How to Play Craps for Beginners – Crap Bets Explained
It might look like a tough nut to crack, but once you know how to play craps, you’ll see why it’s such a casino favorite. This fast-paced game is go-go-go, with a series of constant bets and rolls that keep the energy high. Whether you’re at a land casino or looking to play craps online, knowing the basics is your first winning roll.
This guide will help you master the craps game and look like you belong at the table, spouting lingo like a high roller and nodding knowingly at the stickman. However, whether you pull off that effortless chip toss or send them skidding across the felt like a dropped pancake is on you.
Ready to learn craps online and throw down at the table? Let’s roll.
Get Started With Craps – Basic Rules
First and foremost, the essential point of craps is to bet on the outcome of the dice roll.
The game kicks off with the first roll of the dice, which is called the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 (that’s the person rolling the dice), it’s an instant win. But if a 2, 3, or 12 shows up, those are crap numbers (ahh, crap!), and the round ends.
If any other number is rolled, a point is established. This means a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is set. From here, the goal is to roll that same number again before the shooter rolls a 7. If the next roll lands the point number, it’s a win. If a 7 is rolled first, the round resets with a new dice roll.
Betting In Craps
The beauty of craps, both in land and online casinos, is that it has some of the most betting options for table games, and each comes with its own odds, rules, and payouts. For all craps bets, whether your bet wins or your bet loses depends on the outcome of the roll. These are the craps bets explained.
Pass Line Bet
The “pass line” bet is the bread and butter of craps. When you make a pass line bet, you’re rooting for the shooter to win. If they roll a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, your pass line wins instantly. If a point has been established, you win the pass line bet if they hit that number again before rolling a 7.
Don’t Pass Bet
The “don’t pass” bet is the opposite of the pass line bet, making you a “wrong bettor” or someone betting against the shooter (you rebel, you). You win if the come-out roll is 2 or 3, push on 12 – more of those crap numbers – and your bet loses if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. If a point has been established, you win if a 7 rolls first.
Come Bet
The “come bet” is like a second chance to bet on the pass line after the point has been established. Place it anytime, and if the next roll is a 7 or 11, you win. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number becomes your come bet point. If you hit that point number again before a 7, you’re golden.
Don’t Come Bet
On the flip side of the come bet, we have the “don’t come” bet. You place this one after the point is established, and you’re betting against the shooter on the next roll. If it’s a 2 or 3, you win; a 7 or 11, you lose. If another number hits, you win if a 7 rolls before that number repeats.
Lay Bet
For those rebels who like to bet against the shooter, the “lay” bet is a wager that a 7 will roll before a specific point number (like 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). If it does, your lay bet wins.
Field Bet
When you place your chips in the “Field” section, you’re betting that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Hit one of those, and your field bet pays out. But watch out: if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 rolls, you lose.
Place Bet
So far, the bets we’ve covered have to be placed at specific times in the game, but the “place” bet is different; you can turn it on or off whenever you want.
When you make place bets, you’re wagering that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will roll before a 7. If your chosen number is rolled, you win, and the payout depends on the number (pssst – 6 and 8 are the safest).
Proposition Bet
Proposition bets (or prop bets) are supplemental wagers and the wild cards of craps. Most prop bets are single-roll bets, meaning they’re decided in one toss of the dice. A one-roll bet could be on snake eyes (rolling 2), boxcars (rolling a 12), or even a 7 hitting next.
You make a riskier bet but potentially come out with some of the highest payouts reaching 30:1. Now there’s a proposition. Duh dum tssss.
Hard Ways
A “hard ways” bet is a wager that a 4, 6, 8, or 10 will be rolled as a pair (like two 2s for a hard 4 or two 3s for a hard 6) before a 7 or before that number rolls the “easy way.” These prop bets are flashy, with big payouts up to 9:1, but they’re no easy way to win. Some might say they represent the… hard way.
Hop Bets
“Hop” bets are the ultimate quick-hit wagers in craps. These single-roll bets let you bet on specific combinations for the very next roll, like a 3-2 or 5-4. Think of them as the craps version of a lucky guess. A horn bet is a type of hop bet that covers the 2, 3, 11, and 12 all at once. The payouts can be huge, but the odds are slim, so only hop on board if you’re daring.
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What is the Best Craps Betting Strategy for Beginners?
Pardon our French, but that was a crap ton of bets to go over. If you’re just starting out with craps, you’re probably wondering where to start. Luckily, we can make that pretty easy.
For beginners, the best craps betting strategy is to stick to the most common craps bets like the pass line bet and come bet. These are the basic bets with a better house edge and a solid shot at winning.
What is The Safest Bet in Craps?
The safest bet for any craps betting strategy is hands-down the pass line bet. It’s simple, low-risk, and generally considered the best winning bet.
Guide to The Craps Table
The craps table might look like a maze at first, but once you know where to place your chips, it all makes sense. This is the craps table explained in simple terms.
The layout is divided into sections for different bets, including the pass line bet, place bets, and proposition bets. A line bet is any wager placed on the pass or don’t pass line. You’ll also see spaces for odds bets, which can be added behind your original bet for better payouts.
Craps Terms
By now, you’ve got the most important terms down, like the pass line bet, come out roll, point number, and various other bets and odds.
But if you really want to sound like a seasoned player in the game of casino craps, here are a few more terms you might hear slung around the craps table:
- Boxman: The casino staff member overseeing the game.
- Stickman: The one controlling the dice and calling out rolls. Definitely not the extent of your drawing skills.
- Yo: Slang for 11 (to avoid confusion with “seven”) and also a way to summon your buddy taking forever at the bar.
- Big Red: A polite way to say 7 (because no one wants to jinx the table).
- Little Joe: Rolling a hard 4 (two twos).
- Press: Doubling your bet after a win.
- Seven Out: Rolling a 7 when you have a point, ending the shooter’s turn.
Craps House Edge
| Bet Type | House Edge |
| Place Bet/Come Bet | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass Bet/Don’t Come Bet | 1.36% |
| Place Bet on 6 & 8 | 1.52% |
| Place Bet on 5 & 9 | 4.00% |
| Place Bet on 4 & 10 | 6.67% |
| Lay Bet on 6 & 8 | 2.27% |
| Lay Bet on 5 & 9 | 4.00% |
| Lay Bet on 4 & 10 | 1.67% |
| Hard Bet on 6 & 8 | 9.09% |
| Hard Bet on 4 & 10 | 11.11% |
| Hard Bet on 2 | 13.89% |
| Any 7 | 16.67% |
| Craps Bet | 11.11% |
| Field Bet | 2.27% |
Craps Odds
Understanding craps odds is key to playing smart.
The “true odds” reflect the actual probability of a bet winning, but the casino adjusts payouts to maintain its house edge. However, some bets, like the “odds bet” (or free odds), pay true odds with a zero house edge, making it one of the best deals in the casino. Other bets, like proposition bets, have higher payouts but a steep house edge.
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Casinos and even casino movies might have you believe that the craps table is intimidating, but now that you’ve had craps betting explained, you know more about how to play craps. The best craps strategy is to start out simple with pass-line bets. Practice craps for free at Cafe Casino using Practice Play, then switch to Real Play for real money and let the good times roll.
