Craps is a popular dice game often played in casinos and informal settings. The game’s goal is to predict the outcome of the roll of two six-sided dice. This guide will cover the fundamental rules, gameplay, and strategies to help you feel confident at the craps table.
The Basics
- The Shooter: The game starts with the shooter, the player rolling the dice. Every player at the table will have a chance to roll the dice during the game.
- Come-Out Roll: The initial roll of the game is called the come-out roll. A new round begins with this roll.
The Rolls and Bets
- Natural Roll and Craps Numbers: If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, it’s called a ‘Natural,’ and the shooter wins. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, it’s called ‘Craps,’ and the shooter loses.
- The Point: Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) establishes the ‘Point.’ The shooter keeps rolling until they roll the point number again or a 7. Rolling the point results in a win, while rolling a 7 results in a loss.
Types of Bets
- Pass Line Bet: Players bet that the shooter will win; this is the most common bet in craps.
- Don’t Pass Line Bet: This is the opposite of a pass line bet. Players bet that the shooter will lose.
- Come Bet: Similar to the pass line bet but made after the point has been established.
- Don’t Come Bet: This is placed after the point and is opposite to the come bet.
Strategy Tips
- Bankroll Management: Determine how much money you are willing to lose before starting.
- Bet Types for Beginners: Stick to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets as these have the lowest house edge.
- Odds Bets: Once a point is established, consider placing an odds bet to take advantage of the lowest house edge in the game.
Detailed Gameplay
- The Come-Out Roll:
- On the come-out roll, if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, they achieve a ‘Natural,’ and everyone who bet on the ‘Pass Line’ wins.
- If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (known as ‘Craps’), everyone who bet on the ‘Pass Line’ loses.
- Rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes a point, which the shooter then aims to hit again before rolling a 7.
- Establishing the Point:
- If a point is established, the dealer places a puck marked “On” on that number on the craps table.
- The shooter then continues to roll the dice until they either roll the point number again (a win for ‘Pass Line’ bettors) or roll a 7 (a win for ‘Don’t Pass Line’ bettors).
Types of Bets (Detailed)
- Pass Line Bet:
- This is the most straightforward and most common bet in craps. Players bet that the shooter will win on the initial roll (come-out roll) by rolling a 7 or 11, or will win by rolling the point number before rolling a 7.
- Don’t Pass Line Bet:
- This is essentially betting against the shooter. Players win if the come-out roll is a 2 or 3, lose if it is a 7 or 11, and push (neither win nor lose) if it is a 12. If a point is established, players win if a 7 is rolled before the point number.
- Come Bet:
- Similar to the pass line bet, but can be placed at any time after the point is established. The first roll after placing a come bet behaves like a come-out roll, establishing a ‘come-point’ which must then be rolled again before a 7 for the bet to win.
- Don’t Come Bet:
- Similar to the don’t pass line bet but placed at any time after the point is established. The next roll must be a 2 or 3 for an immediate win, 7 or 11 for an immediate loss, and a 12 for a push. If any other number rolls, the ‘come-point’ is established, and a 7 must be rolled before the come-point for the bet to win.
Odds Bets
- Taking the Odds on Pass Line Bet:
- After a point is established, players can place an additional bet behind their original Pass Line bet. This bet has no house edge and pays true odds if the point is rolled before a 7.
- Laying the Odds on Don’t Pass Line Bet:
- Similarly, players can bet additional money behind their Don’t Pass Line bet. Here, players bet that a 7 will be rolled before the point.
Additional Bets
- Place Bets:
- Players can bet on specific numbers being rolled before a 7. These bets can be made anytime.
- Buy Bets:
- Similar to place bets, but with a commission paid to the casino in exchange for true odds payouts.
- Lay Bets:
- Players bet that a 7 will roll before a specific point number, usually including a commission fee.
- Field Bets:
- A one-roll bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Winning rolls usually pay even money, except 2 and 12, which often pay double.
- Big 6 and Big 8:
- Bets that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. These bets usually pay even money.
Craps Etiquette
- Always handle your chips with only one hand.
- Do not call out bets while the shooter has the dice.
- Try to be respectful and avoid interrupting the game flow.
Detailed Examples of Each Betting Type in Craps
Pass Line Bet Example
- The come-out roll is a 7. Pass Line bets win.
- The come-out roll is an 11. Pass Line bets win.
- The come-out roll is a 4. A ‘point’ is established. The shooter continues to roll.
- If the shooter rolls a 4 again before rolling a 7, Pass Line bets win.
- If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling a 4, Pass Line bets lose.
Don’t Pass Line Bet Example
- The come-out roll is a 2 or 3. Don’t Pass Line bets win.
- The come-out roll is a 7 or 11. Don’t Pass Line bets lose.
- The come-out roll is a 12. It’s a push (no win or loss).
- The come-out roll is a 5. A ‘point’ is established. The shooter continues to roll.
- If the shooter rolls a 5 again before rolling a 7, Don’t Pass Line bets lose.
- If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling a 5, Don’t Pass Line bets win.
Come Bet Example
- A point of 6 is established. You place a Come bet.
- The next roll is a 9. Your Come bet moves to the number 9 (‘come-point’ established).
- If the 9 is rolled before a 7, your Come bet wins.
- If a 7 is rolled before the 9, your Come bet loses.
Don’t Come Bet Example
- A point of 4 is established. You place a Don’t Come bet.
- The next roll is a 10. Your Don’t Come bet moves to the number 10 (‘come-point’ established).
- If a 7 is rolled before the 10, your Don’t Come bet wins.
- If the 10 is rolled before a 7, your Don’t Come bet loses.
Odds Bets Example
- A point of 8 is established. You have a Pass Line bet and decide to take the odds. You place an additional bet behind your Pass Line bet.
- The shooter rolls a 5, 3, 10, and then an 8. Both your Pass Line bet and odds bet win. The odds bet pays true odds.
- A point of 9 is established. You have a Don’t Pass Line bet and decide to lay the odds. You place an additional bet behind your Don’t Pass bet.
- The shooter rolls a 4, 6, 7. Both your Don’t Pass Line bet and odds bet win. The odds bet pays true odds.
Place Bets Example
- You place a bet that the number 6 will be rolled before a 7.
- The roll sequence is 2, 4, 6. Your Place bet wins.
- The roll sequence is 5, 8, 7. Your Place bet loses.
Buy Bets Example
- You place a 20BuyBetonthenumber5,payinga5
- 20BuyBetonthenumber5,payinga5
- 1).
- The roll sequence is 2, 5. Your Buy Bet wins and is paid true odds.
- The roll sequence is 6, 8, 7. Your Buy Bet loses.
Lay Bets Example
- You lay against the number 10, betting 40towin
- 40towin
- 20 (plus a 5% commission).
- The roll sequence is 3, 7. Your Lay Bet wins.
- The roll sequence is 2, 10. Your Lay Bet loses.
Field Bets Example
- You place a Field bet.
- The next roll is a 3. Your Field bet wins and is paid even money.
- The next roll is a 12. Your Field bet wins and is paid double or triple, depending on the table rules.
- The next roll is a 7. Your Field bet loses.
Big 6 and Big 8 Example
- You place a Big 6 bet.
- The roll sequence is 3, 6. Your Big 6 bet wins and is paid even money.
- The roll sequence is 9, 7. Your Big 6 bet loses.
Craps Strategies
- Basic Strategy: Focus on Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bets along with taking the odds. These have the lowest house edge.
- Advanced Strategy: Incorporate Come and Place bets. These can add more excitement and potential winnings to the game.
- Avoid Proposition Bets: Bets like Any Seven have high house edges and should generally be avoided.
Advanced Craps Strategies
1. 3-Point Molly Strategy
- Objective: This strategy involves maximizing the use of Come bets to keep multiple points working simultaneously.
- How to Play:
- Place a Pass Line bet.
- After a ‘point’ is established, place maximum allowable odds on the Pass Line bet.
- Make a Come bet. Once the Come bet moves to a number, place maximum odds on it.
- Place another Come bet and take odds once it moves to a number.
- Continue this process until you have three points established (the ‘point’ and two ‘come points’).
- Continue to bet on the Come until one of your Come bets wins or the round ends.
- Pros: Keeps multiple bets working simultaneously, which can lead to larger payouts if successful.
- Cons: Requires a significant bankroll to support the multiple bets and odds.
2. Iron Cross Strategy
- Objective: This strategy aims to cover as many outcomes as possible, minimizing loss and increasing the chance of frequent wins.
- How to Play:
- Place a Field bet.
- Place bets on the numbers 5, 6, and 8.
- If the roll is a Field number (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12), you win the Field bet.
- If the roll is 5, 6, or 8, you win the Place bet but lose the Field bet.
- If a 7 is rolled, you lose all bets.
- Pros: Covers most of the numbers, increasing the chances of hitting a winning bet each roll.
- Cons: Frequent small wins vs. larger losses when 7 is rolled.
3. 6/8 Strategy
- Objective: Focuses on betting on the two most frequently rolled non-7 numbers (6 and 8).
- How to Play:
- Place equal bets on 6 and 8.
- Each time a 6 or 8 is rolled, you win.
- If a 7 is rolled, you lose both bets.
- Replace the bets after each loss or series win.
- Pros: 6 and 8 have better odds of being rolled compared to other Place bets.
- Cons: Losses can accumulate quickly if several sevens are rolled before 6 or 8.
House Edge Breakdown
Understanding the house edge is crucial for any craps strategy. Here’s a breakdown of the house edge for different bets:
- Pass Line Bet: ~1.41%
- Don’t Pass Line Bet: ~1.36%
- Come Bet: ~1.41%
- Don’t Come Bet: ~1.36%
- Odds Bet: 0% (true odds)
- Place Bet on 6 or 8: ~1.52%
- Place Bet on 5 or 9: ~4.00%
- Place Bet on 4 or 10: ~6.67%
- Buy Bet on 6 or 8: ~1.52% (after commission)
- Buy Bet on 5 or 9: ~4.76% (after commission)
- Buy Bet on 4 or 10: ~4.76% (after commission)
- Lay Bet on 4 or 10: ~2.44% (after commission)
- Lay Bet on 5 or 9: ~3.23% (after commission)
- Lay Bet on 6 or 8: ~4.00% (after commission)
- Field Bet: ~5.56% to 2.78% (depending on table rules)
- Proposition Bets (e.g., Any 7): can be as high as ~16.67%
Stretching Your Bankroll
To maximize your enjoyment and playtime, consider the following tips:
- Set a Budget: Decide in advance how much money you’re willing to lose and stick to it.
- Bet Minimums: Start with the table minimum, especially when learning.
- Avoid Proposition Bets: These bets have high house edges and can quickly deplete your bankroll.
- Take Odds: This is one of the best ways to reduce the house edge and potentially win bigger payouts.
- Know When to Walk Away: If you’re on a losing streak, it might be best to take a break and come back with a clear head.
Final Thoughts on Craps
Craps is a thrilling casino game with various betting options and strategies. For beginners, it’s often best to stick to Pass Line bets and Come bets with odds. As you become more comfortable with the game, incorporating advanced strategies like the 3-Point Molly or Iron Cross can add excitement and potentially increase your winnings. Always remember, though, craps is a game of chance, and while strategies can improve your odds, they can’t guarantee a win.