Directions for Playing Craps
A popular dice game at casinos, craps allows players to place multiple bets. In order to win at a table, you have to get the best odds. Since there are so many bets a player can make in the game, it requires that you understand the game completely before you play. The rules can seem complex, and understanding them will take time and patience.
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Instructions
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Roll the dice. If you are up to the roll the dice, you are the shooter during the game. Your first round, the come-out roll, can last as long as one roll or several rolls. The dealer will say "Coming Out" when a new round starts. You roll the dice until you "seven out" or roll a seven at the wrong time. Then the next player gets to roll in the series of rounds.
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Bet on the roll if you are not rolling the dice. A basic bet, the pass line bet, pays even money. Whatever you bet you will win back. Simply wait for the come-out roll and put your chips on the area of the table marked as the pass line.
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Wait for the shooter to roll the dice after you place your bet. If the shooter rolls a seven or 11 you win, if he rolls a two, three or 12 (craps) then you lose and any other number (four, five, six, eight, nine and 10) means the shooter rolls again.
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Locate the marker on the table. The number that executes the next round, the point, allows you to get another chance to win. The marker will be set to "on" which means that somebody rolled the correct number to enter this round. The marker will be set on the number rolled to get into the next round.
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Wait for the shooter to roll again. If the shooter rolls the same number or point again, you win; if he rolls a seven he loses and any other number will allow him to roll again. If the shooter rolls anything but a seven or the same point number, he is "throwing numbers." These numbers are irrelevant, and it just means he has made many throws without hitting seven or the point. Whenever a seven shows up on the dice during this round, it will cause you to lose or "seven out." This means the next shooter gets a turn.
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Place an odd bet. You can increase your chances of winning by placing an odd bet or "taking the odds." You can only place the odd bet after placing a pass line bet once the shooter establishes a point. You place this bet south of the pass line bet. If you win, you will win the pass line bet and the odds bet, and if you lose you will lose both bets. Odds bets reduce the house edge. In a single odds game, you can only bet as much as the pass line, and in the double odds game you can only bet twice your pass line bet.
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Place a come bet to increase your odds of winning. Once a shooter establishes the point number for the game, you can place the come bet by sitting your chips on the area marked "COME." You can win the come bet if the shooter rolls a seven or 11, and you will lose if she rolls a two, three or 12. All other numbers that roll establish a come point, and your bet will move to that number to mark it. You can only place a come bet once a point is established. You will win if the next roll is a seven or 11 or if the come point repeats before a seven and you will lose if the next roll lands a two, three, 12 or seven before the come point repeats.
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Place an odds bet on the come bet. Once you establish a come point, you can make an odds bet. Once you make a pass bet a point will establish. You can then make the maximum odds bet allowed. Once a point becomes established, you can make a come bet until you establish one come point. Once you reach the come point, you can make the maximum odds bet allowed.
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Tips & Warnings
Understand the rules of the table on odd bets. The amount you win will depend on the rules of the casino. The odds bet allows you to win more money instead of an even amount. Depending on the ratio of the table you can win different amounts. Some tables may offer a 2 to 1 odds bet payout, while others may offer a 6 to 5 ratio payout. The odds bet will pay according to how hard it becomes to hit the point. For example, since there are only three ways to roll a 4 and six ways to roll a 7, the odds of rolling another 4 are 2 to 1 against the shooter. A number with an "x" like "2x" refers to how much you can wager on the odds bet, and a ratio like 2 to 1 refers to the payout of the odds bet.
Watch a craps game and inspect the players. This is a great way to learn because you will see the game in action.
Practice playing the game online before you bet money at a casino to get the feel for the game.
Never say "seven" once the shooter establishes a point. Expert crap players will refer to seven as "it."
Gambling can become addictive. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, seek immediate help to regain control of your life.
References
- Photo Credit red dice image by Steve Marquez from Fotolia.com
