Craps is one of the most exciting games that can be played at a casino, be it online or off. It is a very sociable game, with craps tables often being the site of wooping, hooting, cheering and hollering. The sociable aspect of craps is a consequence of the game's facilitation of multiple bets from multiple players. As will be explained, some of these bets are against the dice roller (more properly known as the "shooter"), while most bets are usually for the shooter. Thus, if the shooter does well, so do those who bet on him/her.

Table Layout

The craps table layout can look very confusing for new players. The purpose of this complexitity is to allow multiple bet types. Following is an outline of craps in its most basic form, with only the inclusion of the most basic bet type, known as a Pass Line bet. As such, the rest of the table can be ignored for now. A detailed explanation of the other bet types will follow.

Basic Gameplay and Rules

Craps is played with two dice, so the possible numbers which can be rolled range between 2 and 12. The game begins with the shooter and other players placing bets on the Pass Line, before the shooter roles the dice. This first shoot is known as the "come-out roll".

The objective of the shooter is to roll a 7 or an 11, which are automatic winners on the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out roll (known as "craps"), these are automatic losers. If any other number is rolled (i.e., 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), this becomes the shooter's "point" number. The shooter must then shoot until s/he finds the point number before finding a 7. If the 7 is found first, this is known as a "Seven Out", and all Pass Line bets are lost. If the point is rolled, Pass Line bets win and the series ends.

(Note that rolling a 7 constitutes a different outcome depending on whether the shooter is throwing the come-out roll or a point roll. This is often very confusing for new players. To elaborate, rolling a 7 during the come-out roll is a winner, and rolling a 7 after a point is established is a loser.)

Here's an example series . . .

• The shooter throws the dice on a come-out roll and finds a 5. Rolling a 7 or an 11 would have been an automatic winner, and rolling a craps (2, 3, or 12) would have been an automatic loser. As a 5 was rolled, the shooter has established a point of 5. The shooter must now roll a 5 before rolling a 7, otherwise all Pass Line bets are lost.
• The shooter throws the dice again and rolls an 8. Nothing happens. The series continues.
• The shooter throws the dice again and rolls a 3. Nothing happens. The series continues.
• The shooter throws the dice again and rolls a 5. This is the shooter's point, so all Pass Line bettors win and the series ends.

Other Bet Types

Don't Pass Line Bets

Unless a player is a "wrong" bettor, the Don't Pass Bet is one of the least bet areas of the craps table. Players who place a bet on the Don't Pass Line are betting against the dice. In other words, a Don't Pass bet is basically the opposite of a Pass Line bet. A player is not betting with the house but against the dice. A Don't Pass bet can only be made on the come-out roll, before a point is established. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, it's an immediate loser. If a 2 or 3 is rolled, it's an immediate winner. If a 12 is rolled, it is a standoff, and the Don't Pass Line bettor neither loses nor wins. Any other number which is rolled becomes the Don't Pass Line bettor's Don't Pass Point. If this number repeats before a 7 is rolled, the player loses. If a 7 is rolled first, the player wins.

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

A Big 6 or Big 8 bet can be made at any time throughout a series. Any player who places a Big 6 or Big 8 bet is betting that a 6 or an 8 will be rolled before a 7. Any other number has no effect on this bet. If a 7 is rolled, the player loses the bet. If, before a 7 is rolled, a 6 is rolled and the player had made a Big 6 bet, or if an 8 is rolled and the player had made a Big 8 bet, the player wins at even-money (1 to 1). Since the odds for Big 6 and Big 8 Bets are 6 to 5, the house has a 9.09% advantage. Therefore, it would be wiser for a player to make a Place bet on them, reducing the house odds to 1.52%.

Field Bets

The field bet is a one-roll bet and can be made regardless of whether a point is established or not. Any player who places a field bet is betting that one of the numbers listed in this area will be rolled next. If it is rolled, the player wins. If a number which is not listed in this box is rolled, the player loses. The 2 and 12 pay double-money.

Come Bets

A Come Bet is a bet made after a point is established. It works the same way as the Pass Line bet. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, it's an immediate winner. If a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, it's an immediate loser. Any other number which is rolled becomes the player's Come Bet Number. In order to win, this number must repeat before a 7.

Don't Come Bets

A Don't Come bet is a wager made after a point is established. It works the same way as the Don't Pass bet. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, it's an immediate loser. If a 2 or 3 is rolled, it's an immediate winner. If a 12 is rolled, it is a standoff and the player neither loses nor wins. Any other number which is rolled becomes the player's Don't Come Bet Number. If this number repeats before a 7 is rolled, the player loses. If a 7 is rolled prior to this number, the player wins.

Place Bets

Place bets are by far the most popular types of bets at the craps table. Place bets are working only after the come-out roll and can be placed on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Place bets win if the number they are placed on is thrown before a seven-out occurs.

Hardway Bets

A player who places a hardway bet is betting that the number wagered on will come up the "hardway" before a 7 is rolled or the number comes up the "easy way". For instance, a 4-4 on the dice is said to be "Eight the Hardway", whereas a 3-5 on the dice is said to be "Eight the Easy Way". Players may remove hardway bets at anytime prior to the next roll of the dice. If not removed the bets are assumed to be working on every roll, including the come-out roll.

One-Roll Bets

Players who make a one-roll bet are betting that the the number (or numbers if making an "Any Craps" bet) will come up on the next roll of the dice. If the number bet on does come up next, the player wins; if it doesn't, the player loses. One-Roll bets can be removed at any time prior to the next roll. If not removed, the bets are assumed to be working on every roll, including the come-out roll.

Any 7 Bets

By making a bet on the Any Seven, a player is betting that the next roll will be a 7. If it is a 7, the player is paid 4 to 1. If any other number is rolled, the bet is lost. The correct odds on rolling a 7 on any roll is 5 to 1, giving the house a 16.67% advantage.

Horn Bets

A Horn Bet simply means that a player wants to bet on all of the numbers around the Horn Box (i.e. the 2, 3, 11 and 12). For example, if a player were to make a $4 horn bet, this would give him/her $1 on each of the four one-roll propositions. Payoff is 30 to 1 on a 2 or 12, or 15 to 1 on a 3 or 11. True odds are 35 to 1 on 2 and 12 and 17 to 1 on 3 and 11. The house edge on all four bets is a 16.66%.

Any Craps Bets

By making a bet on the Any Craps, a player is betting that the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12 ("Crap Dice"). If it is craps, the player is paid 7 to 1. If it is any other number, the player loses the bet. Since there are only four ways to make craps (1-1, 1-2, 2-1 or 6-6), the correct odds on rolling craps on any roll is 8 to 1, giving the house an 11.1% advantage.

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