Craps Rules – Learn How To Play Craps

Craps is a very basic dice game and is considered by many to be one of the most exciting, especially when played in a live casino venue. Enter any live casino and one of the first things you’ll hear will be the players stood around the craps tables. We may be concentrating on playing online craps more than at live venues here on this site. But there are many intricacies, nuances and etiquette that make playing live very interesting. We’ll be looking at craps game rules from both perspectives as there will be many of you reading this that will want to try both options.

Craps basics and participants in the game

The game of craps is played on a purpose-built table and uses two dice. The dice are made according to very strict standards and in a land-based casino will be regularly inspected for damage. They also tend to be replaced with new ones after being played with for around eight hours. And there are also very strict rules as to how they are handled. Things are not quite so fussy at an online casino because, of course, the table and the dice are computer generated images. Online craps games involve just you and the computer. But a real venue has a few more participants to the game.

First, is the shooter who must bet at least the table minimum on either the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet. It will be one of the players stood around the table. These two bets are also called ‘win’ or ‘right’ bets and ‘don’t win’ or ‘wrong’ bets. Five dice will be presented to the shooter by the Stickman, and they will have to choose two to roll with.

The shooter is only allowed to handle the dice with one hand when throwing and the dice have to hit the walls at the opposite end of the table. Should one or both of the dice be thrown out of the table they will have to be inspected by the stickman before being put back into play.

As many as 20 people can be accommodated around a craps table, each of which gets a round of throws or takes a turn in ‘shooting’ the dice. You don’t have to throw the dice if you don’t want to and can instead choose to bet on the thrower. A number of different bets can be made on the table action. In a land-based casino, the house team is made up of a Stickman, Boxman and two dealers. The Boxman supervises the game and takes charge of the cash. The Stickman is the one that operates the stick which is used to push the dice around. He’s also responsible for controlling the tempo of the game, calling out the results, working with the dice and encouraging players to make their choices. The dealers manage all the best, pay the winners and collect the losers money.

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The layout of a craps table

The layout of a craps table is very simple once you’ve spent some time studying it and read out a helpful guide. All around the table is a ‘Pass Line’, and is for those bettors who are on the shooters side. There’s also a Don’t Pass bar which is for players who want to bet against the shooter. There are also areas marked ‘Come’ and ‘Don’t Come’. These are similar to the previous sections but are used later in the game. In between the boxman and the stickman, there’s an area for a proposition or one-roll bets. This is where you bet on one specific roll. This area also has a section for hard-way bets. For example, a bet that an 8 will come up as two 4s, before a 7 or an easy 8 does.

There’s also a section in front of the players that is marked ‘field’. This is for one-roll bets that either a 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 or 12 will turn up next. There are also boxes marked 4, 5, Six, 8, Nine and 10 that are for ‘Place’ or ‘Buy’ bets that the chosen number will be rolled before the next 7. The number Six and Nine are spelt out because it makes it much easier for players on either side of the table to decipher between the similar numbers.

On either end of the table, in the corners are boxes marked Big 6 and Big 8. Bets are placed here that a Six or 8 will come up before a 7.

Dice are rolled across the craps table layout, which is divided into three areas. These areas are comprised on two side areas separated by a center area. Each of the side areas is a mirror of the other and contains Pass and Don’t Pass line bets, Come and Don’t Come bets, Odds bet, Place bets and Field bets. In the center the area is shared by both side areas and contains the Proposition bets.

How casino craps is played

Any 101 craps guide will explain how the game is played before looking at the rules. So here goes with our craps tutorial on how to play the game.

Craps is played in rounds and the right to roll the dice moves clockwise around the craps table. Each round is made up of two phases – the Come Out and the Point. The game starts with the shooter making one or more Come Out rolls. If the Come Out roll is 2, 3 or 12 it’s called Craps and the Shooter is said to ‘crap out’. Such a roll ends the round and players lose their Pass Line bets. If the Come Out roll is 7 or 11 (called a Natural) it results in a win for Pass Line bets.

The shooter also continues to make Come Out rolls until a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled. This number then becomes the Point. An On button is then moved by the dealer to the point number and this signifies the second phase of the round. If the shooter rolls the point number it means a win for bets on the Pass Line. If a seven is rolled (a Seven-out), the pass line loses and the round comes to an end.

The first roll of the dice in a betting round is called the Come Out roll and every new game of craps begins wit one. It can only be made when a previous shooter fails to make a winning roll. In other words, they fail to make the Point or make a Seven-out roll. If this happens a new game begins with a new shooter. The new shooter will be the player to the lest of the previous shooter.

Some of the most common bets you can make

No guide for casino craps rules would be worth its salt without a basic introduction to the most common bets you can make when playing craps for real money. There are too many to look at them all, so instead, you’ll find a more detailed explanation of them on our bets page. Let’s start with a selection of the most common bets you can place. These are the bets you’re more likely to place when you’re a beginner.

It’s important to know the odds

Whatever casino game you choose to play, and whether you play online or in a brick and mortar casino, never forget the house will always have the edge. 7 is the number that will be rolled most frequently in craps and is the one the house piratically owns. Never lose sight of the odds when making your bets.

Once you’ve learned the rules and have an understanding of the most common bets, it’s time to move on to the more advanced subject of craps odds. The game is played with two dices and therefore, each combined number that can be rolled has its own set of odds. These odds are based on how many possible combinations can be rolled to make that number.

For example, there are a number of ways a shooter can roll a six. It could be a 5+1, 4+2, 2+4, 3+3 or a 5+1. At the opposite end of the scale consider 2. This can only be rolled one way with two dice, 1+1. Because there are a number of ways a 6 can be rolled the odds of it happening are much greater. It also means that it won’t pay out as much as a two, for example. A two will have lesser odds of being rolled and the payout will, therefore, be much higher. The odds of certain combinations being rolled can be shown in a number of different ways. Some players prefer to look at a simple. While other prefer something called a craps odds pyramid. We’ll give you both options and you can decide which you prefer.

Craps has written and unwritten rules to follow

This statement is more relevant for anyone wanting to play craps at a live venue. It could be a brick and mortar venue but the unwritten rules also apply at a live dealer casino online. We’ve already introduced the written rules for playing craps. So let’s make sure you know the unwritten rules as well so you don’t find yourself in hot water.

Always respect the casino staff and other players. Keep your personal belongings off the table and that includes cameras and drinks. Also keep your hands off the table, so as not to interfere with the game.

It’s often the case that you want to buy your way in to a table, and this can be a situation that annoys other players more than anything else. We’re not saying you can’t buy in. Just remember to wait for the right moment. Preferably during a lull in play. But the best time is to buy in at the end of around. This is the perfect time because everyone is resetting for the next round and you won’t be interrupting the game’s flow. There are no formal rules to stop you from buying in whenever you want to but you won’t make yourself popular if you choose the wrong moment.

Superstitions and observing them will always be appreciated when playing craps. Even if you don’t believe them it will stand you in good stead if you choose not to ignore them. One of the most common myths is a woman throwing. There are a number of players that believe a woman will have better luck than a man. And if it’s the first time she’s throwing the effect is supposed to be even greater. It’s considered to be unlucky if dice collide with a pile of chips.

So there you have it. All the important rules in one place. Don’t forget to read our bets page for a more complete explanation of the different bets you can place. And learn the lingo by visiting our craps glossary. We’ll be adding plenty more pages in the future to help your craps playing be more fun and successful.