Craps Table Layout
| Updated: How to Understand the Craps Table Layout
Every new player interested in craps should have a good understanding of the game and its rules. One of the first things you need to learn about this classic casino game is the table layout. Although it may look confusing at first glance, there is nothing particularly complex about a craps table. In fact, understanding its different sections will help you become familiar with the rules of the game and the available betting options. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the craps table layout.
Once you become familiar with the craps table layout, you will be able to play the game anywhere. This is because the layout is the same in every brick-and-mortar casino. The only difference you may encounter is in Las Vegas, where tables feature the Big 6 and Big 8 bets. These options, however, are not included in Atlantic City casinos.
To understand the craps table layout more easily, you will also need to learn the terminology printed on the table felt. This will help you follow the game and place the bets that best suit you.
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In addition to being the name of the game, “craps” is also used to refer to the numbers 2, 3, and 12. The Pass Line is where you place your chips if you want to bet that the dice will pass, meaning that the shooter will win. The Don’t Pass Bar is where players bet on a 7 being rolled before the point is repeated. You will also notice a box marked “COME,” where you can place your chips if you want to make a Come bet. This type of bet is placed after the come-out roll. Betting on the opposite result is done in the Don’t Come area of the table.
In the Field area of the craps table, you can wager that the next number rolled will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Some craps tables also include another type of wager called the Big 6 and Big 8 bet. By placing your chips there, you are betting that either a 6 or an 8 will be rolled.
Place bets allow players to wager that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before a 7. If you make a bet in the hardway area of the table, you are wagering that a 4, 6, 8, or 10 will be rolled as a pair before it appears as a non-pair or a 7 is rolled.
Players can also place their chips on the so-called one-roll bets. These apply only to the next roll of the dice, and players are paid if they correctly predict its result. In the one-roll bets section, you will also find the Any Seven area. There, you can bet on a 7 being rolled on the next throw of the dice. If you place your chips on Any Craps, you are wagering that the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12.
Craps Table Layout
Although a craps table may look intimidating when you first see it, there is nothing particularly complex about its layout. In fact, all the sections are there to help players place their preferred bets. There are two identical sides to the table, allowing as many players as possible to join the game.
Whether you are playing at a land-based or online casino, you will notice several sections on the craps table. You may immediately be drawn to the section in the center of the table. However, you should keep in mind that these bets usually carry the highest house edge, and there are lower-risk options available.
As mentioned earlier, the craps table has two identical side sections. It also has a center section that displays several additional betting options. Depending on which side of the table you are standing on, you can place bets only in the corresponding side section. Players on both sides of the table, however, may wager on the center betting section.
Side and Center Sections of the Craps Table
Each side section of the craps table has two different areas. One is designated for players, while the other is managed by dealers. Players can place their own bets on the Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Field, Come, and Don’t Come areas. As mentioned above, some tables also include Big 6 and Big 8 bets in the players’ area of the side section.
The Big 6 and Big 8 bets do not appear on many craps tables because of their high house edge. Since relatively few players choose these risky bets, many casinos do not include them on their craps tables.
These wagers are also known as self-service bets because players place them without help from the dealers. To bet on any of these options, simply place your chips in the corresponding area. If you win a Pass, Don’t Pass, or Field bet, the dealer will place your winnings next to your initial wager, and you must remove your chips from the table. If you leave the chips in place, the dealer will interpret this as letting your winnings ride and increasing your original stake. If this is not your intention, keep track of the game’s fast pace and remove your chips promptly.
The dealer’s area of each side section includes six squares displaying the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. These are known as point boxes. Whenever a point is established, the dealer places a puck in the appropriate box with its white side facing upward. The dealer also uses these boxes to position chips according to players’ betting requests.
The bets you can ask the dealer to place in this section include buy, lay, and place bets, as well as odds bets on Come and Don’t Come wagers. Although Come and Don’t Come wagers are self-service bets, their odds are managed by the dealers. Whenever you place chips in the Come or Don’t Come area and a point is established for the bet, the dealer will move your chips to the corresponding point box.
You will notice two thin rectangles above and below each point box, as well as a wider rectangle at the top. The thinner rectangles are where the dealer places chips for place bets, while the wider one is used for lay and Don’t Come bets. The dealer places Come and buy bets inside the point boxes. Unlike in the self-service area, where players must quickly remove their winning chips, players are not allowed to touch chips in the dealer’s section. Only dealers can place or remove them.
The center section of the craps table is where the proposition bets are located. You should not touch any part of this area because it is handled exclusively by the stickman, whose role is explained later in this article. Whenever you want to make a bet in the center of the table, get the stickman’s attention and lightly toss your chips onto the layout while trying to avoid other players’ chips.
If the stickman is busy with other players and you do not want to wait, you can place your chips on the apron and tell the dealer which proposition bet you want to make. The dealer will either place your chips in the correct area or wait for the stickman and explain where to put your bet. If you win a proposition bet, the stickman will tell the dealer how much to pay you, and the dealer will place the chips on the apron in front of you.
Dealers
Three dealers work at the craps table at a time. Two assist players with bets in the dealer’s area of each side section, while the third, called the stickman, manages all the proposition bets in the center of the table.
The stickman’s job is to call the game, pass the dice to each shooter, and handle every proposition bet in the center. As mentioned earlier, the other dealers may also place chips in the center of the table, although they often choose to hand them to the stickman. When you win a proposition bet, the stickman will announce your winnings, and the dealer on your side of the table will place the chips on the apron.
Good dealers can keep track of every player’s bets and accurately pay each winner. Because the two side dealers are responsible for placing bets and paying winnings, their job carries considerable responsibility. While most craps dealers are professionals, they may occasionally become distracted and pay you an incorrect amount. This is why you should remain alert and check the chips you receive.
When you approach a craps table at a casino, you must place your money in the betting box marked “COME.” An employee known as the boxman will then count your cash and prepare your chips, which the dealer on your side of the table will hand to you.
Floor Staff
In addition to the three dealers, floor staff members help manage and monitor the action at a craps table. In the center of the table, between the two dealers who manage the players’ bets, is an employee known as the boxman or boxwoman.
This floor staff member ensures that players receive the correct number of chips for their money, are paid the exact amount they have won, and receive the appropriate odds on their Pass and Don’t Pass wagers.
You will probably notice that brick-and-mortar casinos often have more than one craps table in the same area. This section of the casino is called the craps pit, and a floorman is usually responsible for several tables within it. The floorman must monitor all the games and intervene when the boxman cannot resolve an issue.
If there is a dispute, the floorman may side with the player, as doing so can improve the casino’s image. In addition to handling patrons’ requests, floor staff members also work with high rollers.
Land-based casinos also employ pit bosses, who oversee all the tables in the craps pit. The floor staff reports to the pit boss, who has the final say on any issue that requires resolution.
Proper Etiquette at the Craps Table
Learning the sections of the craps table is not enough to enjoy the game fully. Before you approach the craps pit, you should learn the proper etiquette that players are expected to follow.
When you join a game, do not act overconfident or tell other players what they should or should not do. However, if someone asks for advice, be polite and offer your opinion without interfering with their gameplay.
It is also important to treat the dealers with respect. Remember to say “please” when asking to place a bet and thank them when they give you your winnings.
You should also know how to begin betting when you approach a table. Place your money in the “COME” box and tell the dealer what you want to bet on. However, make sure you do this while the dice are not in motion. When you hear the stickman announce, “Dice are out,” do not place any wagers. Wait until betting resumes.
Like many other casino players, craps players can be highly superstitious. For this reason, you should avoid saying the word “seven” at the table, as most players tend to bet on the Pass Line. If you say “seven” and that number is then rolled, you may draw annoyed looks from superstitious players. If you need to refer to the number, you can use the phrase “S-word” instead. This may be only a superstition, but it is still part of craps etiquette.
Another point to consider when joining a game is checking who the next shooter will be. Once you identify the player who will throw the dice, make sure you do not stand too close to them. As mentioned above, craps players can be highly superstitious, so you should give the shooter enough space to move freely. That way, you are less likely to be blamed for an unfortunate result caused by distracting the person throwing the dice.
When it is your turn to roll, you will be presented with several dice. Pick two and hold them in the hand you will use to throw them. Do not switch the dice to your other hand, and always keep them above the table. This allows the dealers to confirm that you are not using a different pair of dice. When you throw them, do so with enough force for the dice to hit the other side of the table and bounce back.
If you are new to craps, do not worry too much. The game is meant to be entertaining. Let the dealers know that you are inexperienced, and they will be happy to help with anything you are unsure about.