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Casino Craps Instructions

Here is a complete set of rules for Las Vegas style Bank Craps for you to study and learn everything there is to know about all the bets available in the game.

The shooter's first roll of the dice is known as the come-out roll and he wins if he throws 7 or 11 (known as a natural) and loses if he throws a 2, 3, or 12 (known as craps).  Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is known as the shooter's point and the shooter continues to roll the dice until he either rolls his point number again or he rolls a 7.  If the shooter rolls his point number before a 7, he wins.  If the shooter rolls a 7 before his point number, he loses.  Once the round is decided, a new round is played as before with a new come-out roll.

The shooter continues to roll the dice in subsequent rounds until he rolls a 7 when trying for his point number.  The player to his left may then become the new shooter unless he declines, in which case the next player to the left may take up the dice, and so on, until someone takes up the position.

 

Pass Line (aka: Pass, Line, Win, Do)

This is easily the most popular bet on the Craps table, probably because it's the first bet most players learn.  It is also one of the wisest bets to make due to the low House edge.  Any player may place their wager on the Pass Line betting space before the come-out roll.  They win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or if the shooter rolls his point number before he rolls a 7 on any subsequent rolls.  This bet may not be withdrawn once it is made and stands until the shooter rolls a winning or losing combination.  The House pays out at 1 to 1 (evens) and has an edge of 1.414%.

Don't Pass Line (aka: Don't, Lose)

If a player wants to bet that the shooter will lose, he may place his wager on the small betting space marked Don't Pass.  He must do this before the come-out roll and the bet remains in place until the shooter throws a deciding roll of the dice.  To negate the advantage a player would have over the House if he betted on this outcome, the House "bars" either a roll of 6-6 or 1-1.  Should the shooter roll this combination then the outcome is void.  It neither wins or loses and the player may let it stand until it is decided by any winning or losing combination of any other two values.

Playing this bet isn't much different to the Pass Line bet with about the same House edge.  However, many Craps players don't play this bet, either because they think it's "!unlucky" or because they think it has a greater House edge than it actually does.   The House pays out at 1 to 1 (evens) and has an edge of 1.402%.

Come and Don't Come

These bets are the same as the Pass Line and Don't Pass Line bets except they are made after the come-out roll when the shooter is trying to make their point.  These bets can be made before any roll of the dice except an initial come-out roll and allow plenty of gambling action while the shooter is trying to make his point.  The Come bet wins if the shooter throws a natural on the next throw or he rolls the pseudo point before a 7 on subsequent rolls.  It loses if the shooter throws craps on the next roll or he rolls a 7 before the pseudo point on subsequent rolls.

The House pays out at 1 to 1 (evens) and has an edge of 1.414% on Come bets and 1.402% on Don't Come bets.

Free Single Odds Bets

These bets can be used to reduce the house edge to something very small.  If you've made a Pass Line bet and the shooter is rolling for his point you can make a further free bet on the Pass Line or Come that the shooter will make his point.  The House will give you the true odds on this bet and make no charge for it.  This reduces the House edge on your bets to 0.848%.  Your bet can be no more than your initial Pass Line bet.

However, if you make a Free Odds bet on the Don't Pass or Don't Come you are limited to a wager that pays out at no more than your first bet.

These bets may be withdrawn at any time before it is decided by the shooter.

The true odds on making the point are 2 to 1 on 4 or 10; 3 to 2 on 5 or 9; 6 to 5 on 6 or 8.

Place or Box Number Bets

The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 set in boxes on the table layout are called box or place number bets.  Betting on one or all of these numbers means you are betting that the specified number(s) will or will not be rolled before a 7.  You can make these bet at any point during play and withdraw it at any time before it is decided by the shooter.  These bets are played a lot by Craps players and see a lot of action during a game.

The House doesn't charge a fee for these bets but instead pays out at less than the correct odds to make sure they get their percentage. 

Place or Box Number Bets to Win

Box Numbers Correct odds: Pay-out odds:   House Edge%
 4 or 10  2 to 1  9 to 5  6.666%
 5 or 9  7.5 to 5  7 to 5  4.000%
 6 or 8  6 to 5  7 to 6  1.515%

Obviously, as you can see, the best bet is on 6 or 8.  There are many Craps players who think it's smart to bet 4 or 10 while scoffing at Pass Line bettors but they are plainly wrong and simply misunderstand the odds. 

Place or Box Number Bets to Lose

If you bet against the box number being thrown first then the House requires the player to lay the odds which means they are betting more than they would win back.  Again, the House has the edge by paying out at correct odds while the player is betting an amount at greater odds.  Because most Craps bettors are right or Pass bettors, these bets don't get a lot of action.

Box Numbers Correct odds: Player Lays Odds:   House Edge%
 4 or 10  10 to 5 or 2 to 1  11 to 5  3.030%
 5 or 9  7.5 to 5  8 to 5  2.5%
 6 or 8  6 to 5  7 to 6  1.818%

 

Field Bets

This is a one roll bet that may be placed at any time before any roll. If the shooter rolls either 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11, the bettor wins even money. if 2 or 12 rolls, they win at odds of  2 to 1. If any other number rolls, the bet is lost and the House collects it.

 

Proposition Bets

These bets are set in the middle of the Craps table layout and you place these bets through the dealer.  These are just about the worst bets you can make in a game and should be avoided.

Hardways

Hardway bets are located in the centre of the craps table and are placed by the dealer. Hardways may be bet any time. The four possible Hardway bets are "Hardway Six" (two 3's) and "Hardway Eight" (two 4's), which pay 9 to 1, and "Hardway Four" (two 2's) and "Hardway Ten" (two 5's) - which pay 7 to 1. You win if the Hardway your betting rolls before a 7. The bet loses if you roll a 7 first or if the number rolls with a non-pair combination. For example a "Hardway Eight" wins only if two 4's are thrown before a 7 or before an "easy-way" eight (5-3 or 6-2 combination) . Hardways are off and not working on the come out roll unless the player designates the bet to be on.

One Roll Bets

The following bets can be made on any roll of the dice. The bets win or lose each roll depending upon the result of the throw. These bets are handed to the Dealer to be placed in the appropriate part of the craps table. Winning bets are automatically placed again for the next roll unless specifically called off by the player.

J) Any 7: If 7 rolls you win and are paid 4 to 1. All other numbers lose.

K) Any Craps: If 2,3 or 12 rolls you win and are paid 7 to 1. All other numbers lose.

L) Two Craps or Aces: If 2 is rolled, you win and are paid 7 to 1. All other numbers lose.

M) Twelve Craps or Two Sixes: If 12 is rolled, you win and are paid 30 to 1. All other numbers lose.

N) Three Craps or Ace-Deuce: If 3 rolls you win and are paid 15 to 1. All other numbers lose.

O) Eleven or Six-Five: If 11 rolls you win and are paid 15 to 1. All other numbers lose.

P) Horn Bet: Is a four unit (or multiple thereof) bet whereby you are betting one-fourth of your wager on 2, 3, 11, and 12. If 3 or 11 rolls you win and are paid 3.75 to 1. If 2 or 12 rolls you win and are paid 7.5 to 1. If a number other than 2, 3, 11, or 12 rolls, you lose.

Horn High Bets: Same as a Horn Bet except you are betting an extra unit straight up on either 2, 3, 11 or 12 as you so designate. For example: a $5.00 Horn High Aces has one dollar each on 3, 11, and 12 and $2.00 on Aces. If one of these four numbers rolls, you win, and the payoff is calculated in the same manner as a "Horn Bet". If any other number rolls you lose.


For tables of odds, showing the true odds, payoffs, and House edge, try Craps Odds

 

If you're going to shoot dice and gamble in a casino, you should know about Craps etiquette and how to act like a natural.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

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