How to Play Craps
Craps is the fourth most popular casino game in the world, trailing only behind slots, blackjack, and roulette. Players can play craps at basically any major live casino in the world, and can also play craps at almost all online casinos. One nice benefit of online casinos is the ability to play free online craps, so you don't have to put any money on the line until you understand the game. This page will teach you how to play craps, will explain the common bets you can make at a craps table, and will recommend where to play the game.
Craps Rules
Craps is a dice game played with two die, so the outcome of a roll can be any number between two and twelve. The dice are rolled onto a special table which has high walls to contain the dice, and a grid on the table's felt to dictate where you place your wagers. Here is what the table looks like:
After players place their bets, the game begins when the "shooter" (the person with the dice in their hands) makes their first roll, called the "come out roll." If the come out roll is a two, three, seven, eleven, or twelve, the game is over and bets are either taken or paid out. If the come out roll is any other number, that number becomes the "point" and the shooter keeps the dice.
From there, the shooter rolls the dice again and again until they either hit the point number or hit a seven, which results in "sevening out". Once a player either hits the point or sevens out, the game is over, and all bets are either taken or paid out. From there, the dice are passed to the next shooter who then rolls their own come out roll.
Common Craps Bets
Now that you understand how the game is played, let us discuss the common bets players make.
Pass Line
The Pass Line bet is the most common and simplest bet in the game of craps. Pass Line bets are placed before the come out roll.. If the come out roll is a two, three, or twelve then a Pass Line bet loses, but if the come out roll is a seven or eleven a Pass Line bet wins and pays out 1:1. If the come out roll establishes a point, then the Pass Line bet takes on a different form:
After a point is established, the Pass Line bet pays out 1:1 if the player hits the point again, or loses if the player sevens out before hitting the point. For example, if the come out roll was a six, and then the player rolled a eleven, an eight, then a six, the Pass Line bet would pay out 1:1 because the shooter hit the point again (six) before sevening out. Pass Line bets have a house edge of only 1.41%.
Don't Pass Line
The Don't Pass Line bet is the exact opposite of the Pass Line bet. On the come out roll, Don't Pass Line bets win if the dice show a two, three, or twelve, and lose if they show a seven or eleven. If a point is established, Don't Pass Line bets win if the player sevens out, and lose if the player hits the point. Don't Pass Line bets are unpopular because you are betting against the shooter, which isn't encouraged at a craps table. They pay out 1:1 just like the Pass Line bet.
Come Bet
The Come Bet is very similar to the Pass Line bet, except it is placed after the come out roll. If you place a Come Bet, the next roll will determine your own point. From there, you are hoping that your own point is rolled before the shooter sevens out. If the next roll after you make Come Bet is a seven, then you automatically win the 1:1 payout.
One thing to consider with the Come Bet is if you make your bet, a point is established, and then the shooter hits their own point. In this instance the dice are passed to the next shooter, but your bet stays on the table and will remain there until a shooter sevens out or hits your point.
Don't Come Bet
The Don't Come Bet is the exact opposite of the Come Bet. It is placed after the come out roll, and once your own point is established, you are hoping the shooter sevens out before hitting your point. Just like before, if the shooter hits their point before sevening out, your bet remains on the table until someone hits your point or sevens out.
Other Craps Bets
The four bets listed above are the most common bets in the game, and the safest for a new player to use. Besides those bets though, there are Place Bets, Don't Place Bets, Buy Bets, Lay Bets, Field Bets, and Proposition Bets. All of the bets I just listed have huge risk/reward, as they pay out up to 30x your bet, but are very unlikely to hit. The house edge is much higher on these sort of bets. To learn about every craps bet visit my craps site, CrapsOnline.net.
Playing Craps Online
If craps sounds like the game for you, we suggest practicing right here on our online craps game:
You can make all of the bets we discussed in the game above, so it is the perfect learning tool for new craps players. If you really like craps and would like to try it out for real money, you can play the exact same game at Bovada Casino. Bovada is also currently offering a 10% deposit bonus for all players who sign up through the special links on our site.