Craps Rules

Craps looks like a very complicated game, and indeed it can be. But, as you will shortly find out, it can also be a game as simple as you want to make it.

Craps is a game played with two dices and up to eight players participating. In physical casinos you will see that the craps table are always the most crowded tables. The constant action makes craps one of the most exciting and most played games in casinos.

The game starts with what is called a "Come Out" roll made by the so called "Shooter". This is the player currently rolling the dices. The shooter wins if he rolls a so called "Natural" which is a 7 or 11, and loses if the roll is a 2, 3 or a 12. This Is called "Craps". Rolling any of the remaining numbers (4,5,6,8,9, or 10) is known as the Point. If the shooter establishes a point at the come out roll, he has to roll another point and then a 7 to win the game. Rolling a seven right after the first point would mean he loses and the dices and they go on to the next player. In case you are the next shooter and you don't want to roll the dices you always have the option to give them right to the next player without rolling yourself.

The Betting

There are many different ways you can place bets in craps. Everybody on the table can place bets, not only the shooter. Here is a part of the craps table to make the bet easier to understand. The black chips demonstrate the bets that can be made.

Craps

  1. Pass Line Bet / This is the most popular and simplest bet in craps. You bet that the shooter wins his game. This bet can be made at any time but is generally made before the come out roll. The odds are 1:1 on this bets.
  2. Don't Pass Bet / This is exactly the opposite of the above. You bet the shooter does not win his game. Odds are 1:1 too.
  3. Odds Bet / When the shooter establishes the point in the come out role you can place an odds bet as an option to your Pass Line or don't Pass wager. In this bet the casino has absolutely no advantage because you don't bet against it. Basically you strengthen you pass or don't pass wager. A winning odds bet pays you the true odds which are 6:5 for a 6 and 8 roll, 3:2 for a 5 and 9 roll and 2:1 for a 4 and 10.
  4. Come Bet / The come bet works exactly like the Pass line bet but you make the bet after the point is established. The next roll becomes the come out roll for your bet. A come bet wins with 7 and 11 and loses with 2, 3 and 12. All other rolled numbers cause your wager to be moved to that particular number (the x is the spot where your wager is moved to, in this case the result of the roll was an 8). For you to win, the point has to be re-established before a 7 is rolled. The odds are 1:1 also.
  5. Don't Come Bet / The opposite of the explained above. Odds also are 1:1.
  6. Field Bet / You bet the outcome of the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. If the dices show 5, 6, 7 or 8 you lose. The odds are 2:1 on a 2 and 12 roll and 1:1 on a 4, 9, 10 and 11.
  7. Place Bet / Here you bet that a certain number will be rolled before a 7. The odds are 7:6 on a 6 and 8 roll, 7:5 on a 5 and 9 roll and 9:5 on a 4 and 10.
  8. Buy Bet / A buy bet is the same as the place bet but it pays the true odds with a 5% charge with every win.
  9. Big 6 and 8 / Here you bet that a 6 or a 8 is rolled before the next 7. Odds are 1:1.
  10. Any Craps / You bet the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. The odds on this one are 7:1.
  11. Hardways / This is a place bet on one of the doubles, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4 and 5+5. The odds are 7:1 on a hard 4 and hard 10 (2+2 and 5+5) and 9:1 on a hard 6 and a hard 8 (3+3 and 4+4).