Craps Rules and Craps Basics
Craps is a casino dice game that involves a great deal of action and strategy, both with money and the dice with simple Craps Rules . Craps is a casino table game played with two dice, a board, and chips to place bets. A game of craps is conducted in rounds. The goal of Craps is to correctly predict the shooter’s dice value. The goal of Craps is to correctly predict the shooter’s dice value.
It’s a simple game with only a few basic bets to learn, namely the “passline” and “don’t passline“, to get started playing Craps. However, there are over 40 other Craps bets to consider, some of which are more complicated than others.
The game begins with players making bets on the first roll of the dice, known as the ‘come-out roll‘. The come-out roll can have three different outcomes:
- If the player rolls 7 or 11 (known as a ‘natural‘) during come-out, the pass bets win.
- If the player rolls 2, 3, or 12 (also called ‘craps‘) during come-out, the don’t pass bets win.
- If the player rolls any other number (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the point.
To assist players in following the game, the dealer will place a puck on the point number on the craps table and then collect additional bets. The puck is a round disk with the word “off” on one side and “on” on the opposite. The point number is the number that the shooter is trying to make before seven rolls. If seven rolls before the point, we call that a “seven out”. The shooter loses control of the dice and gives the dice to the next shooter.
How to play Craps Step by Step Guide
The game begins with players making bets on the first roll of the dice, known as the COME-OUT ROLL. A craps player must choose whether they think the dice will land on a combined 7 or 11 to win (PASS THE LINE) or lose by landing on a 2, 3 or 12 (DON’T PASS BAR).
Dealer takes all pass bets and add them to the craps table.
The shooter starts the craps game with the first roll of the dice, known as the COMEOUT ROLL.
If the dice land on 7 or 11, pass line bettors win their wager. Alternately, if the dice land on a combined 2, 3 or 12, don’t pass bettors win. Any other numbers the dice land on establishes a POINT on the craps table, and the game continues.
Once a point (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) is set on the craps table, craps players can bet on the dice landing the point, landing on different numbers, or losing completely by landing on 7.
The shooter rolls the dice until they land a 7 or the point. If the shooter lands the point, they remain as the shooter in the next craps game. If they roll a 7, the shooter ‘sevens out’ and a new craps player becomes the shooter.
Craps Game Glossary
There are numerous terms that are individual to craps, and others that are general terms for casino games, which need to be known in order to play the game with as much concentration as possible.
- Come Bet – Betting with the shooter after the come out roll (the opposite of a Don’t Come bet)
- Come Out Roll – The first roll of the dice that results in either a WIN (7 or 11), a LOSS (2, 3, or 12), or a point number being established (any other number).
- Crap Out – Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out bet, resulting in an immediate loss for the player and for Pass Line bettors.
- Hardway – A result made from two matching numbers on the dice (a hard 8 is an 8 made of two 4s, for example). A Hardway bet is a high-risk bet on such a result.
- Hi-Lo – A bet on a 2 or a 12.
- Hot Streak – A shooter who has thrown several winning rolls in a row.
- House Edge – The advantage the casino has over the player, normally shown as a percentage.
- Natural – A roll of 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, resulting in an instant WIN for the player and Pass Line bettors.
- Parlay – Keeping winnings in place to repeat your bet on the next roll.
- Pass Line – The part of the table used to make Pass Line bets, also known as the Front Line.
- Pass Line Bet – Betting along with the shooter, you win if they win (the opposite of a Don’t Pass bet).
- Place Numbers – The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
- Point – A target number established on the come-out roll, this can be 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. To win, the shooter must roll the point again before rolling a 7.
- Seven Out – Rolling a seven after establishing a point, but before the repeating the point, resulting in a LOSS and the dice moving to the next shooter.
- Snake Eyes – Rolling a 2 (1 and 1).
- Shooter – The player rolling the dice.
- Wrong Bettor – Someone betting against the shooter using Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bets.
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Craps Table Layout
To learn how to play craps and develop a winning strategy, you must first become familiar with the craps table layout.
A regular craps table contains two sides with the same pattern on the left and right. There is no difference in gaming between the two sides; rather, it is constructed this way to allow more players to participate in a single game of craps at the same time. That way, two dealers can manage the bets on the craps table when the game gets busy.
Craps Side Sections
Each side section of the craps table layout features two areas, the self-service area, and the dealer’s area. The self-service area of the side section features several bets, including Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Field, Come and Don’t Come. Some craps table layouts could also feature the Big 6 or the Big 8 bets.
PASS LINE
Pass line bets are placed in this section of the craps table. If a player thinks the shooter will land a combined 7 or 11 on the dice, the dealer will place these wagers in the pass line box.
DON’T PASS BAR
Don’t Pass Bar Bets are placed in this section of the craps table. If a player thinks the shooter will land a combined 2,3 or 12 on the dice, the dealer will place these wagers in Don’t Pass Bar.
THE FIELD
The Field sections display a set of numbers, including 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. You are betting on whether the shooter lands those numbers on a single roll of the dice. You have the chance of doubling your money on this section of the craps table if you place a wager on the dice landing on 2 or 12.
COME & DON’T COME
The Come and Don’t Come sections on a craps table layout operates in a similar manner to the pass line bets. However, these bets can only be made AFTER the pass line bets. If you believe the shooter will roll a 7 or 11, you must to place your wager in the Come box. If you believe the shooter will roll a 2 or 3 on his/her next roll, you can place your bet in the Don’t Come box.
THE PLACE
Players can bet ‘Place To Win‘ wagers on the shooter landing a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 before they land a 7. These bets are added in The Place and can be made at any time in the game. If you think the shooter will land a 7 before any of the these numbers, then you are making a ‘Place to Lose’ bet. This is also added to The Place on the craps table.
CENTRE SECTION
The middle of the craps table is shared by all players in a craps game who can add here their proposition bets. These are single-roll bets made on the odds of dice faces landing on a specific pattern.
Craps Odds and Probabilities
Odds describes the number of times something won’t happen next to the number of times it will happen. Craps is played with a pair of dice. These are six sided dice so there are 6 possible outcomes. Two dice gives you 36 (6*6) possible combinations when you roll them.
There are 11 possible outcomes but 36 possible combinations that add up to those outcomes. These range from 2 (snake eyes) to 12 (box cars).
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Craps Betting Tips
As a game of chance, there’s no real strategy involved. Although you can choose the level of risk you want to take, which affects your odds of winning.
These tips are mostly targeted at novices to the game, although there is plenty of advises for more experienced players as well.
Focus on the Fun
If you concentrate on having a good time and only play with money you can afford to lose, you should have a good time regardless of the outcome.
Use Online Casinos to Learn the Game
The basic rules of craps are simple, but the game complicated somewhat by all the different types of bets available. If you’re new at craps, the easiest way to learn is to play at an online casino. Most online casinos offer a play-for-free option, which is Ideal for learning the game, as well as lucrative bonuses and prizes for depositing and playing with real money.
Decide on your Bankroll
When playing any casino games, you should decide how much of your bankroll you can commit across multiple sessions. Never bet money you can’t afford to lose!
Use Smaller Bet Units
Determining the size of your bet units (the amount you wager per bet) largely depends on the size of your starting bankroll. Even if your initial bankroll is high, it’s crucial to note that you should avoid using higher bet units. Craps is a game where money can be won and lost quickly.
Check the Betting Limits
Most online casinos will let players adjust the betting limits in a craps game. These can be changed for low stakes or high stakes players, but make sure you do it before the game begins. Otherwise, you risk losing money in an online Craps game.
Familiarize Yourself with Craps Rules and Different Bets
Don’t rush into complex bets straight away. Stick with Pass and Come bets for as long as is necessary to get your bearings. Avoid Proposition Bets!
Pick a Strategy
There are a variety of craps strategies available. Some work great for novices, while others are suitted for high rollers. Each strategy has its own advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the right option for you should rely solely on your willingness to take risk, and most importantly, the size of your bankroll and how much you can risk losing.
Take Full Advantage of Bonuses
Whether you’re playing craps online or in a live casino, you should always try to maximize any additional value you’re entitled to. Online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players. Online you’ll have also the opportunity to claim bonuses on some of your deposits, and you may be able to earn additional rewards based on your play.
Collect Your Winnings
If you don’t collect your winnings after each roll, they will be parlayed into the next roll.
Set a Time Limit for Yourself
Setting a time limit for your gaming sessions is always a good idea. When your time is up, you leave the table, and that’s the end of it. This is the most effective way to cut your losses short if your luck isn’t on your side, as well as to protect your winnings once you’ve made them.
Read More About Craps Bet Types and Craps Payout Table
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