At casinos the game of Craps is by far one of the most intimidating
for the novice. All the untrained eye sees is a collection of
players playing with great enthusiasm, chips of all denominations
being placed, moved and removed with alarming speed, and too
many betting options for the new player to completely understand.
There is a great deal of competition between the various casinos
for big money players, who often play Craps. The casinos do
not want to lose these big money players.
They would sooner have a small percentage of the large wagers
placed by these high rollers than lose them to other casinos
that give better odds. This has resulted in the casinos permitting
the game of Craps to have some of the best odds for the player
of any casino game. Rules Of The Game
For the dice thrower (shooter) the object of the game is to
throw a 7 or an 11 on the first roll (a win) and avoid throwing
a 2, 3 or 12 (a loss). If none of these numbers (2, 3, 7, 11
or 12) is thrown on the first throw (the Come-out roll) then
a Point is established (the point is the number rolled) against
which the shooter plays. The shooter continues to throw until
one of two numbers is thrown, the Point number or a Seven. If
the shooter rolls the Point before rolling a Seven he/she wins,
however if the shooter throws a Seven before rolling the Point
he/she loses. Betting on the game is not restricted to the shooter.
While the shooter must place a wager in order to roll the dice,
anyone can place a bet on the outcome of the toss. Players can
bet for the shooter to win or against the shooter (with the
house) saying he/she will lose. There are a large variety of
wagers that can be made, this variety plus the speed of the
game is a large part of the attraction of Craps.
Playing The Game
Four casino employees supervise the Craps game in a
casino. They are:
. Dealers (two) who settle bets, assist the players and keep
track of the action at the table.
. Stickman (one) who assists the dealers, controls the dice,
minds the center table bets and keeps the game lively.
. Boxman (one) who guards the casinos chips, ensures proper
payoffs, and is on guard for cheats. He keeps a sharp eye on
the dice and also makes sure that there is no collusion between
the dealers and players.
The first thing to do if you want to play Craps is to place
a bet.
For some players this is all they want to do. A player can
bet no matter whom the shooter is (you can wager for the shooter
to win or for the house to win) they don't have to roll the
dice themselves to wager. If you don't want to roll the dice
you simply decline the offer when the dealer offers you the
chance and the dealer will move on to the next player at the
table.
Assuming that you want to throw the dice, you have placed
a bet, and it is your turn the dealer will slide 5 or 6 dice
to you. From these you pick two dice (any two), these are
the ones you will play with.
The shooter then throws the dice for the first time. In order
to prevent cheating the casino insists that:
1. Prior to rolling the dice the shooter keeps them
over the table and handles them only with one hand. This
eliminates the possibility of the dice being switched
for another set.
2. When the shooter does roll the dice he/she must throw
them hard enough that they bounce off the far end of the
table. This is the only way that you can be sure that
a “true” roll has occurred. In the event that
you throw the dice too hard and they bounce off the table
the dealer will simply slide more dice over to you and
you can start over again.
On the first roll if the shooter throws a 7 or 11 then he/she
wins, and if he/she throws a 2, 3 or 12 the shooter loses. If
none of these numbers (2, 3, 7, 11 or 12) is thrown on the first
throw (the Come-out roll) then a Point is established against
which the shooter plays. The shooter continues to throw the
dice until either the Point or a Seven is thrown, no other number
is important in determining winning or losing. If the shooter
rolls the Point before rolling a Seven he/she wins, however
if the shooter throws a Seven before rolling the Point he/she
loses.
The shooter continues to roll either Come-out rolls or Point
rolls until they lose their bet. Then the dealer passes the
dice to the next shooter (clockwise around the table).
Betting Options
In Craps there are many different ways to bet. They can
be divided into three general categories:
Basic Bets are the most basic and popular of the
betting options and the easiest to understand.
Odds Bets These are additional bets that cane be
made after the shooter establishes a Point. Odds bets are
excellent wagers for the player. You can lose more, but
you can also increase your winnings. By taking or laying
these odds the player reduces the casino's advantage.
3. One Roll Bets These wagers are decided on one roll
of the dice. One roll, the next roll, will decide if you win
or lose.
A further variation is that players can bet with the shooter
or with the house (against the shooter).
Basic Bets
There are two basic bets (made before or after the Come-out
roll) with two variations (betting for the shooter or against
the shooter) for a total of four.
Pass Line Bets / Don't Pass Bets are made before
the Come-out roll is made. Pass Line bets are for the shooter
while the Don't Pass bets are bets against the shooter
Come Bets / Don't Come Bets are made after the Come-out
roll, this is the only difference from Pass Line bets and
Don't Pass bets. The bets pay the same and have the same odds.
Note that the Point for the come bet is not the same as the
Point for the Pass Line bet. If you are unsure if the toss
is a Come-out roll look for a large white disc, which is placed
on one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the table layout.
This disc lets you know that the Point has been established,
what it is, and that the next rolls will be Point rolls.
These wagers pay in the following manner:
Come-out Roll
Pass Line / Come Bet
Don't Pass / Don't
Come Bet
7 or 11
Win (even money)
Lose
2, 3 or
12
Lose
Lose
Win (even money)
Tie
4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 – Point is established
If the shooter rolls the Point before rolling a 7
If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the Point
Win (even money)
Lose
Lose
Win (even money)
Odds Bets
Also called free odds contain no advantage for the house
over the player. For this reason they are excellent wagers
for the player.
Pass Line Odds Bets / Come Bet Odds Bets are made after you
make a wager on the Pass Line. Then if a Point is rolled, you
can back up your bet by taking (betting on the shooter) the
odds on the Point.
Point Rolled
Pass Line Odds
Bet / Come Bet Odds Bet
4 or 10
Pays 2 to 1 (a $5 bet pays $10)
5 or 9
Pays 3 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $9)
6 or 8
Pays 6 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $6)
* Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the
correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds
down on uneven payoffs.
Don't Pass Odds Bets / Don't Come Odds Bets are made
after you make a wager on a Don't Pass. Then if a Point is rolled,
you can back up your bet by laying (betting against the shooter)
the odds on the Point.
Point Rolled
Don't Pass Odds
Bet / Don't Come Odds Bet
4 or 10
Pays 1 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $3)
5 or 9
Pays 2 to 3 (a $6 bet pays $4)
6 or 8
Pays 5 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $5)
* These bets should be made in multiples of $6 to ensure
a proper payoff.
Place Bets are made on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8,
9 or 10 and have nothing to do with the Point number. Once
made a Place bet is always on except for the Come-out roll
when they are always off, unless you tell the dealer differently.
A Place bet is determined in the following manner.
If a 7 is rolled before your Place number – you lose.
If your Place number is rolled before a 7 – you win.
Point Rolled
Place Bet
4 or 10
Pays 9 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $9)
5 or 9
Pays 7 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $7)
6 or 8
Pays 7 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $7)
* Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the
correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds
down on uneven payoffs.
Buy Bets are made on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or
10 similar to Place bets but with different (true) odds. Again
you are betting that the shooter will roll your number before
he/she rolls a 7. A Buy bet is determined in the following manner.
If a 7 is rolled before your Buy number – you lose.
If your Buy number is rolled before a 7 – you win.
On Buy bets the casino charges a five percent service charge
on the value of your bet in multiples of $1 (a $10 bet will
cost you $11).
Point Rolled
Buy Bet
4 or 10
Pays 2 to 1 (a $5 bet pays $10)
5 or 9
Pays 3 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $9)
6 or 8
Pays 6 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $6)
* Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the
correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds
down on uneven payoffs.
Lay Bets are the opposite of Buy bets. You are betting
the shooter will roll a 7 before your Lay number of 4, 5, 6,
8, 9 or 10.
If your Lay number is rolled before a 7 – you lose.
If a 7 is rolled before your Lay number – you win.
Point Rolled
Lay Bet
4 or 10
Pays 1 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $3)
5 or 9
Pays 2 to 3 (a $6 bet pays $4)
6 or 8
Pays 7 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $7)
* Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the
correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds
down on uneven payoffs.
As with Buy bets the casino charges a five percent service.
However, now the charge is based on your potential winnings
in multiples of $1 (a $40 bet on the 4 would pay $20, 5% of
$20 is $1, so it will cost you $41).
Big Six or Big Eight Bets pay even money if you win.
If a 7 is rolled before a 6 or an 8 – you lose.
If a 6 or an 8 is rolled before a 7 – you win.
Hard Four Bets or Hard Ten Bets are different bets,
but are won in a similar manner and payoff the same. Hard Four
can be rolled only one way (2, 2), and Hard Ten only rolled
one way (5, 5). You are betting that the shooter will roll a
Hard Four or a Hard Ten (whichever you have chosen) before seven,
and before any other combination of four (for Hard Four) or
ten (for Hard Ten). They both pay 7 to 1.
Hard Six Bets or Hard Eight Bets are different bets,
but are won in a similar manner and payoff the same. Hard Six
can be rolled only one way (3, 3), and Hard Eight only rolled
one way (4, 4). You are betting that the shooter will roll a
Hard Six or a Hard Eight (whichever you have chosen) before
seven, and before any other combination of six (for Hard Six)
or eight (for Hard Eight). They both pay 9 to 1.
One Roll Bets
These wagers are decided on the next roll of
the dice, the next roll decides if you win or lose.
Field Bets are popular
because seven outcomes will win (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12) can
win, while only four (5, 6, 7 or 8) can lose. This bet usually
pays even money but sometimes a casino pays 2 to 1 or 3 to 1
when a 2 or a 12 is rolled.
Any Seven Bets are made
when you bet the next roll will be a 7. The payoff is 4 to 1. Any Craps Bets are made when you bet
the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. The payoff is 7 to 1. Two Bets are for the next roll to be a
2. The payoff is 30 to 1. Twelve Bets are for the next roll to be
a 12. The payoff is 30 to 1. Three Bets are for the next roll to be
a 3. The payoff is 15 to 1. Eleven Bets
are for the next roll to be an 11. The payoff is 15 to 1. Craps Eleven (also called a Horn Bet) is made
when you are betting that a 2, 3, 11 or 12 will show on the
next roll. The payoffs are:
Point Rolled
Craps Eleven
2
pays 30 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $30)
3
Pays 15 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $15)
11
Pays 15 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $15)
12
Pays 30 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $30)
Placing Bets
As well as knowing all of the various bets in
Craps you also have to know how to place your wagers. There
are different methods of placing bets depending on the wager
you are making.
Basic Bets
Pass Line Bets- To make this wager you place your chips anywhere
within the Pass Line boundaries. Don't Pass
Bets – Place your chips anywhere in the Don't Pass
section of the layout. Come Bet
- Place your chips anywhere in the Come area of the layout.
Don't Come Bets - Place your chips
anywhere in the Don't Come section of the layout.
Odds Bets
Pass Line Odds Bets –
To make this bet you place your additional chips an inch or
two behind your original Pass-Line bet, making sure that they
are outside of the Pass Line betting area. Don't
Pass Odds Bets – To make this bet you place your
additional chips immediately adjacent to your Don't Pass bet,
or on top of your Don't Pass bet at a slight offset. Come
Bet Odds Bets – For this wager you drop your chips
in front of the dealer and say “Odds on my Come Point”. The
dealer will then place your chips on top of and slightly out
of line with your Come bet. Don't Come Odds
Bets - For this wager you drop your chips in front
of the dealer and say “Odds on my Don't Come”. The dealer will
then place your bet in the Don't Come section of the box just
above the Don't Come Point. Place Bets
– To make this bet lay your chips down in front of the dealer
and say, “Place the Six (or other number), please”. Buy
Bets - To make this bet lay your chips down in
front of the dealer and say “Buy the Eight (or other number),
please”. Lay Bets – To make this
bet pass the dealer your chips and say “Lay the odds on the
Six (or other number)”. The dealer will place your chips on
the Don't Come section of the number you request. Big
Six or Big Eight Bets – You can make this bet yourself
by placing you wager in the Big Six or Big Eight section of
the table layout. Hard Four or Hard Ten Bets
– To make these bets you pass your chips to the stickman (he
controls all bets in the center of the table). Hard
Six or Hard Eight Bets – To make these bets you
pass your chips to the stickman (he controls all bets in the
center of the table).
One Roll Bets
All of these bets are made through the stickman,
except for the Field bet which you can place for yourself.
