Craps can be one of the most intimidating games in the world - unless you know what you are doing!
Many players never learn to play Craps as it looks so intimidating. However, Craps is not as confusing as it looks, so don't worry! Plus, with a house edge of just 1.41% on certain bets, it is a very good game to learn to play!
Craps - the basics
The first thing to understand about Craps is that it is a game of rounds. At the top of the Craps table (see image below) you can see a small grey chip that says 'Off'. This signifies that a new round is about to begin. The first roll in a round is called a 'come out roll'. If the come out roll totals a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12, then that immediately ends the round. If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, then that number becomes 'the point'. You will see that the small grey chip moves above the point number on the board. It also turns white, and says 'on'. Now, the dice is rolled continuously until the point number is rolled again, or a seven is rolled.
The craps table may look intimidating, but in reality is very simple
The best place to start in Craps (there are 40 different bets!) is to learn how to make a 'passline bet'. This bet has the best odds on the Craps table, so is well worth knowing!
Craps - the passline bet
Place your bet on the passline before the 'come out' roll. If the shooter roolls a 7 or 11, you win outright. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the 'point'. The shooter must roll that number again before a seven is rolled. If that happens, you win even money. If a seven is rolled before the point number is rolled again, you loose.
Craps - other bets
Once the point has been rolled, you can bet up to two times your original bet on the pass line. This is basically just an extra bet that that the point will be rolled before a seven. The odds vary on what the point number is as follows;
Buying the odds
Point
Odds
Bet
Win
Total Winnings
4 or 10
2:1
$5
$10
$15
5 or 9
3:2
$5
$7.50
$12.50
6 or 8
6:5
$5
$6
$11
This is like the opposite of the 'Buying the odds' bet. You are essentially wanting a 7 to be rolled before the point. The payout odds are as follows:
Laying the odds
Point
Odds
Bet
Win
Total Winnings
4 or 10
1:2
$5
$2.50
$7.50
5 or 9
2:3
$5
$3.33
$8.33
6 or 8
6:5
$5
$4.17
$9.17
Don't pass
The Don't Pass is like the opposite of the Pass Line bet. If the Come out roll is a 2 or a 3 then you win. If it is a 7 or 11 you will loose. A 12 is a push, and your bet will be returned. If any other number is rolled, then the point is set, and the dice are rolled until the point or a seven is hit. If a seven comes out before the point, you win.
Come
The Come bet is the same as the Pass line bet, but may be made at any time after the point has been rolled. To place a Come bet, you place your chips on the Come area before the roll. If the delaer rolls a 7 now, it pays evens. If a 2, 3, 11 or 12 is rolled, then you loose your bet. If another number is rolled, then that number becomes the point for that bet. That number must be rolled again before a 7 is rolled to win.
If the main point is thrown, and there are still active Come bets on the table waiting for a different point, then special rules apply for the following come out roll. The comeout roll will still apply to active bets, but it will not apply to their respective odds bets. In the event a come bet is resolved on a come out roll, then the odds will be returned, and he original bet will be lost.
Don't Come
Similar to the Pass/Don't pass, the Don't come bet is almost te opposite to the Come bet . If a 2 or a 3 is rolled, you win. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, you loose. 12 is a draw. If any other number is rolled, it becomes the 'Come point'. You win if a 7 is rolled before the come point.
Place number bets
You may bet on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The number must be rolled before a 7 or the bet is lost. You can remove these bets at any point, and they are only 'in play' when a point has been set.
Buy bets
Simialr to a Place bet, the player buys any on the points (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10). The number must be rolled before a 7 is rolled to win. These bets carry a 4% commision.
Lay bets
This is the opposte to the buy bet. Lay bets can be placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You are betting that a 7 will be rolled before your chosen number. Again, there is a 4% commission on winnings.
Hard Ways
There are four different hard way bets. Hard Way reffers to rolling a number. For example, hard six would be a roll of a pair of 3's to add up to six. This is because it is harder to roll a three and a three than it is to roll a 5 and a 1 (for instance). You can bet on hard 4, 6, 8 or 10. You must roll whichever number you choose before a 7 is rolled, or the number is rolled using a different combination (for example if you wer betting on Hard 8, you would lose if a 6 and 2 were rolled).
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