The cacophony of cheers and jeers that erupts from a craps table can be intimidating to new players. At first glance, craps appears to be a complex game with arcane rules and too many betting options to count. However, the basics of craps are quite simple once uncovered. By learning a few fundamental rules and betting options, even first-timers can quickly gain enough knowledge to join the ruckus at the craps table of Lucky7even Online Casino or another gambling venue.
Understanding Craps Table Layout and Personnel
The craps table may initially look chaotic and confusing, but it follows a precise layout and protocol designed to organize play and resolve wagers. Learning the roles of the staff and the layout of the table will allow you to focus on the gameplay itself.
Key Staff and Areas
Four main personnel operate a craps table:
- Boxman: Oversees the game and handles and secures cash and chips.
- Stickman: Controls the dice, calls out numbers rolled, and gathers and pays out bets.
- Two Dealers: Take and pay out bets under the boxman’s oversight.
- Rail: The perimeter area where players stand to place bets.
- Pass Line: The most common area to bet with or against the shooter.
- Proposition Bets: Secondary bets with higher odds are located in the table’s center.
Placing Bets in Craps
While craps offer a wide variety of bets, just a few basic ones account for most wagers. Familiarizing yourself with these essential bets is enough to start playing craps.
The Pass Line Bet
This is the most integral craps bet. You place chips in the pass line and bet that the shooter will “pass” by rolling a 7 or 11 on their first throw, called the “come out roll.”
If they “pass,” you double your pass line bet. If they “crap out” by rolling 2, 3, or 12, you lose the pass-line bet. Any other number becomes “the point” that the shooter tries to roll again before a 7. If they succeed, pass-line bets win even money. If a 7 is rolled first, pass-line bets lose.
Odds Bets
Once the point is established, you can make an odds bet in addition to the original pass-line bet for extra winnings if the point is made before a 7. Odds bets win true odds and have zero house edge, making them lucrative bets.
Come and Don’t Come Bets
It is similar to pass-line bets but placed after the come-out roll once a shooter establishes a point. You are betting that they will roll the point again before a 7. Conversely, laying a do n’t-come bet is essentially betting against the shooter’s ability to make their point prior to a 7.
Place Bets
You can place bets on specific numbers after a point is established. If that number is rolled before a 7, the bet wins. Place bets on 6 or 8 win less than true odds; bets on 4 or 10 typically win true odds.
Understanding Craps Odds and Payouts
While craps bets may seem random, weighting the probable outcomes yields defined odds and payouts. Comprehending the mathematical edge the house holds across bets will aid your gameplay.
Common Craps Bets and Payout Odds
| Bet |
Pays |
House Edge |
| Pass/Come |
1:1 |
1.41% |
| Odds (6 or 8) |
6:5 |
0% |
| Odds (5 or 9) |
3:2 |
0% |
| Odds (4 or 10) |
2:1 |
0% |
| Place (6 or 8) |
7:6 |
1.52% |
| Place (5 or 9) |
7:5 |
4% |
| Place (4 or 10) |
9:5 |
6.67% |
Employing Craps Gameplay Strategy
While craps include chance, following some basic gameplay strategies can stretch your bankroll and playing time:
- Prioritize pass-line bets with max odds to lower house edge.
- Avoid proposition and one-roll “sucker” bets in the table center.
- Manage your bankroll carefully and set loss limits before playing.
- Review the established point before placing place bets.
- Take advantage of free odds bets to increase potential winnings.
Rolling Into Your First Craps Game
While craps present an intricate betting landscape, just mastering some fundamental rules and bets will enable you to dive into a live craps game. Remember to use an appropriate strategy based on odds and payouts analysis. With some practice at an online casino first, you’ll be prepared to join the fray confidently at brick-and-mortar craps tables to try capitalizing on the game’s best bets.
