Craps
How the Game is Played
Example, say you begin the turn by rolling a 5.
First Roll: 5 - This is not a 2,3,7,11,12, so you roll again. 5 is the point
Second Roll: 6 - This is not a 5 or 7, so you roll again.
Third Roll: 12 - This is not a 5 or 7, so you roll again.
Fourth Roll: 5 - This is a 5 or 7, so the turn is over. Depending on what you bet, you either won or lost.
Casino Etiquette
Optimal Strategy
Decision 1: How Much to Bet
Decision 2: What Options to Bet
1) Pass Line
2) Don't Pass Bar
- You are playing against the House (the Casino)
- Players make various bets before the dice are rolled
- You roll a pair of dice and see what the total is. If it's 2,3,7.11.12, the game is over.
- If you roll a 7 or 11, you get to roll again the next turn
- If you get a 2, 3, or 12, you "Crap Out," and the person to your left rolls the dice for the next turn
- Any other total establishes a point and means you have to roll again. At this moment more bets can be placed
- You keep rolling until you get either a 7 or the point, both of which end the game.
- If you end the game by rolling a 7, "Crap Out," and the person to your left rolls the dice for the next turn
- If you end the game by rolling the point, you continue throwing the dice the next turn
Example, say you begin the turn by rolling a 5.
First Roll: 5 - This is not a 2,3,7,11,12, so you roll again. 5 is the point
Second Roll: 6 - This is not a 5 or 7, so you roll again.
Third Roll: 12 - This is not a 5 or 7, so you roll again.
Fourth Roll: 5 - This is a 5 or 7, so the turn is over. Depending on what you bet, you either won or lost.
Casino Etiquette
- This is one of the funnest game to play if you are with a large group of friends.
- Do not bring the dice above the table boundaries, or else they will yell at you
- You must throw the dice the full length of the Craps table for the roll to count
- Bet on the Pass Line by putting your chips in the section of the board labeled "Pass Line"
- Back up your bet by placing an additional amount of chips next to your Pass Line Bet
- Bet on the Don't Pass Bar by putting your chips in the section of the board labeled "Don't pass bar"
- Back up your bet by placing an additional amount of chips next to your Don't Pass Bar bet
- There will be a marker which shows whether a player's turn is in progress
- If a turn is in progress, the marker will be on its black side next to the point
- If a turn is not in progress, the marker will be on its white side on the "Don't come bar" section of the board
Optimal Strategy
- You have a huge selection of betting options
- Remember one thing: ALWAYS BACK YOUR BET!!! You have the option to back your bet after the first roll, if it was not a 2,3,7,11,12.
- Backing your bet reduces the Casino Advantage, because they pay you even money on any bet you back up, which means they don't have an advantage against that bet.
- Bet on the Pass Line or Don't Pass Bar for best chance of winning
- Other bets are fun and have higher payouts, but give the Casino a greater advantage
Decision 1: How Much to Bet
- Get your chips ready to make your initial bet. Remember, make sure you are prepared to back the bet up, which means risking an additional amount up to 5x the original bet.
Decision 2: What Options to Bet
- There are many options, all of which I will discuss. However, focus on betting on the Pass Line or Don't Pass Bar
1) Pass Line
- Betting for the person throwing to win (this is usually what most players bet on)
- You win if the player rolls a 7 or 11 on the first throw. You win even money on your initial bet, and the turn is over
- You lose if the player rolls a 2,3,12 on the first throw
- If the player rolls a 4-10 (not 7), back up your bet by betting on the player to hit the point
- If the player Craps Out, you lose
- If the player hits the point, you win according to table below
2) Don't Pass Bar
- Betting for the person throwing to lose, or Crap Out
- You win if the player rolls a 2 or 3 on the first throw. You win even money on your initial bet, and the turn is over
- You push if the player rolls a 12 on the first throw. You neither win nor lose money, and the turn is over
- You lose if the player rolls a 7 or 11 on the first throw
- If the player rolls a 4-10, back up your bet by making a bet on the player Crapping Out
- If the player Craps Out, you win according to table below
- If the player hits the point, you lose
Winning Payouts for Pass Line / Don't Pass Bar (Based on $100 Bet)
Point: 4 or 10 |
Point: 5 or 9 |
Point: 6 or 8 |
Pass Line |
2 to 1
$200 Profit |
3 to 2
$150 Profit |
6 to 5
$120 Profit |
Don't Pass Bar |
1 to 2
$50 Profit |
2 to 3
$66 Profit |
5 to 6
$83 Profit |
3) Come Bet
4) 5 for 1 Seven
5) Field
6) 8or6
- Next-roll only
- Essentially starts an entirely new game in the middle of a turn
- If player rolls 4-10 after the Come Bet, this becomes your personal point
4) 5 for 1 Seven
- Next-roll only
- If the person rolls a 7 right after you place the bet, you win 5 to 1 on your bet. If not, you lose the bet.
5) Field
- Next-roll only
- If the person rolls a 2,3,4,9,10,11,12, you win
- If it's a 2 or 12, you win twice your bet
- If it's 3,4,9,10,11, you win the amount you bet
- If it's a 5,6,7,8, you lose the bet.
6) 8or6
- Never bet on 8or6!
- If you want to bet 8or6, bet on the individual numbers at the top of the board (you get a better payout for the same risk)
- Betting on individual numbers means you bet they occur before a 7 is rolled
Winning Payouts for all Supplementary Bets (Based on $100 Bet)
5 for 1 Seven |
Field |
Craps 8 for 1 |
$500 Profit
|
2 or 12: $200 Profit
3, 4, 9, 10, 11: $100 Profit |
$800 Profit
|
Updated June 7, 2013 - Nathan Lord