How to Play: Craps for Beginners

Craps is a popular casino game that involves betting on the outcome of two dice. It may seem intimidating at first, but once you learn the basic rules, you can have a lot of fun playing it. Here is a simple guide on how to play craps for beginners.

The Pass Line Bet

The pass line bet is the most common and simple bet in craps. It is placed before the first roll of the dice, called the come-out roll. To place this bet, you put your chips on the section of the table that says “Pass Line”.

The outcome of the come-out roll determines whether you win or lose your pass line bet, as follows:

• If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, you win even money (1:1).
• If the come-out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, you lose your bet. These numbers are known as craps.
• If the come-out roll is any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the point. The dealer will place a white disk on that number to mark it. The game then moves to the next phase.

The Point Phase

If a point is established on the come-out roll, your pass line bet remains on the table until the point is rolled again or a 7 is rolled, whichever comes first.

• If the point is rolled again before a 7, you win even money (1:1) on your pass line bet.
• If a 7 is rolled before the point, you lose your pass line bet.

The point phase ends when either the point or a 7 is rolled, and a new round begins with a new come-out roll.

Other Bets

Besides the pass line bet, there are many other bets you can make in craps. Some of these bets can be placed at any time during the game, while others can only be placed after a point is established. Here are some of the most common bets:

• Don’t Pass: This is the opposite of the pass line bet. You win if the come-out roll is a 2 or 3, lose if it’s a 7 or 11, and push (tie) if it’s a 12. If a point is established, you win if a 7 is rolled before the point, and lose if the point is rolled before a 7.

• Come: This is similar to the pass line bet, but it can only be placed after a point is established. You win if the next roll is a 7 or 11, lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12, and establish a new point if it’s any other number. Your come bet then moves to that number and wins if that number is rolled again before a 7, and loses if a 7 is rolled before that number.

• Don’t Come: This is the opposite of the come bet. You win if the next roll is a 2 or 3, lose if it’s a 7 or 11, and push if it’s a 12. If any other number is rolled, your don’t come bet moves to that number and wins if a 7 is rolled before that number, and loses if that number is rolled before a 7.

• Place: This is a bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7. You can place this bet at any time after a point is established. The payout depends on the number you choose:Place bets on 4 and 10 pay 9:5.Place bets on 5 and 9 pay 7:5.Place bets on 6 and 8 pay 7:6.

• Field: This is a one-roll bet that the next roll will be one of these numbers: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. You can place this bet at any time during the game. The payout depends on the number rolled:Field bets on 2 and 12 pay 2:1.Field bets on any other number pay 1:1.

There are many other bets in craps, such as hardways, proposition bets, big six and big eight bets, but they have higher house edges and are not recommended for beginners.

Conclusion

Craps is a fun and exciting game that can offer many betting options and outcomes. The best way to learn how to play craps is to practice online or at a casino with a low minimum bet. Remember to start with the pass line bet and then explore other bets as you gain more experience and confidence. Craps is a game of chance, so don’t expect to win every time, but enjoy the thrill of rolling the dice and cheering with other players.

FAQ

• What is the house edge in craps?

The house edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the players in the long run. The house edge varies depending on the type of bet you make in craps. The lowest house edge is on the pass line and don’t pass bets, which is 1.41% and 1.36%, respectively. The highest house edge is on the any seven bet, which is 16.67%.

• What is the best strategy for craps?

There is no foolproof strategy for craps, as it is a game of luck and not skill. However, some general tips are to stick to the bets with the lowest house edge, such as the pass line, don’t pass, come, and don’t come bets. You can also take or lay odds on these bets, which are additional bets that have no house edge and pay true odds. Avoid the bets with high house edges, such as the hardways, proposition bets, big six and big eight bets.

• What are the odds of rolling a 7 in craps?

The odds of rolling a 7 in craps are 6 out of 36, or 16.67%. This is because there are six ways to roll a 7 out of two dice: 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, and 6-1. A 7 is the most likely outcome of any roll in craps, which is why it is often a winning or losing number.