Craps has been one of the most popular casino games – both offline and online – for many decades. It arguably looks like the most fun game, too, as it has been depicted in movies and TV shows as a somewhat communal experience.
However, craps is probably one of the most intimidating casino games for beginners, too, possibly due to the fact that there are so many options on the betting table. You could, for example, teach a child to play blackjack within a few minutes, but craps is a bit more daunting.
That said, those myriad betting options belie an underlying simplicity. In short, once you get the hang of what is going on, it becomes easy to understand. There are, of course, different craps games online, and various strategies, but we can lay out the basics quite succinctly, helping you gain confidence the next time you encounter a craps table.
The Main Bet – the Pass Line.
The best place to start is with the main type of bet, known as the Pass Line. Someone will be selected to roll the two dice to start the game, which is known as the Come Out Roll.
The Pass Line bet is basically a wager on the Come Out Roll being 7 or 11. If that occurs you win. If the two dice add up to 2, 3, or 12, you lose. The latter is known as “craps” or crapping out, and it’s where the game gets its name from.
Any other result, and the number becomes the Point. This causes a second roll. In this second phase, the objective is to roll the Point number before a 7. For example, if the Come Out Roll was an 8, the Shooter (the person rolling the dice) would keep rolling until eventually a score of 7 or 8 is achieved. Remember 8 is the Point in this example only. If 7 is rolled first, you lose. If the Point is rolled first, you win.
Don’t Pass Bet
The Don’t Pass Bet is basically the opposite of the Pass Line bet, with a couple of tweaks. Your initial bet will win on the Come Out Roll if 2 or 3 is rolled. It loses if 7 or 11 is rolled. When it comes to the second phase, you will want a 7 to be rolled before the Point number.
Odds Bets
Okay, it’s getting a little bit complicated here, but wear with us. An Odds Bet is an additional wager placed when the Point is established. You can consider it a bit like doubling down, betting that the Point number will be hit before 7.
Come Bets
Another bet that is established after the Point is established. The Come Bet pays if a 7 or 11 is rolled once the Point is established, and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. Any other number becomes the Come Point, which you will want to see rolled before another 7.
Other Bets
There are loads of other bets you can place, all with varying degrees of risk and reward. The Hardways Bet is probably the most famous, as you do see movies and the like talking about rolling a “Hard 8”. It is simply a bet on a specific number being formed by the same pair, e.g., two 4s to form a Hard 8. Other bets, such as Field Bets and Proposition Bets, bet on specific numbers being rolled before 7.
Conclusion
There is a lot to take in with craps, but when you break it all down, you soon realize that a lot of the bets are similar, betting for and against the same thing. The main concept to get a handle on is betting on the Pass Line and establishing the Point. Once you get your head around that, you’ll understand about 80% of the game.