Oh, Craps !

When you step into a casino, chances are the table with all the noise and the action will be the one offering the dice-game craps. For some reason, craps either attracts noisy people, or inspires normally subdued people to get very excited. Craps is a fast moving game played with two dice, and is one of the most popular games on offer in the US. It is also a big-money game, offering good returns if you get it right. There are definite right and wrong bets in craps, so it's worth finding out how to play before you get swept away by the excitement of the craps playing crowd.

Craps is believed to have originated in the USA from an old dice game called Hazard. In hazard the term "crabs eyes" was used to describe a throw of two ones - also known as snakes eyes. Crabs eyes quickly became "craps". But one thing is for certain; it has nothing to do with the slang term "crap".

The rules to craps sound complicated and scary, but really it is one of the easiest casino games to learn once you get into it. Don't get frustrated if you don't understand the rules the first time around - give yourself some time to get your mind around the game and you'll be crapping with the best of them in no time.
The main reason people are reluctant to try craps is they the layout is confusing and intimidating. A lot of people are unsure about the bets, the odds and the payoffs of game. An easy way to learn craps is to take advantage of the free craps lessons offered by many of the big casinos. The lessons will show you everything you need to know to play the game, but beware: do you really think the casino is going to show you the best way to better your odds and lower the house advantage - probably not!

It's hard to explain the ins and outs of the game without having a playing table to show, but once you've been to the casino to have a look, the list of bets below will make more sense.

PLAYING THE GAME

PASS LINE: The Pass Line is an even money bet that means if you bet $5 you will get $5 back. You will win on the pass line if the first roll is a 7 or 11. You will lose if the roll is 2, 3, or 12 - this is called craps. If the first roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, this is considered the point; the point must be thrown again before a 7, or you lose. If the point is repeated, then you win on the pass line - winning the dollar for dollar bet.

Once the point has been established you can increase your line bet by taking odds. This is done by betting additional money that the shooter is going to make his point. You place this bet directly behind the original line bet. Each point pays different odds. If you were to take the odds on a point of 4 or 10, you would get paid 2 to 1 for your bet (bet $1 and get paid $2). If the point were 5 or 9, you would get paid 3 to 2 for your bet (bet $2 and get paid $3) etc. When you opt to increase the stakes by taking the odds, you will always get paid more than you bet based on what the odds are of making that point before a 7.

The Pass Line bet is the easiest and most common bet to perform. If you are a novice at craps, it is definitely the best way to start off. Other more complicated or advanced bets include Come Bets, Odds On Come Bets, Don't Pass Line, Don't Come Bets, Place Bets, Field Bets and Proposition Bets. I will outline some of the key aspects of these bets for you.

The Come Bet: This is quite similar to the original Pass Line bet we have spoken about. It is an even money bet (ie bet $1 and you receive $1 if you win). The only real difference between the Pass Line and the Come Bet is that you make a come bet after the point has been determined on the pass line.. After you make a come bet, the first roll of the dice will establish the come point. If a 7 or 11 rolls, youare an automatic winner. But if you roll 2, 3, or 12 on the first roll you lose.
The Odds-On Come Bet: Just like in the original Pass Line Bet, you can take odds in the Come Bet. This means that you can bet additional money that the shooter is going to make his point. The odds on come bets takes place exactly the same way it does in the Pass Line, except that the dealer takes the money and places it on the come point for you.

The Don't Pass Line bet: This is the Pass Line Bet in reverse. Simply, if the first roll of the dice is a 7 or 11, you lose. If it is a 2 or 3, you win. If the roll is a 12, it is called a push and you neither win or lose. If the first roll is a point, a 7 must be rolled before that point is repeated in order to win. If the point is repeated before the 7, the "don't pass line" loses. The odds are reversed in the don't pass.
The Don't Come Bets: Like the Don't Pass Line bet, the Don't Come Bets is the some as the Come Bet but in reverse. The rules are the same as in the don't pass line bet. The only difference is that the dealer places your bet on the come point as it is rolled.

The Place Bet: This allows you to place a bet on the probability or likelihood that a certain dice will be rolled. You will be able to place this bet only after a point has been established. For example, if you think that before the next seven is rolled that there will be a four, five, six, eight, nine or 10 rolled, you can ask the dealer to place a bet on anyone of those numbers. The odds depend on which number you choose to bet on. Four and ten pay nine to five - good odds - this means if you bet $5 you get paid $9. But six and eight pay seven to six, which means you get $6 and get paid $7.

The Field Bet: Once again, the field bet allows you to bet on the probability of a certain number dice being rolled. It is an even money bet. You can bet that the next roll of the dice is going to be a 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. If the roll is a 2, you get paid double the amount you bet. If you roll a 12, you get paid triple the amount you bet. If the roll is 5, 6, 7, or 8, you lose.

The Proposition Bet: The proposition bets are located in the middle of the craps table and pay good odds if you can win. This bet can be placed on any roll of the dice. This is how it works: If any craps is rolled ie if 2, 3 or 12 rolls it pays 8 for 1 odds. If a 7 is rolled you get paid 5 for 1. If 11 rolls you get paid l6 for 1. If you roll a one and a two it is called an Ace Deuce. If a 3 is rolled you get paid the same as 11 which is 16 to 1. You can also bet on 2 and 12, which pays 31 to 1.

Well there you have it. I hope that information which I have put together from my playing experience and my research will help you to become a great craps player. But the information should really be used as a guide only and no responsibility is taken for the accuracy and correctness of the material presented. I advise you to go to you casino and take some craps lessons so that everything I've written about makes sense. I would then advise you to read everything you can about the game, including more complicated material than this site offers. Once you've got it all together and you have a thorough understanding of the rules, the best and the odds, it's time to start playing with real money. It is unadvisable to bet with real dollars if you don't understand the game.

Happy crapping!

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