Upon first impression, craps appears to be very complicated but it does not have to be. Craps is one of the most exciting and glamorous games in a casino and craps tables are almost always full. Two dice are needed to play the game and up to eight players can play at the same time.

The game commences with the ‘come out’ roll, which is made by the ‘shooter’. The shooter is a player that rolls the dice. If the shooter rolls a 7 to 11, he wins the game. This is called a natural. If he rolls a 2, 3, or 12, he loses. This is called craps. The rest of the numbers are called point numbers. If the player rolls a point at the come out roll, he must roll another point and then a seven in order to win the game. If he rolls a 7 right after the first point roll, he loses the game and the dice are passed to the next player. The next player can either choose to roll or pass the dice another player.

Betting in Craps

There are a number of different types of bets that can be placed and any player at the table can place a bet. Below is shown part of a craps table that can help explain the betting options. The black chips indicate which bets can be made.

1) Pass Line Bet: This is the most popular craps bet. Here a player bets that the shooter will win his game. The bet can be made at any time but is generally made before the first come out roll. Odds of winning are 1:1.

2) Don’t Pass Bet: Exactly the opposite of the Pass Line Bet, in this bet you bet that the shooter will lose his game. The odds are also 1:1.

3) Odds Bet: When the shooter establishes the point in the come out roll, you can place an odds bet instead of the pass line or don’t pass bet. With this bet, the house does not gain an advantage because you are not betting against it. Essentially you are just strengthening your pass line or don’t pass bet. A winning odds bet pays you true odds: 6:5 for a six and eight roll, 3:2 for a five and nine roll and 2:1 for a four and ten.

4) Come Bet: The come bet is the same as the pass line bet but you make the bet after the point is established. The next roll is then the come out roll for your bet. A come bet loses with 2, 3 and 12 and wins with 7 and 11. All other rolled numbers cause your wager to be moved to that particular number (the X is the spot to which your wager is moved). For you to win, the point would have to be re-established before a 7 is rolled. Odds for this bet are 1:1.

5) Don’t Come Bet: This bet is exactly the opposite of the come bet. The odds are also 1:1.

6) Field Bet: In this bet you are betting that the next roll will yield a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. If the roll yields a 5, 6, 7, or 8, you lose. The odds are 1:1 on a 4, 9, 10, and 11 roll and 2:1 on a 2 and 12 roll.

7) Place Bet: With this bet you are betting that a certain number will be rolled before a 7. The odds are 7:6 on an 8 and 6 roll, 7:5 on a 9 and 5 roll, and 9:5 on a 10 and 4 roll.

8) Buy Bet: This is the same as a place bet but the buy bet pays true odds with a five percent charge with every win.

9) Big 6 and 8: With this bet you are betting that a 6 or an 8 are rolled before the 7. Odds for this bet are 1:1.

10) Any Craps: Here you are betting that the next roll will bring a 2, 3, or 12. The odds on this bet are 7:1.

11) Hardways: A hardways bet is a place bet on one of the following doubles: 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, and 5+5. The odds are 9:1 on a hard 6 and a hard 8 (3+3 and 4+4) and 7:1 on a hard 4 and hard 10 (2+2 and 5+5).