that a specific pair of numbers will be rolled before a 7.
• Proposition bets: These are bets on specific outcomes of the next roll, such as a certain number or combination of numbers.

Each of these bets has different odds and payouts, so it’s important to understand them before placing your bets. By familiarizing yourself with the different betting options in craps, you can increase your chances of winning big at the casino.

 

Tips and Strategies

In addition to understanding the basic rules of craps, there are a number of tips and strategies that can help increase your chances of winning. One important aspect of successful craps play is effective bankroll management. This means determining how much money you are willing to risk, setting win and loss limits, and sticking to them. It’s also important to choose the right bets. While there are a variety of bets available in craps, some have much better odds than others. For example, the pass line bet has a relatively low house edge of 1.41%, while proposition bets can have a house edge of 11% or higher.

Another strategy is to use betting progression methods, such as the Martingale system, where you increase your bet after a loss in order to recoup your losses and make a profit. However, it’s important to note that betting progression systems can be risky and may not always lead to a win. It’s important to approach craps with a clear understanding of the odds and a solid strategy in order to maximize your chances of success.

 

Common Mistakes when Playing Craps

It can be overwhelming for new players, and as a result, mistakes are common. Some common mistakes that new players often make include:

• Not understanding the rules: Before playing craps, it is essential to understand the rules of the game. Many new players jump into the game without fully understanding how it works, which can lead to costly mistakes.
• Placing too many bets: It can be tempting to place multiple bets at once, but this can quickly deplete your bankroll. It is important to choose your bets wisely and not overextend yourself.
• Chasing losses: Losing streaks happen in craps, but chasing your losses can lead to even bigger losses. It is essential to stick to your bankroll management plan and not make impulsive bets to try to recoup your losses.
• Following bad advice: There is a lot of advice out there on how to play craps, but not all of it is good. It is important to research and only follow advice from reputable sources.

To avoid these common mistakes, it is essential to take the time to learn the rules of the game and develop a solid strategy. Stick to your bankroll management plan, choose your bets wisely, and only follow advice from reputable sources.

 

Final Thoughts

Craps is a thrilling and exciting game that can be enjoyed by players of all skill levels. By understanding the rules, choosing your bets wisely, and developing a solid strategy, you can increase your chances of winning at the craps table. Remember to avoid common mistakes and only follow advice from reputable sources. With a little bit of practice and patience, you can master the game of craps and have a great time doing it.

If you’re a fan of games of chance and are looking for a thrilling experience, then craps might just be the perfect game for you. It’s a game of dice that is easy to learn but offers endless possibilities for strategy and skill. Practice at Sun Palace, Casino Max, or Slots Plus to later play craps for real money. Here you will learn how to play craps, find the best craps strategy and also how to win at craps