How to Play Craps
The Table Layout
Craps is played on an oblong, baize-covered table with high sides. There are two identical markings for most bets so that players could place themselves on both sides of the table. The two side betting areas are separated by another one at the centre for the so-called “proposition bets”. There are three dealers situated around the Craps table. Two of them handle the bets, while the third one, called the “stickman”, handles the dice and dictates the speed of the game. There is a fourth person situated next to the table, called a “boxman”, who supervises the game.
Craps table layout (click picture to zoom)
The Fundamentals
Craps could be played by any number of players. Each of them places an individual bet, which is only against the house and not against other players. The person who throws the dice is called the “shooter”. Every player has the opportunity to be the shooter as his turn comes. The turns change in a clockwise direction. The shooter rolls until he loses a round. The regulations state that the dice should be “rolled” the full length of the table and hit the wall of the opposite end. If the shooter rolls the dice out of the table or they land on any of the chips, the throw is canceled and must be performed again. The dice could be handled only by the shooter and the stickman. There are more than 30 possible bets for the outcome of the throw (the combined value of the two dice), and for or against the shooter. The payout is different for each number, as of the likelihood of a number to be thrown.
The shooter begins every new round with a “come-out” roll. The sum of his dice will determine his “point”. With his next throws, he has to roll the same “point” before rolling a 7. A point could be established only if the player throws 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls 2, 3 or 12, the so-called “craps”, the round is automatically lost. If the value of the dice in the come-out roll is 7 or 11 (a “natural”), the shooter wins the round. If a point has been established in the come-out roll, the shooter must roll until he has the same point, which would win the round, or until he has a 7, which would be an automatic loss, called a “seven out”. All other numbers thrown in the meantime, known as “waiting” numbers, do not refer to whether he would win or lose the round.
Betting
Pass line bets
These bets are made before the come-out roll. Each player, including the shooter, could place a bet that the shooter will win the round.
All bets on the pass line win if:
- the shooter scores 7 or 11 on the come-out roll
- the shooter establishes a point in the come-out roll and manages to throw the same point before rolling 7
Don’t Pass line bets
Opposite to the pass line, a bet on the don’t-pass assumes that the shooter will lose the round.
All bets on the don’t-pass line win and all bets on the pass line lose if:
- the shooter scores 2, 3 or 12 (craps) on the come-out roll – don’t-pass line bets win on 2 or 3 and tie on 12
- the shooter establishes a point in the come-out roll but throws a 7 before rolling the same point (sevens out)
Free Odds bets
If a point has been established in the come-out roll, a player can bet up to 2 times his pass-line bet that the point will be thrown before a 7. This is considered to be one of the most favorable bets as it lowers the house edge and increases the winnings of your original pass-line wager. Free-odds could be placed and removed at any time of the round.
Laying Odds bet
This is the opposite of the free-odds bet, although not as favorable. The player bets that a 7 will be thrown before the point. As the odds for the don’t-pass line are reversed, the player stands to win fewer chips than has bet.
Come line bets
This bet is similar to the pass-line bet. It could be placed as an additional bet after the come-out roll. It is played independently of the pass-line bet, as the next roll acting as a come-out roll only to the come-line bet. The come-line bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 and the come-line bet wins, with an even payout. If 2, 3, or 12 are thrown the bet is lost.
Different rules apply when the shooter rolls his point, or any other such as 4, 5, 6, 9, or 10, after the come-line bet- the bet is then moved to the corresponding number in the place-bet box. The bet then wins if the respectful point is thrown, or loses if the shooter rolls a 7. If the bet has been moved to the place-bet box, he could place another bet on the come-line. As same as the pass-line, the player could place odds bets on the come-line as well.
Don’t Come bets
These bets are the opposite of the come-line. The bet wins on a rolled 2 or 3, ties on a 12 and loses on a thrown 7 or 11. If any other number is thrown, the bet is moved in the area above the place-bet box, for the respectful number. If the shooter rolls the corresponding number, the bet is lost; if a 7 is thrown the bet wins. Laying odds is also applicable to the don’t-come bets, with the same payout as in the don’t-pass line.
Place bets
The place bets could be made at any time of the game and are similar to the laying odds bet. They are canceled by a come-out roll and could be returned to the player, if he wishes so, at any time. The player bets on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 to be thrown before 7. The payout for place bets is as follows:
- roll of 4 or 10 wins with 9-to-5 payout
- roll of 5 or 9 wins with 7-to-5 payout
- roll of 6 or 8 wins with 7-to-6 payout
Place bet to lose
The opposite of place bets, the player bets on a winning roll of 7 before the shooter throws the respectful number where the bet is placed. The odds are reversed of the place bet.
Buy bets
A player may “buy” a bet, which is similar to placing a bet, but with a different payoff. The player bets on one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 to be thrown before a 7 and pay a commission to the house if the bet wins. The payout is as follows:
- roll of 4 or 10 wins with 2-to-1 payout
- roll of 5 or 9 wins with 3-to-2 payout
- roll of 6 or 8 wins with 6-to-5 payout
Lay bets
The opposite of buy bets, the player bets on a winning roll of 7 before the shooter throws the respectful number where the bet is placed. The odds are reversed of the buy bet bet.
Big 6 and 8
Bet placed on a 6 or 8 to be rolled before a 7, winning an even-money payout.
Field bets
This is a bet that could be made at any point of the game. Player bets that a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 will be rolled before a 5, 6, 7 or 8. Payout for 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 is even money and 2-to-1 for 2 and 12.
Hardway bets
The hardway and proposition bets are positioned in the center section of the table and taken care of the stickman. A hardway bet is on a point to be made with a pair (a roll of double, the sum of which equals the point). For example, a hardway 6 is a double 3. Payout for a hardway 4 or 10 is 8-to-1, and 10-to-1 for 6 or 8.
Proposition bets
The payouts for proposition bets are very large. The bet is made whether the next roll will win or lose:
- Any Seven – if next roll is 7, wins with 4-to-1 payout
- Any Craps – if next roll is 2, 3 or 12, wins with 7-to-1 payout
- Craps 2 – if next roll is 2, wins with 30-to-1 payout
- Craps 3 – if next roll is 3, wins with 15-to-1 payout
- Craps 11 – if next roll is 11, wins with 15-to-1 payout
- Craps 12 – if next roll is 12, wins with 30-to-1 payout
- Horn Bet - if next roll is 2, 3, 11 or 12, wins with 30-to-1 payout for numbers 2 or 12 and 15-to-1 for 3 or 11
Learn more about strategy for craps and history of craps
