Craps is an action-packed and seemingly fast game that uses a pair of dice. In casinos, craps is played on a table with a high rail. The betting area sits well below the rail. It is here that the dice are rolled. You wager on the outcome of the roll of the dice, which are tossed by all players, taking turns to be rollers. Online craps is practically the same and the only difference is that each roll is controlled by software that guarantees its randomness.
Unlike most casino games, craps gives you the benefit of betting both ways – with the fellow players who roll the dice or against them, which is called “wrong betting”. When a craps player bets the wrong way, he or she wins when the house wins. Another unique betting feature present in craps is the opportunity to purchase correct odds – many craps bets allow players to buy the right odds when they bet. This means that a player can purchase the right to be paid an amount consistent with the chance of success. Thus, if a specific bet has a likelihood of occurring one in four times, the player can purchase odds that will pay four to one on his bet.
The betting area in this game is quite large and it is divided into a large number of sections, each corresponding to a different type of bet. Speaking of bets, there are more than 20 bets in this game and remembering them may be a challenge for beginners. As craps is a really fast-paced game, it could be also quite confusing and overwhelming at first. This is why knowing the rules and the fundamental bets is so important – in this article, you can find the rules and basic phases of play, as well as the types of wagers. In addition, we have included a simple strategy for playing the game and some information about the house edge and expected return.
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Basic Rules of Craps
The game of craps can be broken into two separate phases – establishing a point and shooting for a point. The term “point” refers to the first number that appears after the two dice stop rolling and is probably one of the most important things players have to pay attention to on the craps table.
Coming Out Roll in Craps
The first phase involves the roller (i.e. the person who is tossing) establishing the point by rolling the dice. This phase of the game is technically known as the coming out roll and in it has 3 possible outcomes – if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, players betting the right way will be rewarded and this is called a “natural”.
In the event that the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (the craps numbers), the right way bettors lose, while the casino and the wrong way bettors win. Of course, those who have placed a wrong bet lose if 7 or 11 appear in the come out roll. In all other cases when the dice total 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the number thrown is known as the “point”. Once the point is established, the game progresses to the next phase.
Shooting for Point in Craps
After the point has been established, the shooter’s objective is to hit the point prior to rolling a 7. If the shooter rolls the point for the second time, the right way bettors (known as the front line bettors) win. Should the shooter roll a 7 before that, the wrong way wins and the front line bettors lose.
In addition to simply betting right or wrong way, players may make a number of bets, all of which depend upon the roll. Some of the other bets craps players can make are hard way bets, horn bets, and field bets.
Types of Bets in Craps
Craps is among the fastest, loudest and most exciting games on the casino floor. With a simple roll of the dice, significant money can be won or lost. To learn the basics and avoid losing as much as possible, players need to get a grasp of at least the most fundamental bets that can be made in craps.
Line Bets
These are the most basic types of bets and include the Pass Line, a bet for the shooter to win. This bet is successful if the come out roll is 7 or 11 but it loses if the dice show 2, 3, or 12. If the total is any other value, however, this is the point and it serves the second roll, which has two possible outcomes:
- The Pass Line bet wins if the point rolls before 7
- The Pass Line bet loses if 7 rolls before the point has been established
The opposite bet is called the Don’t Pass and with it, players bet that the shooter will lose. This wager wins if 2 or 3 appear in the come out roll and loses if 7 or 11 are rolled. If the dice hit 12, it is a push and if any other number is rolled, it establishes the point for the following roll. This is what happens in the second roll:
- The Don’t Pass bet wins if 7 is rolled before the point
- The Don’t Pass bet loses if the point is rolled before 7
These two bets play evenly (1:1) and are the easiest to place. Once players understand them, they can proceed with wagers that are a bit more complicated.
- Odds – This is a side wager that has no house edge – with it, players who have made the Pass Line bet can place another bet that the point will roll before the 7. It pays 2:1 on points 4/10; 3:2 on points 5/9; and 6:5 on points 6/8.
- Come and Don’t Come Bet – These are almost identical to the Pass/Don’t Pass bets, but they are made on rolls other than the come out. Of course, the Come wins on 7 or 11, while the Don’t Come wins with the craps numbers. The roll after the Come or Don’t Come wagers have been placed will count as their come out roll and players are allowed to place additional odds on these wagers.
Multi-Roll Bets
Multi-roll bets are called this way because they require more than one roll to be settled. There are several different types:
- Place – This a bet that one of the point numbers will be rolled and it is not allowed during the come out roll. Players can place their chips on the come area and specify the number they wager on – 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10.
- Buy – With buy bets, players bet that a specific number would come out before 7. These bets are paid at true odds but have a 5% commission fee.
- Lay – Lay bets are essentially the opposite of buy bets and they win if 7 rolls before a specific number. Once again, true odds are paid with a 5% commission.
- Put – Put bets allow players to make a Pass line bet (or increase an existing one) after the point has already been established.
- Big 6/Big 8 – Players can bet that either a 6 or an 8 will appear before 7.
- Hard 4/6/8/10 – With this bet, players bet on one of these numbers to roll the hard way (in pairs such as 2-2 or 3-3) before a 7 or any other “easy” number.
Single-Roll Bets
Single-roll bets are settled within a single roll of the dice and are also known as proposition bets or some of them as service bets.
- 2 (Snake eyes)/3/Yo (11)/12 – A bet on 2, 3, 11, or 12.
- Hi-Lo (2/12) – This bet wins if the dice roll 2 or 12.
- Any Craps – It wins if any of the craps numbers roll next – 2, 3, 12
- Any 7 (Big Red) – A bet on 7.
- Horn – A combination of four bets on 2, 3, 11, and 12.
- Whirl/World – This is a combination of a Horn and an Any 7 bet.
- Field – With the Field, players bet that any of the following numbers will appear in the next roll – 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
House Edge in Craps
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a casino game to play is the house edge – the mathematical advantage of casinos over players. It is represented as a percentage and even if it is a tiny one, it guarantees the long-term profits of casinos. In craps, the house edge may be quite complicated to calculate, yet it is based on the fixed odds of every single bet. Overall, there are 11 possible outcomes in the game (2 to 12) and they can be accomplished in 36 different ways.
The house edge of every bet will depend on its odds and on the payout offered by the casino. Players typically stick to bets with lower house edge:
| Bet Type | True Odds | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass/Come | 291:41:00 | 01:01:00 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass/Don’t Come | 991:49:00 | 01:01:00 | 1.36% |
| Pass Odds / Come Odds | 2:1 (4,10); 3:2 (5,9); 6:5 (6,8) | 2:1 (4,10); 3:2 (5,9); 6:5 (6,8) | 0.00% |
| Don’t Pass Odds / Don’t Come Odds | 1:2 against 4,10; 2:3 against 5,9; 5:6 against 6,8 | 1:2 against 4,10; 2:3 against 5,9; 5:6 against 6,8 | 0.00% |
| Hard 4/Hard 10 | 08:01:00 | 07:01:00 | 11.11% |
| Hard 6/Hard 8 | 10:01:00 | 09:01:00 | 9.09% |
| Big 6/Big 8 | 06:05:00 | 01:01:00 | 9.09% |
| Place 4/10 | 02:01:00 | 09:05:00 | 6.67% |
| Place 5/9 | 03:02:00 | 07:05:00 | 4.00% |
| Place 6/8 | 06:05:00 | 07:06:00 | 1.52% |
| Buy 4/10 | 02:01:00 | 2:1 (-5%) | 4.76% |
| Buy 5/9 | 03:02:00 | 3:2 (-5%) | 4.76% |
| Buy 6/8 | 06:05:00 | 6:5 (-5%) | 4.76% |
| Lay 4/10 | 01:02:00 | 1:2 (-5%) | 2.44% |
| Lay 5/9 | 02:03:00 | 2:3 (-5%) | 3.23% |
| Lay 6/8 | 05:06:00 | 5:6 (-5%) | 4.00% |
| 02/12/19 | 35:01:00 | 30:01:00 | 13.89% |
| 3/Yo/Hi-Lo | 17:01:00 | 15:01:00 | 11.11% |
| Craps | 08:01:00 | 07:01:00 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 05:01:00 | 04:01:00 | 16.67% |
| Horn | 05:01:00 | 27:4 (2,12); 3:1 (3,11) | 12.50% |
| Whirl | 02:01:00 | 26:5 (2,12); 11:5 (3,11); 0:1 (push) on 7 | 13.33% |
| Field | 05:04:00 | 1:1 (3,4,9,10,11); 2:1 (2,12) | 5.56% |
Basic Craps Strategy
Players must understand that in craps, all bets have a house edge that favors the casino and ultimately results in players losing most of their bankroll. However, there are ways to ensure minimum losses and certain tactics that can help you win in the short term, at least. That does not mean, though, that there is an actual winning strategy that is 100% certain and foolproof – as craps is a game of chance, the outcome is always random and does not depend on any single player’s decision. This is why searching for a craps strategy is futile.
What players can do to cut their losses and increase their winnings over time, on the other hand, is following several basic guidelines. First of all, they should learn how to successfully manage their bankroll so it can last longer – a good start is to limit the bet amount in each round to 1% of their entire bankroll. Second, they should avoid aggressive betting progressions such as the Martingale, for example, which says that you should double the stake after a loss. The risk with betting progressions of this type is noticeably greater than the potential rewards.
In addition, many experienced players stick to the 3% Rule, which states that you should not place bets that have a house edge of over 3%. While this strategy may sound quite passionless and tedious as only a handful of bets offer such a low house edge, it is mathematically proven to be the best way to increase your chances of winning. Many craps players also prefer to combine different bets so they can play with the best odds possible. Combination betting is, indeed, a great strategy but remember that it also includes higher stakes, which is why it is recommended for more seasoned players.