Beginner's Craps Guide

Craps Guide

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A Quick History of Craps

Many gaming historians believe the game of craps developed out of an old English dice game (Hazard) that French settlers brought to New Orleans with them in the early 1800s. It evolved into a street game in America, played on pavements and back streets, before casinos codified the rules.

Craps is a casino floor favourite today and nowhere is this more evident than in Las Vegas, where cheers and shouts will often be heard around the craps tables. Digital and live dealer versions are available at online casinos as well, to bring the excitement to your screen.

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How Craps Works (Game Flow)

In craps, the shooter rolls two dice, and players wager on each dice roll or a series of rolls. The basic flow is simple: each round starts with a comeout roll before the game moves on to later outcomes.

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Step 1: Come-Out Roll

·     The come-out roll is the first roll of a round.

·     If the shooter throws 7 or 11: pass line wins.

·     Shooter rolls 2, 3, or 12: pass line loses (called craps).

·     Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) becomes the point if there is no immediate decision on the first roll.

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Step 2: The Point Phase

·     Once a point is established, the shooter continues to roll, and each throw after that is a subsequent roll.

·     If the shooter can roll the point again before a 7, Pass Line bets win; the same number is what matters, not the exact dice combination, and the point is made.

·     If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point number, Pass Line bets lose. (seven out).

That’s the whole game flow! Everything else is just variations of these bets.

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Beginner-Friendly Bets

Pass Line Bet (The Core Bet)

Put your chip on the Pass Line, one of the standard pass bets, if you do so before the come-out roll.

·     Wins on 7 or 11. Loses on 2, 3, or 12.

·     Point is on, wins if the shooter makes the point before a 7.

·     House edge: about 1.41%.

It is the most beginner-friendly place to make your first bet.

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Don’t Pass Bet (The opposite of the other bet)

·     Win if the come-out roll is 2 or 3.

·     Push (tie) on 12.

·     Loses on 7 or 11.

·     After a point is established, this is the opposite of the pass and wins if the shooter fails to make the point before 7.

·     House edge: about1.36%.

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Odds Bet (best bet in the Casino)

After a point has been established, you can place an Odds Bet behind your Pass or Don’t Pass bet.

·     This wager has a house edge of zero, and it is paid at true odds.

·     Example: If the point is 6, the odds pay 6:5. Ifit’s 4, odds pay 2:1.

·     If you can afford it, always take Odds Bets.

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Come Bet (Like a New Pass Line)

Functions exactly the same way as a Pass Line bet, but after a point is established.

·     Establishes its own mini-point, creating a come bet point after the initial result; you then want that come point to repeat before a 7.

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Don’t Come Bet

·     Just like Don’t Pass, but laid after the point is established.

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Other Bets (Beginner Warning)

·     Field Bets: One-roll bets on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12, settled on the next roll only. Tempting, but the house edge is bigger, and some tables pay double on selected numbers depending on the rules.

·     Place Bets: Bet that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will come up before 7.

·     Proposition Bets (centre of the table):These are one-roll bets (for example, Snake Eyes and Yo-11), and include hop bets on a precise dice combination on the very next roll. Fun, but terrible odds. Beginners should avoid.

A hardway bet needs a pair such as 4-4, and loses if the easy version or a 7 appears first.

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Craps Odds & House Edge (simplified view)

·     Pass Line: 1.41%

·     Don’t Pass: 1.36%

·     Come/Don’t Come: Same as above

·     Odds: 0% (true odds)

·     Field: 2.7–5.5% depending on payouts
The bet pays differently from table to table, especially when special double-pay rules on 2 or 12 are in use.

·     Proposition bets: Up to 16%

Best long-term play, stick to Pass Line + Odds.