Craps Instructions
The game of Craps is easy to play. The complications arise from the betting more than from playing the game itself.
The first thing to do if you want to play Craps is to place a bet.
A player can bet no matter whom the shooter is (you can wager for the shooter to win or for the house to win) they don’t have to roll the dice themselves to wager. If you don’t want to roll the dice you simply decline the offer when the dealer offers you the chance and the dealer will move on to the next player at the table.
Assuming that you want to throw the dice, you have placed a bet, and it is your turn the dealer will slide 5 or 6 dice to you. From these you pick two dice (any two) these are the ones you will play with.
The shooter then throws the dice for the first time. In order to prevent cheating the casino insists that:
- Prior to rolling the dice the shooter keeps them over the table and handles them only with one hand. This eliminates the possibility of the dice being switched for another set.
- When the shooter rolls the dice he/she must throw them hard enough to bounce off the far end of the table. This is the only way that you can be sure that a “true” roll has occurred. In the event that you throw the dice so hard that they bounce off the table the dealer will slide more dice over to you and you start over again.
If on the first roll the shooter throws a 7 or 11 then he/she wins, and if he/she throws a 2, 3 or 12 the shooter loses. If none of these numbers (2, 3, 7, 11 or 12) is thrown on the first throw (the Come-out roll) then a Point is established against which the shooter plays. The shooter continues to throw the dice until either the Point or a Seven is thrown, no other number is important in determining winning or losing. If the shooter rolls the Point before rolling a Seven he/she wins, however if the shooter throws a Seven before rolling the Point he/she loses.
The shooter continues to roll either Come-out rolls or Point rolls until they loose their bet. Then the dealer passes the dice to the next shooter (clockwise around the table).
Betting Options
In Craps there are many different ways to bet. They can be divided into three general categories:
- Basic Bets: are the most basic and popular of the betting options and the easiest to understand.
- Odds Bets: These are additional bets that cane be made after the shooter establishes a Point. Odds bets are excellent wagers for the player. You can lose more, but you can also increase your winnings. By taking or laying these odds the player reduces the casino’s advantage.
- One Roll Bets: These wagers are decided on one roll of the dice. One roll, the next roll, will decide if you win or lose.
A further variation is that players can bet with the shooter or with the house (against the shooter).
Basic Bets – There are two basic bets (made before or after the Come-out roll) with two variations (betting for the shooter or against the shooter).
Pass Line Bets / Don’t Pass Bets are made before the Come-out roll is made. Pass Line bets are for the shooter while the Don’t Pass bets are bets against the shooter
Come Bets / Don’t Come Bets are made after the Come-out roll, this is the only difference from Pass Line bets and Don’t Pass bets. The bets pay the same and have the same odds. Note that the Point for the come bet is not the same as the Point for the Pass Line bet. If you are unsure if the toss is a Come-out roll look for a large white disc, which is placed on one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the table layout. This disc lets you know that the Point has been established, what it is, and that the next rolls will be Point rolls.
These wagers pay in the following manner:
| Come-out Roll | Pass Line / Come Bet | Don’t Pass / Don’t Come Bet |
|
7 or 11 2, 3 or 12 |
Win (even money) Lose Lose |
Lose Win (even money) Tie |
| If the shooter rolls the Point before rolling a 7 | Win (even money) | Lose |
| If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the Point | Lose | Win (even money) |
Odds Bets (free odds bets) – These are excellent wagers for the player as there is no advantage for the house over the player.
Pass Line Odds Bets / Come Bet Odds Bets are made after you make a wager on the Pass Line. Then if a Point is rolled, you can back up your bet by taking (betting on the shooter) the odds on the Point.
| Point Rolled | Pass Line Odds Bet/Come Bet Odds Bet | |
| 4 or 10 | Pays 2 to 1 (a $5 bet pays $10) | Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the correct amount to receive the to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds down on uneven payoffs. |
| 5 or 9 | Pays 3 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $9) | |
| 6 or 8 | Pays 6 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $6) |
Don’t Pass Odds Bets / Don’t Come Odds Bets are made after you make a wager on a Don’t Pass. Then if a Point is rolled, you can back up your bet by laying (betting against the shooter) the odds on the Point.
| Point Rolled | Don’t Pass Odds Bet / Don’t Come Odds Bet | |
| 4 or 10 | Pays 1 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $3) | These bets should be made in multiples of $6 to ensure a proper payoff. |
| 5 or 9 | Pays 2 to 3 (a $6 bet pays $4) | |
| 6 or 8 | Pays 5 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $5) |
Place Bets are made on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and have nothing to do with the Point number. Once made a Place bet is always on except for the Come-out roll when they are always off, unless you tell the dealer differently. A Place bet is determined in the following manner:
- If a 7 is rolled before your Place number – you lose.
- If your Place number is rolled before a 7 – you win.
Payoffs:
| Point Rolled | Place Bet | |
| 4 or 10 | Pays 9 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $9) | Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds down on uneven payoffs. |
| 5 or 9 | Pays 7 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $7) | |
| 6 or 8 | Pays 7 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $7) |
Buy Bets are made on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 similar to Place bets but with different (true) odds. Again you are betting that the shooter will roll your number before he/she rolls a 7. A Buy bet is determined in the following manner.
- If a 7 is rolled before your Buy number – you lose.
- If your Buy number is rolled before a 7 – you win.
Payoffs:
| Point Rolled | Buy Bet | |
| 4 or 10 | Pays 2 to 1 (a $5 bet pays $10) | Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds down on uneven payoffs. |
| 5 or 9 | Pays 3 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $9) | |
| 6 or 8 | Pays 6 to 5 (a $5 bet pays $6) |
On Buy bets the casino charges a five percent service charge on the value of your bet in multiples of $1 (a $10 bet will cost you $11).
Lay Bets are the opposite of Buy bets. You are betting the shooter will roll a 7 before your Lay number of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10.
- If your Lay number is rolled before a 7 – you lose.
- If a 7 is rolled before your Lay number – you win.
Payoffs:
| Point Rolled | Lay Bet | |
| 4 or 10 | Pays 1 to 2 (a $6 bet pays $3) | Because of these payoffs you must take care to wager the correct amount to receive the correct payoff. The casino rounds down on uneven payoffs. |
| 5 or 9 | Pays 2 to 3 (a $6 bet pays $4) | |
| 6 or 8 | Pays 7 to 6 (a $6 bet pays $7) |
With Lay bets the casino charges a five percent service. However, now the charge is based on your potential winnings in multiples of $1 (a $40 bet on the 4 would pay $20, 5% of $20 is $1, so it will cost you $41).
Big Six or Big Eight Bets pay even money if you win.
- If a 7 is rolled before a 6 or an 8 – you lose.
- If a 6 or an 8 is rolled before a 7 – you win.
Hard Four Bets or Hard Ten Bets and Hard Six Bets or Hard Eight Bets are different bets, but are won in a similar manner. A hard number can be rolled only one way, with a pair of numbers. Thus the Four can be rolled only one way (2, 2), the Ten (5, 5), the Six (3, 3), and the Eight (4, 4). You are betting that the shooter will roll a hard number (whichever one you have chosen) before seven, and before any other combination on the dice equals the number chosen. Hard Four and Hard Ten bets pay 7 to 1, while Hard Six and Hard Eight bets pay 9 to 1.
One Roll Bets – These wagers are decided on the next roll of the dice.
Field Bets are popular because seven outcomes will win (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12) can win, while only four (5, 6, 7 or 8) can lose. This bet usually pays even money but sometimes a casino pays 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 when a 2 or a 12 is rolled.
Any Seven Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 7. The payoff is 4 to 1.
Any Craps Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. The payoff is 7 to 1.
Two Bets are for the next roll to be a 2. The payoff is 30 to 1.
Twelve Bets are for the next roll to be a 12. The payoff is 30 to 1.
Three Bets are for the next roll to be a 3. The payoff is 15 to 1.
Eleven Bets are for the next roll to be an 11. The payoff is 15 to 1.
Craps Eleven (also called a Horn Bet) is made when you are betting that a 2, 3, 11 or 12 will show on the next roll. The payoffs are:
| Point Rolled | Craps Eleven |
| 2 | pays 30 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $30) |
| 3 | Pays 15 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $15) |
| 11 | Pays 15 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $15) |
| 12 | Pays 30 to 1 (a $1 bet pays $30) |
Placing Bets
As well as knowing all of the various bets in Craps you also have to know how to place your wagers. There are different methods of placing bets depending on the wager you are making.
To place some bets you will have to enlist the aid of one of the casino employees at the craps table. There are four casino employees who supervise the Craps game in a casino. They are:
Dealers (two) who settle bets, assist the players and keep track of the action at the table.
Stickman (one) who assists the dealers, controls the dice, minds the center table bets and keeps the game lively.
Boxman (one) who guards the casinos chips, ensures proper payoffs, and is on guard for cheats. He keeps a sharp eye on the dice and also makes sure that there is no collusion between the dealers and players.
Basic Bets
Pass Line Bets – To make this wager you place your chips anywhere within the Pass Line boundaries.
Don’t Pass Bets – Place your chips anywhere in the Don’t Pass section of the layout.
Come Bet – Place your chips anywhere in the Come area of the layout.
Don’t Come Bets – Place your chips anywhere in the Don’t Come section of the layout.
Odds Bets
Pass Line Odds Bets – To make this bet you place your additional chips an inch or two behind your original Pass-Line bet, making sure that they are outside of the Pass Line betting area.
Don’t Pass Odds Bets – To make this bet you place your additional chips immediately adjacent to your Don’t Pass bet, or on top of your Don’t Pass bet at a slight offset.
Come Bet Odds Bets – For this wager you drop your chips in front of the dealer and say “Odds on my Come Point”. The dealer will then place your chips on top of and slightly out of line with your Come bet.
Don’t Come Odds Bets – For this wager you drop your chips in front of the dealer and say “Odds on my Don’t Come”. The dealer will then place your bet in the Don’t Come section of the box just above the Don’t Come Point.
Place Bets – To make this bet lay your chips down in front of the dealer and say, “Place the Six (or other number), please”.
Buy Bets – To make this bet lay your chips down in front of the dealer and say “Buy the Eight (or other number), please”.
Lay Bets – To make this bet pass the dealer your chips and say “Lay the odds on the Six (or other number)”. The dealer will place your chips on the Don’t Come section of the number you request.
Big Six or Big Eight Bets – You can make this bet yourself by placing you wager in the Big Six or Big Eight section of the table layout.
Hard Four or Hard Ten Bets and Hard Six or Hard Eight Bets – To make these bets you pass your chips to the stickman (he controls all bets in the center of the table).
One Roll Bets
All of these bets are made through the stickman, except for the Field bet which you can place for yourself.