Craps Rules
Object of the Game
Craps is a game in which players need to predict what the outcome of the dice will be after the shooter has thrown the dice. There are various bets that can be placed on different outcomes of the dice, which will be explained further below.
Craps Basic Game Play
The shooter throws the dice. The shooter is chosen by the stickman, who is a casino employee. Players take turn at being the shooter, with the stickman helping the smooth flow of the game by choosing players in order.
The shooter rolls two dice. In the first roll, the shooter needs to “come out.” This can be done by rolling any number that does not equal two, three, or twelve. Rolling craps numbers, a two, a three, or a twelve in the first go means that the shooter has crapped out. Rolling a seven or an eleven in the come out roll is a far better thing to do, and results in a win. A seven or an eleven in the first throw is called a natural. Any other point value that is rolled in the first roll means that the player has come out. The value of this roll has “set a point” which means that play can continue.
The shooter will roll the dice again, hoping to get any number other than seven, because that will make them lose the round straight away. If the shooter gets the same number again, which means that he “makes” the point, he will begin the process of trying to get a come out number again. The new come out number will set a new point.
In the best situation, a shooter will set every point, and then make every point of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, without rolling a seven on the point, and without crapping out on the come roll. It would be a very unusual circumstance if all the points were rolled. Even though it is possible, the best scenario is usually when five of the points have been rolled.
Craps Betting
Line Bets
Before the shooter rolls the dice, he has to place a bet on either the Pass Line bet, or a Don’t Pass bet. Some casinos have the rule that all players have to take at least one of these bets in every game.
Pass line bet
This bet is won when the shooter rolls a come-out roll that is either a 7 or an 11. If the shooter craps out, these bets are lost. If the roll forms a point, and the point is thrown again before a seven is thrown, then the bet is won. The pass line bet pays out even money.
Don't pass bet:
This bet is basically the opposite of the pass line bet. Essentially those that take this bet are betting that the shooter will not make the point. This bet loses if a 7 or 11 are thrown first, and wins if a 2 or a 3 are thrown. The 12 is always a draw, and sometimes the specific casino rules will make the 2 a draw as well. If a 7 is rolled after a point is established, and before it is rolled again, the don’t pass bet will win. This bet loses in all the instances that the pass line bet wins.
Come bet/don't come bet:
These two bets are similar to the pass and don’t pass bets. The difference is that they are not placed on the come out roll, but on the other rolls. The come bet is placed, and wins if the next number rolled is a 7 or 11, and loses if the next number rolled is a 2, 3, or 12. If a point is set, that number, for example 4, becomes your number, and your come bet is moved to that number on the craps table. If a 4 is thrown before a 7, the bet wins. The don’t come bet is opposite to the come bet.
Free odds bet:
The odds bet is paid at true odds, without a house edge for the casino. This is a bet that is placed during play, after a point has been made. It is a bet that is added on to pass or come bets. If the point does come before a 7, the original bet is paid off at even money, and the free odds bet is paid at the true odds of that number being thrown by the dice.
Other Craps Bets
There are also place/buy bets that can be made, as well as a number of proposition, or single roll bets, or multi-roll bets. Players should understand these bets well before making them.
