How to Play craps

This game is lively and full of excitement. Hearing people shout at a craps table even in the best casinos is not so uncommon a sight. Craps is a casino table game played with two dice. So, the range of the dice rolls in craps game ranges from 2 to 12.

There are some rules that govern the use of the dice in this game. The dice is made following strict codse. A regular inspection of the dice is done to maintain quality. To play craps legitimately, you should follow these rules and instructions:

Rules of the dice uses

In casino games the dice are replaced after every 8 hours of play.

The dice must be handled by one hand only, when throwing.

The dice must hit the walls on the opposite end of the table.

If one or both dice fall off the table, the stickman must inspect the dice before commissioning the fallen dice for casino games again.

Play craps

A craps game begins with come out roll. The first dice roll in a betting round is also called the come out roll. The come out roll can be made only, if shooter fails to make a winning roll, i.e, fails to make seven out or the point.

If a shooter fails to make point, the dice is given to the next player on the table for a new come out roll. This casino game thus proceeds in a clockwise manner.

The dice are thrown to hit on the opposite wall, crossing the craps table in length.

Craps table layout

Craps table is quite elaborate. It has to give room to many bets to give room to and accommodate many players. So, in essence one craps table holds two craps tables in itself. If divided in two halves from the center, both sides will look just as mirror reflections of each other. Maximum 20 players can try their luck on a craps table at any given time. Each one has this option to either throw the dice or to bet on the thrower.

A. Pass line

B. Come box

C. Don't pass bar

D. Don't come bar

E. Field bet

F. Big 6 or 8

G. Place bet

H. Proposition bets

Refer to types of bets section for details.

Casino crew

The casino crew for a craps game consists of

• One stickman
• One boxman
• Two dealers

Where to sit in craps

Pass line

Pass line bet is the basic bet in craps with a house advantage of just 1.41%. This can be said to be the best bet in craps. In this bet, players place their wagers thinking that the dice will pass or point will get repeated before seven-out occurs.

Pass line bet

House advantage - 1.41%

Rolls

Result

7, 11

win

2, 3, 12

lose

4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10

this becomes point

if the point is repeated before a 7 is rolled

win

if 7 is rolled before the point is made

lose

Pass line bet is placed in pass line area

Come bet

This is a virtual pass line bet but placed only after the point is established. It is used less frequently than the pass line or don’t pass bets.

Come bet

House advantage - 1.41%

Rolls

Result

7, 11

win

2, 3, 12

lose

If the point is rolled the come bet is moved on the number occurred and if the number is repeated before 7, the player wins and loses the bet if 7 comes before repeating.

Don’t pass bet

This is the opposite of pass line bet.

Don’t pass bet

House advantage - 1.40%

Rolls

Result

2, 3

win

7, 11

lose

12

push or a bar (tie)

12 has been taken out from the equation to prevent the player from having edge over the house.

Don't come bet

This is a very small area on the table and is rarely used. And just like don’t pass line bet, it has also been taken out from the equation.

Don’t come bet

House advantage - 1.40%

Rolls

Result

2, 3

win

7, 11

lose

12

push or a bar (tie)

If the point is rolled the come bet is moved on the number occurred and if 7 is rolled before the number is repeated, the player wins while he loses the bet if the number repeats before a 7-out

Field bet

As shown in the picture, the field area is a fairly large one. In this the house edge is 5.56%.

Field bet

House advantage - 5.56%

Rolls

Result

2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12

win if the chips are in field area

75, 6, 7 or 8

lose if the chips are in field area

12

push or a bar (tie)

Field bets are won or lost on one roll of the dice.

Big 6 & big 8

Big 6 and 8 have got a decent place on the table layout. The casino has 9.09% house edge. These bets can be placed anytime.

The player wins if 6 or 8 comes before 7 is rolled. Big 6 and 8 are even bets. Payout ratio is 1:1.

Place bet

If you are learning how to play craps, you should remember that place bet is one of the best bets in casino craps games. This bet is placed only after the point is established. The place bets can be placed only on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The player wins if the number he wagered on comes before a 7 comes.

Number

Payoff

Correct payoff

House edge

4

9-5

2-1

6.67%

5

7-5

3-2

4.00%

6

7-6

6-5

1.52%

8

7-6

6-5

1.52%

9

7-5

3-2

4.00%

10

9-5

2-1

6.67%

Proposition bets

These bets come in various hues and can be made any time. And except for hardways bet, these bets are one roll bets. The following chart will show, when the player can win. In this bet the house advantage ranges from 2 – 17%

Type

Win if

Payoff

2, 3 or 12

8:1

7

5:1

11

16:1

3

16:1

2 or 12

30:1

Horn bet

This is a one-roll propositional bet. It acts as four bets, bets on 2, 3, 11 and 12, at once. The player wins if one of these numbers is rolled. Payoff is based on the usual odds for the rolled numbers and the other three bets are lost.

Hardways

Hardways bet is unlike other propositional bets. This is not a one-roll bet. When wagering on hardways, the player bets on hardway number and wins if it’s rolled hard (sum of pairs 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, or 6-6) before a 7 or an easy is rolled.