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Most people who have been to a casino know that the craps table always looks like the place where the action is. People crowd around the craps table, calling out bets and yelling for good rolls. But, how exactly do you play craps? The table itself looks like a confusing mess of lines and numbers. The game is fast paced and exciting, but it's honestly not hard to learn to play craps. There are a few simple bets a novice can start with and build upon as their comfort level grows. |
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Craps is played with a standard pair of dice, each with the numbers 1 through 6. The objective of playing craps is for the Shooter to establish a Point number and then roll that number again before rolling a 7 (craps). The Shooter is the player currently rolling the dice. Only the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 can be a point number. There are a variety of bets for you to choose from, but it is in your best interest to first understand the basic concepts of the game before placing more complicated bets. |
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The game is played by tossing the dice from one end of the table to the other. Both dice should hit the far wall to be considered Fair. Occasional short throws are usually no big deal, especially if the shooter is obviously a novice. The payoffs for each wager are based on the probability of a number combination being rolled versus the probability of the seven being thrown. For instance, the probability of the 4 being rolled is 3 out of 36 while the 7 will appear 6 out of 36 rolls. Therefore the true odds for the 4 are six to three or two to one. The 4 is actually paid under the house odds at nine to five. This is where the house gets its edge. |
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Each throw of the dice is called a Roll. Players take turns rolling the dice, rotating clockwise around the table. The player rolling the dice is called the Shooter. You do not have to shoot the dice when it is your turn. You choose to Pass if you're not up for it or not feeling lucky. When a new shooter is given the dice, his or her first roll is called the Come Out Roll. |
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Let's start with the most basic craps bet, the Pass Line. The Pass Line is located along the edge of the table where craps players will be standing. By placing a bet on the Pass Line you are betting with the person rolling the dice. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the Pass Line automatically wins with even odds. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, the Pass Line loses but the same player continues to be the shooter. The shooter only changes players if a 7 is rolled. The Don't Pass Line also pays even money. Any other number rolled becomes the Point. Once the shooter establishes the Point, the dealer will move a puck that says On to that Point number and turn it the white side up. If the point is rolled again before a seven is rolled then your Pass Line bet wins and the shooter begins rolling for a new Point. When a shooter Sevens Out (Craps Out), the puck is moved to the Don't Come bar area and turned black side up, which reads Off. |
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After a Point is rolled you can make a bet on the Come Line. The Come Line is located behind the Field on both sides of a craps table. With a bet on the Come Line, if a 7 or 11 is rolled you automatically win even money. If a 2,3, or 12 are rolled you lose your Come Bet. If any other number is rolled, that number becomes a Come Point and your Come Bet is placed on that number. The Come Point numbers are located behind the Come Line. In order to win with a Come Point Bet, that number must be rolled again before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled first, then you lose your Come Bet. There is also a Don't Come bet. On a Don't Come bet 7, 2, and 3 wins and 12 is a standoff. |
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Once you have a bet on a number from the Pass Line or Come Line, you may then take odds on the number. The odds are where a player can really maximize their bet. In most casinos you can bet up to three times the amount of your Pass Line Bet, called Taking Full Odds. Some casinos offer up to 100 times odds. The odds have different payoffs depending on the number. The payoff odds are listed in the table below. |
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Craps Point Odds Payoffs
| Point Number |
Payoff |
| 10 |
2 to 1 |
| 9 |
3 to 2 |
| 8 |
8 to 6 |
| 6 |
8 to 6 |
| 5 |
3 to 2 |
| 4 |
2 to 1 |
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Once a Point is made you can also bet on a certain number, called a Place Bet. A Place Bet can be made on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. You are betting that this number will be rolled before a seven is rolled. The payoffs for Place Bets are listed below. |
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Craps Place Bet Payoffs
| Place Number |
Payoff |
| 10 |
9 to 5 |
| 9 |
7 to 5 |
| 8 |
7 to 6 |
| 6 |
7 to 6 |
| 5 |
7 to 5 |
| 4 |
9 to 5 |
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In front of the Come Line is an area called the Field. When you place a bet on the Field you are betting that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The bet pays even money unless a 2 or 12 is rolls, these often pay double. If the next roll is a 5, 6, 7, or 8, you lose your Field Bet. |
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The Stick Man is the casino employee who handles the dice with a long stick. He stands at the middle on the craps table. In front of him are a bunch of boxes and numbers. This is where you can make Proposition Bets. These bets can be made before every roll of the dice. Bets on 2 and 12 pay thirty to one, 3 and 11 pay fifteen to one odds. These are one roll bets. You can also make a Horn or Horn High Bet. A Horn Bet is a combination of all four numbers, 2, 3, 11, and 12. A Horn High Bet is a wager that has an extra amount on one of the four numbers. A $5 Horn High Twelve Bet means that $2 is bet on 12 with a $1 bet on each other number. |
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Another type of Proposition Bet is a Hard Way Bet. The Hard Way Bets are Hard 4 (two 2s), Hard 6 (two 3s), Hard 8 (two 4s), and Hard 10 (two 5s). If your combination comes up before a seven or before the number with another combination then you win, otherwise you lose your Hard Way Bet. So, if you put money on Hard 8 and a 3 and 5 combination is rolled before a 4 and 4 then you will lose. Hard Way Bets stay on the table until the bet is won or lost. |
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Any Craps is another Proposition Bet available. This is a one roll bet where you are betting a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. If one of these numbers is rolled you win seven to one odds. |
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You make take some of your bets off the table and remove them from play while the craps game is underway. The following bets can be removed during play, Pass Line Odds, Come Bet Odds, Don't Pass Bet, Don't Come Bet, any Place Bet. The bets can only be removed before the dice are rolled. |
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You can also call your bets Off, which will mean your bets cannot win or lose, but again, only before the dice is rolled. If you call a bet Off, you have to loudly announce that to the dealer and get his confirmation. Pass Line Bets and Come Bets may not be called off. |
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There are a lot of things to remember in craps. At first it may seem overwhelming so stick with a few simple bets, Place Bets, Pass Line, and Come Bets are good starters. Watch what other players are doing and feel free to ask they dealer if you have questions. The dealer with be happy to answer any questions you have. Happy rolling and good luck! |
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