Craps: How to Play and How to Win

Craps is a famous dice game, known for many years. If you’ve never played casino games before, Craps is a good one to start. The rules aren’t difficult and can be learned rather quickly. You don’t need special equipment for this game — only two dice. So, you can practice even at home. Also, Craps is based on players’ luck and no one can win by bluffing.

How to play Craps (Rules)

The game starts with a player, called the “Shooter”, throwing two dice. But at first, he needs to place his bet: either on a “Pass Line” or a “Don’t Pass”. Then he throws the dice. This initial roll is called the “Come Out” roll. It can result in one of three outcomes:

1. If the dice total 2,3 or 12, the situation is called “Craps”. Pass Line Bets are a loss and the Shooter’s turn is over.
2. If the dice total 7 or 11, the situation is called a “Natural”. Pass Line Bets win and the Shooter may roll again.
3. If the dice total from 4 to 10 (except for 7), the Shooter has set the “Point”. No Bets are won or lost yet, and the Shooter rolls again. He continues to roll the dice and tries to hit the Point until one or two things happen:

• The Shooter rolls a seven. His turn is over and any Pass Line Bets are lost.
• The Shooter hits the Point. Pass Line Bets are won, and the Shooter starts a new round.

When a player “craps” or “sevens out”, the dice go to the next player standing clockwise of the previous Shooter. But this player can decline the roll, if he doesn’t want to throw the dice.

Anyone standing at the Craps table can place Bets, regardless of who is rolling the dice. They can bet for or against the Shooter, and unlike the Shooter, aren’t required to place a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Bet.

While Pass Line or Don’t Pass are the two most popular Bets, there are many other options available in a game of Craps.

Things to Remember When Playing Craps

There are also some important tips you should remember before visiting any casinos and playing Craps there:

• Throw the dice with one hand. Don’t shake them in two hands or hide under the table.
• Try to hit the opposite side of the table with the dice.
• Don’t throw the dice too high; otherwise, you may hit someone.
• Decline to throw, if you don’t want to.
• Don’t give anything to dealers. Just place your chips or cash on the table.
• Tip dealers. Toss your tip chips and thank.
• Don’t put your drinks on the table.
• Learn the rules before you start to play in real casinos. Don’t rely on dealers to answer your questions.
• Quit while you’re ahead.

The Secrets of Remembering True Odds

The good news is that you don’t need to learn true odds by heart. There is a simple formula to calculate them: 6: х-1.

For example, when you want to get the true odds for the numbers 4, you need to subtract 1 from this number and relate it to 6 (there are 6 possible combinations to roll the number 7). So, the true odds of the 4 are 6:3 or 2:1.

Craps Pro Secrets

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

If you want to become a professional crap player one day, make sure you’ve read the following tips:

• Bet rather on yourself than on other shooters.
• Make Pass Line Bets, Don’t Pass Line Bets or Come Bets. In that case, you’ll have a 50/50 chance to win.
• Don’t make big bets.
• Keep separate savings for gambling.

Although the rules seem to be difficult at first, it won’t take you lots of time to figure everything out. Craps is considered to be one of the easiest casino games. So, just remember: practice makes perfect. And good luck!