Top 10 Casinos
Newsletter
Casino Games
Craps
Saturday, 04 April 2009 13:43
The Basics
Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcome of the roll. Players make either Single Roll Bets or Multi Roll Bets and on a variety of outcomes. Different bets have different pay-out odds and it is important to understand these if you want to get the most out of your Craps experience.
The game is best explained through the different bets available. These are Line Bets, Single Roll Bets and Multi Roll Bets. Each offers a different way of enjoying Craps and we'll explain the basics of what is behind each of these ways of playing.
Line Bets
These are the most straightforward of all Craps bets and are paid at even money.
Pass Line - One of the most fundamental bets in Craps. You win instantly if a 7 or 11 is rolled and lose instantly if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. If however a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) is rolled before either of those outcomes then the bet wins if that number is rolled again before a 7. If a 7 comes before the point number is repeated then the bet loses.
Don't Pass - The exact opposite of the Pass Line bet. You now win with 2, 3 or 12 and lose to a 7 or 11. If the point number comes out then you win if a 7 comes before the point number is repeated.
Pass Line Odds - If you're playing the Pass Line and a point number is established you can place odds bets on the Pass Line, up to a maximum of three times the original Pass Line bet. You then need the point number to be rolled again before a 7 to win the bet.
Come Bet - The Come Bet is almost the same as the Pass Line bet but can only be made after any point number has been established. The Come Bet can then be placed and wins immediately if 7 or 11 is rolled and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 comes out. If a point number is rolled then the bet moves to that number, becoming the Point Bet, and wins if the point number is repeated before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled before the point number then the bet loses.
Don't Come - The Don't Come Bet is opposite to the Come Bet. Again, it can only be made after a point number has been established. If 2, 3 or 12 is rolled the bet wins but should a 7 or 11 come it loses. If a point number comes it goes onto that number and then wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number is repeated.
Come Odds - When a Come Bet has been placed on a point number players can take advantage of the best odds available by placing further bets behind the Come Bet. These bets will lose if a 7 is rolled but will pay out the best odds if the Come point number is rolled again. You can place maximum Odds stakes of three times the original Come Bet.
Pass Line - One of the most fundamental bets in Craps. You win instantly if a 7 or 11 is rolled and lose instantly if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. If however a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) is rolled before either of those outcomes then the bet wins if that number is rolled again before a 7. If a 7 comes before the point number is repeated then the bet loses.
Don't Pass - The exact opposite of the Pass Line bet. You now win with 2, 3 or 12 and lose to a 7 or 11. If the point number comes out then you win if a 7 comes before the point number is repeated.
Pass Line Odds - If you're playing the Pass Line and a point number is established you can place odds bets on the Pass Line, up to a maximum of three times the original Pass Line bet. You then need the point number to be rolled again before a 7 to win the bet.
Come Bet - The Come Bet is almost the same as the Pass Line bet but can only be made after any point number has been established. The Come Bet can then be placed and wins immediately if 7 or 11 is rolled and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 comes out. If a point number is rolled then the bet moves to that number, becoming the Point Bet, and wins if the point number is repeated before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled before the point number then the bet loses.
Don't Come - The Don't Come Bet is opposite to the Come Bet. Again, it can only be made after a point number has been established. If 2, 3 or 12 is rolled the bet wins but should a 7 or 11 come it loses. If a point number comes it goes onto that number and then wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number is repeated.
Come Odds - When a Come Bet has been placed on a point number players can take advantage of the best odds available by placing further bets behind the Come Bet. These bets will lose if a 7 is rolled but will pay out the best odds if the Come point number is rolled again. You can place maximum Odds stakes of three times the original Come Bet.
Single Roll Bets
All of the following bets are decided on the very next roll of the dice. You either win or you lose.
Roll 2 - You are betting on two 1s being rolled on the next throw of the dice. If they are then you win at odds of 30/1.
Roll 3 - If the total of the dice is 3 then you're a winner at odds of 15/1.
Roll 11 - You're looking for a roll of eleven at odds of 15/1.
Roll 12 - Put your money on Double 6 coming and if you win you'll get paid at 30/1.
Roll Craps - Craps is often the last thing you want to see but if you choose to bet on 2, 3 or 12 coming out and it does then you win at odds of 7/1.
Roll 7 - You're looking for any roll of 7 and if it comes you win at 4/1.
The Field - A popular bet with many players. If you play the field you are looking to hit 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. If you win you are paid even money, unless a 2 or 12 comes, in which case you are paid at 2/1.
The Horn - The Horn Bet is actually four different bets made together. You play a bet on each of 2, 3, 11 and 12, to cover those four eventualities.
Roll 2 - You are betting on two 1s being rolled on the next throw of the dice. If they are then you win at odds of 30/1.
Roll 3 - If the total of the dice is 3 then you're a winner at odds of 15/1.
Roll 11 - You're looking for a roll of eleven at odds of 15/1.
Roll 12 - Put your money on Double 6 coming and if you win you'll get paid at 30/1.
Roll Craps - Craps is often the last thing you want to see but if you choose to bet on 2, 3 or 12 coming out and it does then you win at odds of 7/1.
Roll 7 - You're looking for any roll of 7 and if it comes you win at 4/1.
The Field - A popular bet with many players. If you play the field you are looking to hit 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. If you win you are paid even money, unless a 2 or 12 comes, in which case you are paid at 2/1.
The Horn - The Horn Bet is actually four different bets made together. You play a bet on each of 2, 3, 11 and 12, to cover those four eventualities.
Multi Roll Bets
Hard Way Bets - With a Hard Way Bet you choose either 4, 6, 8 or 10, then hope the number is rolled the 'Hard Way' before the 'Easy Way'. The 'Hard Way' to make any of those numbers is with a double roll, such as 2 & 2 to make a Hard Way 4. The easy way would be a 1 & 3. These bets offer great odds, with a Hard Way 6 and 8 paying out at 10/1 and Hard Way 4 or 10 paying 8/1. Beware though, if a 7 is rolled then all Hard Way bets are instantly lost.
Big 6 & Big 8 - Big 6 and Big 8 are two of the easiest bets in all Craps. You bet that either 6 or 8 (or both) will be rolled before a 7 comes. It's that simple. If you win you are paid out at even money.
Place & Buy - You can make a 'Place' or 'Buy' Bet on any of the point numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10), though bets only become live once a point number has been established. You're hoping the number you have your bet on will come before a 7 is rolled.
The difference between a Place and a Buy Bet is the odds they pay out. Place Bets are paid out as follows:
| Place Bet | Odds |
| 4 or 10 | 9/5 |
| 5 or 9 | 7/5 |
| 6 or 8 | 7/6 |
| Buy Bets | Odds |
| 4 or 10 | 2/1 |
| 5 or 9 | 3/2 |
| 6 or 8 | 6/5 |
Lay Bets receive the following odds, but are subject to a 5% commission on any wins:
| Lay Bets | Odds |
| 4 or 10 | 1/2 |
| 5 or 9 | 2/3 |
| 6 or 8 | 5/6 |
| Lose Bets | Odds |
| 4 or 10 | 5/11 |
| 5 or 9 | 5/8 |
| 6 or 8 | 4/5 |
Strategy
Come & Don't Come Bets - These bets offer some of the very best odds in Craps and highest return to the player.
Pass Line and Don't Pass - As with the Come and Don't Come bets, the Pass Line and Don't Pass Line are amongst the best value bets on offer on the Craps table.
Come and Pass Line Odds - The best returns available in all of Craps are those on the odds placed on Come and Pass Line Odds after the point number has been established.
The Field - If you like to keep things simple then playing The Field is as good a way of playing Craps as any.
Lay and Place Lose - You may be dealing with a lower return overall but statistically good bets can be found by betting against a point number being rolled again before a 7.
One thing a player should avoid is a betting system which claims to guarantee a return, because no such thing exists.
You can develop strategies and with increased play will soon start to find your own favoured bets. Make the most of the best odds offered and remain focused on what you're doing. Craps is an exciting and fast paced game, never lose sight of what bets you've made, especially with Multi Roll wagers. You don't want to end up betting against yourself!
BlackJack
Take advantage of our extensive Blackjack strategy guide which will help you to make the mathematically correct decisions.
Become a Craps guru with our 
Fancy Spinning the Roulette wheel? Our Very Latest Slots Games
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
