Here you can learn how to play craps and understand its rules.
Craps is perhaps the most exciting game in a casino, and certainly the most difficult to learn how to play. While the objective of the game is simple enough, there are many different betting options. They are worth learning, however, as craps can give one of the best returns on initial stakes.
The first throw of the dice in a game of craps is known as the “Come Out” roll. The player (or “shooter”) wins the round immediately if they throw a 7 or 11. If the shooter makes either 2, 3 or 12 (“craps”) then they immediately lose, and they surrender the dice to the next player. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the Point. The dealer places a marker above the corresponding Point number on the table.
The objective of craps is for the shooter to win by throwing the Point again before rolling a 7. If the shooter makes Point, he wins. If the throw is neither 7, nor Point, the shooter rolls again until either score comes up. Dice musthit the far wall of a craps table for the throw to be valid.
How to Make Bets in Craps
Craps has perhaps the most complicated betting system of any of the casino games. What follows is a short, and by no means comprehensive, guide to the commonest (and most sensible) bets. Novices are advised to watch a craps game or play an online demo of several rounds of craps before committing themselves to the table.
The simplest craps bet is called a Pass. Anyone at the table may place a bet on the Pass Line before the Come Out roll. This is a simple bet that the shooter will make point before rolling a 7. Pass bets pay out at evens (1-1). Players also win if the Come Out roll is 7 or 11.
Players may make the opposite to a Pass bet, called the Don’t Passbet. Players bet that the shooter will roll seven before they make Point. Similarly, they lose if the shooter makes 7 or 11 on the Come Out roll.
Come and Don’t Comebets are the same as Pass and Don’t Pass bets but they allow players to place bets after the Come Out (first) roll.
Odds bets allow a player to place a back-up bet on any of the above bets that have already been placed on the table. Casinos tend to limit the amounts of odds bets to around three times the original bet. The advantage of odds bets is that the payout involves no house edgefor the casino: in other words, the payout reflects the true odds.
Pass odds and Come Odds pay out at:
- 2-1 on rolls of 4 or 10
- 3-2 on rolls of 5 or 9
- 6-5 on 6 or 8.
Don’t Pass Odds and Don’t Come odds offer the opposite odds i.e. pay out at 1-2 for 4’s and 10’s etc.
Learning Craps – Place Number Bets
Place number bets are bets that a particular number will come up before a 7 is thrown. This is very risky and only people feeling very lucky or very rich will make place number bets.
Learning Craps – Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are bets that a particular number will come up next throw.
Now you understand the rules for playing craps you are ready to begin. However, to learn how to play craps like a professional, visit our Craps Hints and Tips page.