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Rules
and how to play Craps
The
basics
Craps
is one of the most exciting casino games. It is common to hear yelling
and shouting at a craps table. It is played on a purpose-built table
and two dice are used. The dice are made after very strict standards
and are routinely inspected for any damage. As a matter of course, the
dice are replaced with new ones after about eight hours of use, and
casinos have implemented rules in the way a player handles them.
The
player must handle the dice with one hand only when throwing and the
dice must hit the walls on the opposite end of the table. In the event
that one or both dice are thrown off the table, they must be inspected
(usually by the stickman) before putting them back into play.
The craps table can accommodate up to about 20 players, who each get a
round of throws or at 'shooting' the dice. If you don't want to throw
the dice, you can bet on the thrower. Several types of bets can be made
on the table action. The casino crew consist of a stickman, boxman and
two dealers.
The
first roll of the dice in a betting round is called the Come Out roll -
a new game in Craps begins with the Come Out roll. A Come Out roll can
be made only when the previous shooter fails to make a winning roll,
that is, fails to make the Point or seven out. A new game then begins
with a new shooter. If the current shooter does make his Point, the
dice are returned to him and he then begins the new Come Out roll. This
is a continuation of that shooter's roll, although technically, the
Come Out roll identifies a new game about to begin. When the shooter
fails to make his or her Point, the dice are then offered to the next
player for a new Come Out roll and the game continues in the same
manner. The new shooter will be the person directly next to the left of
the previous shooter - so the game moves in a clockwise fashion around
the craps table. The dice are rolled across the craps table layout. The
layout is divided into three areas - two side areas separated by a
center one. Each side area is the mirror reflection of the other and
contains the following: Pass and Don't Pass line bets, Come and Don't
Come bets, Odds bet, Place bets and Field bets. The center area is
shared by both side areas and contains the Proposition bets. Pass bets
win when the come out roll is 7 or 11, while pass bets lose when the
come out roll is 2, 3, or 12. Don't bets lose when the come out roll is
7 or 11, and don't bets win when the come out roll is 2 or 3. Don't
bets tie when the come out roll is 12 (2 in some casinos; the 'Bar'
roll on the layout indicates which roll is treated as a tie). Below is
a list of the various bets you can make at craps.
Pass
Line Bet - You win if the first roll is a natural (7, 11) and
lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). If a point is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9,
10) it must be repeated before a 7 is thrown in order to win. If 7 is
rolled before the point you lose.
Odds
on Pass Line Bet - After a point is rolled you can make this
additional bet by taking odds. There are different payoffs for each
point. A point of 4 or 10 will pay you 2:1; 5 or 9 pays 3:2; 6 or 8
pays 6:5. You only win if the point is rolled again before a 7.
Come
Bet - It has the same rules as the Pass Line bet. The
difference consists in the fact you can make this bet only after the
point on the pass line has been determined. After you place your bet
the first dice roll will set the come point. You win if it is a natural
(7, 11) and lose if it is craps (2, 3, 12). Other rolls will make you a
winner if the come point is repeated before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is
rolled first you lose.
Odds
on Come Bet - Exactly the same thing as the Odds on Pass Line
bet except you take odds on the Come bet not the Pass Line bet.
Don't
Pass Line Bet - This is the reversed Pass Line bet. If the
first roll of a dice is a natural (7, 11) you lose and if it is a 2 or
a 3 you win. A dice roll of 12 means you have a tie or push with the
casino. If the roll is a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) a 7 must come out
before that point is repeated to make you a winner. If the point is
rolled again before the 7 you lose.
Don't
Come Bet - The reversed Come Bet. After the come point has
been established you win if it is a 2 or 3 and lose for 7 or 11. 12 is
a tie and other dice rolls will make you win only if a 7 appears before
them on the following throws.
Place
Bets - This bet works only after the point has been
determined. You can bet on a dice roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You win
if the number you placed your bet on is rolled before a 7. Otherwise
you lose. The Place Bets payoffs are different depending on the number
you bet on. 4 or 10 will pay 9:5; 5 or 9 pays 7:5, and 6 or 8 pays 7:6.
You can cancel this bet anytime you want to.
Field
Bets - These bets are for one dice roll only. If a 2, 3, 4,
9, 10, 11, 12 is rolled you win. A 5, 6, 7 and 8 make you lose. Field
Bets have the following different payoffs: 2 pays double (2:1) while 12
pays 3:1. Other winning dice rolls pays even (1:1).
Big
Six, Big Eight Bets - Placed at any roll of dice these bets
win if a 6 or 8 comes out before a 7 is rolled. Big Six and Big Eight
are even bets and are paid at 1:1.
Proposition
Bets - These bets can be made at any time and, except for the
hardways, they are all one roll bets:
- Any
Craps: Wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 8:1
- Any
Seven: Wins if a 7 is rolled. Payoff 5:1
- Eleven:
Wins if a 11 is thrown. Payoff 16:1
- Ace
Duece: Wins if a 3 is rolled. Payoff 16:1
- Aces
or Boxcars: Wins if a 2 or 12 is thrown. Payoff 30:1
- Horn
Bet: it acts as the bets on 2, 3, 11 and 12 all at once. Wins
if one of these numbers is rolled. Payoff is determined according to
the number rolled. The other three bets are lost.
- Hardways:
The bet on a hardway number wins if it's thrown hard (sum of pairs:
1-1, 3-3, 4-4...) before it's rolled easy and a 7 is thrown. Payoffs:
Hard 4 and 10, 8:1; Hard 6 and 8, 10:1
House
advantage
2 - 17%
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