Craps

General Description of Craps

Craps is sometimes called simply the dice, but this definition is not entirely correct because dice are used in many games of chance. Two six-sided dice are used in this game. Each of their faces shows from one to six pips. The game is played at the table with a special layout and high edges, preventing the dice from bouncing off the table.

Many players (usually up to twenty) can participate in the game simultaneously. One of them rolls the dice (this player is called the Shooter). Other players make bets on the outcome of the roll.

The aim of the player is to predict the outcome of the roll made by the shooter and make the appropriate bet.

How to shoot dice in craps

Dice are made of cellulose and are carefully checked after several rounds.

Dice are replaced after eight hours of use.

Dice should be shooted according to the rules. Otherwise, you will lose the role of the shooter at the table.

It is allowed to handle them only with one hand. Dice must touch the board on the opposite side of the table. If the dice bounce off the table, the casino employee has to check them and select another pair of dice. In each round, there is only one shooter. When he loses, dice are passed to the next player to his left.

Craps Gameplay

The gameplay of craps consists of two main stages:

1. come-out roll
2. and point roll.

Let's consider them from the point of view of the shooter.

A come-out roll is the first roll of the dice, which is necessary to establish a point. The point is fixed if 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 show up. In this case, the game proceeds to the point roll.

• If the first roll is 2, 3, or 12, the craps is announced, and the shooter loses his right to roll the dice, and the next player starts doing it.
• If the roll is 7 or 11, the situation is called natural, and the shooter wins and throws the dice again.

The shooter continues to throw the dice until the established point, or 7 comes up. In the first case, the shooter wins. The game starts again, and the shooter rolls the dice again. If the roll is a 7, he loses, and the right to roll the dice moves to another player.

Bets in Craps

Let's discuss the gameplay of craps from the point of view of other players, taking into consideration possible types of bets.

• Pass Line is a bet made during the come-out roll. It wins if the roll is either 7 or an 11. If 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, the player loses and continues to play if a point is set. If the point is rolled before a 7 (i.e., if the shooter wins), this bet wins. It is paid 1:1.
• Don't Pass Line is a bet opposite to a Pass Line bet. It is also made during the come-out roll. This bet wins if 2 and 3 show up. It is returned to the player if 12 is rolled. It loses if the roll is either 7 or 11. It is still valid if a point is established. It wins if 7 is rolled earlier than the point (i.e., if the shooter loses) comes up. It is paid 1:1.
• Come is a bet made on the next point rolled by the shooter. It wins if the next roll equals either 7 or 11. It loses if 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. Any other number is defined as a Come point, and the bet is placed on the corresponding field. It wins if the Come point will be rolled earlier than a 7. It is valid till the end of the game. Users can neither remove nor change it. It is paid 1:1.
• Don't Comeis a bet that is made after establishing the point. It wins if the roll is 2 or 3. It loses if either 7 or 11 is rolled. It is returned if the roll is 12. If the shooter rolls any other number, it is defined as the Do Not Come point, and the bet moves on the corresponding field. Then it wins if 7 is rolled earlier than the Do Not Come point. It is paid 1:1.
• Pass Line Odds is a side bet that can be made to increase the existing Pass Line bet after establishing the point. It wins in the same cases as the Pass Line bet. It is paid in the following way: if 4 or 10 is rolled - 2:1; if 5 or 9 is rolled - 3:2; if 6 or 8 is rolled - 6:5.
• Don't Pass Line Odds is a side bet that can be made to increase the existing Don't Pass Line bet after establishing the point. It wins in the same cases as the Don't Pass Line bet. It is paid in the following way: if 4 or 10 is rolled - 1:2; if 5 or 9 is rolled - 2:3; if 6 or 8 is rolled - 5:6.
• Come Odds is a side bet that can be made to increase the existing Come bet (up to three times) after establishing the point. It wins in the same cases as the Come bet. It is paid in the following way: if 4 or 10 is rolled - 2:1; if 5 or 9 is rolled - 3:2; if 6 or 8 is rolled - 6:5.
• Don't Come Odds is a side bet that can be made to increase the existing Don't Come bet after establishing the point. It wins in the same cases as the Don't Come bet. It is paid in the following way: if 4 or 10 is rolled - 2:1; if 5 or 9 is rolled - 2:3; if 6 or 8 is rolled - 5:6.
• Win is a bet on any number that must be rolled before 7 comes up. It is paid in the following way: if 4 or 10 is rolled - 9:5; if 5 or 9 is rolled - 7:5; if 6 or 8 is rolled - 7:6.
• Lose is a bet on any number that must not be rolled before 7. It is paid in the following way: if a 4 or a 10 is rolled - 5:11; if a 5 or a 9 is rolled - 5:8; if a 6 or an 8 is rolled - 4:5.
• Hard Way is a bet that is made on the fact that the shooter rolls a pair (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) earlier than 7, or the same number of points in another combination comes up. It is paid in the following way: if 3+3 or 4+4 is rolled - 9:1; if 2+2 or 5+5 is rolled - 7:1.
• Big Six is a bet on 6 will roll earlier than 7. It is paid 1:1.
• Big Eight is a bet on an 8 will roll earlier than 7. It is paid 1:1.
• Field is a bet made at any game stage and wins if 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 will come up in the next roll. It is paid in the following way: if 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 is rolled - 1:1; if 2 or 12 is rolled - 2:1.
• Any Craps (C) is a bet that wins if 2, 3, or 12 will come up in the next roll. It is paid 7:1.
• Craps Two is a bet that wins if 2 will come up in the next roll. It is paid 30:1.
• Craps Twelve is a bet that wins if 12 will come up in the next roll. It is paid 30:1.
• Craps Three is a bet that wins if 3 will come up in the next roll. It is paid 15:1.
• Any Seven is a bet on the shooter will roll 7 in the next roll. It is paid 4:1.
• Eleven (E) is a bet that wins if 11 will come up in the next roll. It is paid 15:1.

Odds and Strategies in Craps

As for the house edge, the most profitable bets for players are Pass Line Odds, Do not Pass Line Odds, Come Odds, Do not Come Odds, but they can be made only if you have already made Pass Line, Do not Pass Line, Come, and Do not Come bets.

The combination of these types of bets is the best strategy for craps.

More information can be found in the corresponding section of Casinoz.

Where to play craps

The best way to play craps is to visit land-based casinos, but for many Casinoz readers, it can be a problem, as the game is not available in all gambling clubs. Online casinos offer craps too. You can choose a website by reading our reviews.