Craps Rules – Learn How to Play Craps
Craps is a very fun an exciting dice game played in the various casinos worldwide. In this section we will discuss the different craps rules, craps bets, and everything else you need to know in order to play. Different websites have different craps rules, and the craps rules that will be explained here will be of the general game that is played in most sites and casinos. Craps rules have a long gaming history behind it, and it’s popularity insures it will have a long future ahead as well.
The first thing to notice on the poker table is the shooter. The shooter is the player that throws the two dice. This role is passed from player to player throughout the craps games.
Craps rules depict various types of bets, and the most basic and most common of them is called “the pass line” bet.
The Come Out Roll Craps Rules
The come out roll is the first throw that the shooter makes in the game. After the shooter throws the dice, craps rules state that if he rolls a 7 or an 11, the pass line bet wins, and everyone that placed a bet on the pass line wins. If the shooter throws a 2, 3 or 12, then the pass line bet loses. If any other number is rolled (4,5,6,8,9 or 10), then that number is marked as “the point”.
Craps Rules After the Point is Established
After the point is established, the shooter throws the dice again. The pass line bettor wins if the point is rolled again. If the 7 is rolled after the point is established then the pass line loses. Any other numbers being rolled means the shooter must roll again.
The “don’t pass” bet is the exact opposite of the pass line. This wins if the come out roll is 2 or 3, loses on 7 and 11, and ties on 12. If any other number is rolled it is marked as the point – the same as with the pass line bet. After the point is established, the don’t pass bet wins if the 7 is rolled and loses if the point is rolled.
After the point is made, craps rules allow players to add to their pass line bet, and this is called “odds bet”. The advantage of odds bets is that it pays in true odds, with no house advantage over the player.
The craps rules of the come bets are almost the same as for the pass line bets. The difference is that they can be placed only after the come-out roll. The come bet is placed after the point is established.
Let’s say that in the come out roll, you roll a 4. This means the 4 is now the point. If you had placed a pass line bet it means you now would need to roll a 4 again to win the wager. But if you had placed a come bet instead, it means that according to craps rules, you would need to roll a 7 or 11 again, the same as with the pass line bet before the point was established. If the 4 is rolled again, then that number is marked as the come point. This new come point needs to be rolled again to win the come roll.
The don’t come bet is the same as the don’t pass bet, only it is placed after the point is established, after the come out roll.
Craps rules depict other less common bets include place bets, buy bets, lay bets, field bets, big 6 and big 8 bets, and proposition bets.
- Place bets – Bets that the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will be rolled before 7.
- Field bets – Bets on the 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 being rolled, when 2 and 12 pay double.
- Buy bets – A Bet that a field number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) will be rolled before 7.
- Lay Bets – The opposite of the buy bets, that the 7 is rolled before the field number.
- big 6 and big 8 bets – Bets on the 6/8 being rolled before 7.
- Hardway bets – A bet that two consecutive numbers are rolled.
- Any 7 and any 11 are bets on the 7 and on the 11, in that order. Any craps is a bet on 2, 3 or 12. horn bets are on the 2,3,11 or 12.
The most advised of all the craps rules is to place your bets mainly on the pass line and the come bets, including the odds bets of course, and not to waste your money on side bets such as field bets.
Debbie Graham – Section Editor 2006-05-24