Learn To Play Craps

Learn To Play Craps

There are few casino games which attract the crowds in the same way that Craps does. Full of energy, it's fast and furious, making it many peoples favorite game. Initially it looks very complicated and can be intimidating, but it is actually a very simple game to learn and play.

On the first roll of the dice, the shooter (player throwing the dice) is trying to establish a 'point'. This done by rolling either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The first roll of the dice is called the 'come out roll'. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 then the wager is lost. These numbers are known as Craps, from which the name of the game is taken. If the shooter throws a 7 or 11, the wager is paid off at even money. If the shooter rolls a point number, then he/she has to continue to roll the dice until they roll the same number again (known as 'making the point'), before they roll a 7.

There are several ways of betting on a Craps game. These bets are placed on the Craps table as pictured above and are open to both the shooter and other players not rolling the dice. The bets that can be placed are as follows:

Types of Bets and their Payoffs

Pass Line Bets
Also called the "Front Line". This is the most popular bet at the Craps table. Available for the come out roll. Once Point is established, original bet may not be removed or altered. Wins if come out roll is 7 or 11. Loses if come out roll is 2, 3 or 12. Point is established if come out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Following the come out roll player wins if Point is rolled prior to rolling a 7. Player loses if a 7 is rolled prior to rolling the Point.
Payoff: 1 to 1

Don't Pass Bets
Also called the "Black Line". Available for come out roll. Wins if come out roll is 2 or 3. Loses if come out roll is 7, 11. Ties if come out roll is a 12. Point is established if come out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Following the come out roll player wins if a 7 is rolled prior to rolling the Point. Loses if the Point is rolled prior to rolling a 7.
Payoff: 1 to 1

Come Bets
Available once the Point has been established. Rules are similar to Pass Line Bet. Once Come Point is established, original bet may not be removed or altered. Wins if shooter rolls a 7 or 11. Loses if shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12. Come Point is established if the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 on a come out roll. The dealer moves the bet from the Come area to the corresponding box for that particular number. Once the Come Point has been established, the player wins if the Come Point is rolled prior to rolling a 7. Player loses if a 7 is rolled prior to rolling the Come Point.
Payoff: 1 to 1

Don't Come Bets
Available once the Point has been established. Rules are similar to Don't Pass Bets. Wins if shooter rolls a 2 or 3. Loses if shooter rolls a 7, 11. Ties if shooter rolls a 12. Come Point is established if shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. The dealer moves the bet from the Don't Come area to the corresponding box for that particular number. . Once the Come Point has been established, the player wins if a 7 is rolled prior to rolling the Come Point. Loses if the Come Point is rolled prior to rolling a 7.
Payoff: 1 to 1

Place Bet to Win
Available once the Point has been established. Player bets on a number(s) 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. This becomes the Place Number. Wins if shooter rolls the Place Number prior to rolling a 7. Payoff depends on the Place Number selected. Loses if shooter rolls a 7 prior to rolling the Place Number.
Payoff: 9 to 5 (on 4 or 10), 7 to 5 (on 5 or 9), 7 to 6 (on 6 or 8)

Place Bet to Lose
Available once the Point has been established. Player bets on a number(s) 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. This becomes the Place Number. Wins if shooter rolls a 7 prior to rolling the Place Number. Payoff depends on the Place Number selected. Loses if shooter rolls the Place Number prior to rolling a 7.
Payoff: 5 to 11 (on 4 or 10), 5 to 8 (on 5 or 9), 4 to 5 (on 6 or 8)

Hardway Bets
Available once the Point has been established. Player bets on a number(s) 4, 6, 8, 10. Wins if shooter rolls the selected number 'the hard way'. Roll a 4 via a pair of 2's, roll a 6 via a pair of 3's, roll an 8 via a pair of 4's, roll a 10 via a pair of 5's. Payoff depends on the number selected. Loses if the shooter rolls a 7 or rolls the number the easy way. For example, roll a 4 via a 3 and 1, roll a 6 via a 4 and 2 or 5 and 1, roll an 8 via a 5 and 3 or 6 and 2, roll a 10 via a 6 and 4.
Payoff: 7 to 1 (on 4 the hard way) (on 10 the hard way), 9 to 1 (on 6 the hard way) (on 8 the hard way)

One Roll Bets
Player bets on a number(s) 2, 3, 11, 12. Wins if shooter rolls the selected number. Loses if the shooter does not roll the selected number. Payoff depends on the number selected.
Payoff: 30 to 1 (on 2 or 12), 15 to 1 (on 3 or 11)

Field
Player bets that any one of a group of numbers (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12) will be rolled on the next roll. Payoff depends on the number rolled. Loses if the shooter rolls a 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9. Bet remains on the table if following a win however the player may remove it from the table at any time.
Payoff: 1 to 1 (on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11), 2 to 1 (on 2, 12)

Any Craps
Player bets on the outcome of the next roll. Wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 or 12. Loses if the shooter rolls any other number.
Payoff: 7 to 1

Any 7
Player bets on the outcome of the next roll. Wins if the shooter rolls a 7. Loses if the shooter rolls any other number.
Payoff: 4 to 1

Horn
This is a four way bet. Place one or more chips on each of 2, 3, 11, 12. Wins if shooter rolls a 2, 3, 11 or 12. Loses if the shooter rolls any other number. Payoff depends on the number rolled.
Payoff: 30 to 1 (on 2 or 12), 15 to 1 (on 3 or 11)

Eleven or Craps (E - C)
Player bets on the outcome of the next roll. Wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 or 11 or 12. Loses if the shooter rolls any other number.Payoff depends on the number rolled.
Payoff: 7 to 2 (on 2 or 3 or 12), 15 to 2 (on 11)