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How to Play Craps – Beginner’s Guide

Craps may look like a complex casino game to some, but it is a straightforward game to play. It’s as easy as throwing the dice. This how-to-play craps dice guide will teach you everything you need to know about playing the game. That includes the rules, which bets to make, and how to practice your skills as a craps player.

What is Craps?

Craps is a table game in online and offline casinos. Players play on a specific casino table, using two dice and chips to place their bets.

Players play craps in rounds. Up to twenty players can play on a single table, taking their turns being the shooter that rolls the dice. Players bet and try to guess the dice value that the shooter will roll correctly.

Craps Introduction

The game starts with craps players betting on the first roll of the dice, commonly known as the “come-out roll.” During this round, players bet whether the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the so-called Pass Bet, or 2, 3 or 12, which is the Don’t Pass Bet.

This round will end if the total dice value is either 7 or 11 (a “natural”), or 2, 3, or 12 (“craps”).

If the shooter rolls a total dice value of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, that number is called the “Point” and starts the next stage of craps. The dealer then places a puck on the exact point number on the table to help players follow the game. Then players make additional bets, and the shooter rolls the dice again. The shooting repeats until the player rolls a seven or the point number, ending the round.

How To Play Craps For Beginners?

Beginning players will love the game of craps because it has very straightforward rules that are easy to remember. Whether you play online or in Las Vegas casinos, craps rules are the same everywhere.

• To learn how to play the game, remember the first important thing – all craps games start with a pass line bet. You must pick whether you think the number rolled will be a combined 7 or 11 to win (Pass the Line) or lose if the dices land on a 2, 3, or 12.
• The dealers take all bets and add them to the table before the roll, and then the shooter starts the game with the first roll known as the Come Out Roll.
• If the rolled dice land on 7 or 11, pass bettors win their bets, but they lose if the dice land on either 2,3 or 12. If the dice land on other numbers, a point is established on the craps tables, and the game continues.
• When numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 are determined as a point on the table, craps players can bet on the dice landing on the established point, land on different numbers, but the Bet loses if the dice lands on 7. Also, the shooter keeps rolling the dice until landing a seven or the point.
• If the craps shooter lands the come bet point, they will remain the shooter in the following craps round. If they roll out a 7, they become a “sevens out,” and a new player takes their place as the shooter in the game.

Craps rules are not difficult to follow, and with a few practice rolls, you will get a clearer idea of the game’s mechanics. What is tricky in craps is learning all the types of bets you can make. Beginner players can start by making simple bets on single numbers, which will lead to a winning or a losing bet with each dice roll.

Remember that craps bets with the lowest house edge are the come-out roll bets, place bets, pass line bets, and odds bets.

As you play and increase your craps experience, you will find more advanced bets to make, such as lay bets, multi-roll bets, and others that are an essential part of winning craps strategies.

Basic Rules to Follow When You Play Craps

Craps is a game where the action goes fast, both online and in brick-and-mortar casinos. That may make it a bit difficult for newbies to learn the craps rules just by observing the gameplay.

Fortunately, most game rules revolve around the shooter and bets, making it easy to understand and implement. The following are some primary rules to follow when joining craps tables to play.

• Wait to join a craps table. Craps is a popular casino game, and sometimes tables fill up very fast, both in online casinos and offline venues. Up to 20 players can join the craps game, so wait until there is a free spot for you to join.
• Follow basic shooter etiquette. In the game of craps, if the shooter lands the point that ends the round, they remain the shooter in the next craps game. They stop being the shooter only when landing a seven, and a new player takes their spot.
• Bet when dealers allow you to bet. The dealers always announce when taking new bets, so make bets when allowed to.
• Do not bet on a single dice. The game of craps uses two dice, and dealers/game does not accept making bets on a single die in the game.
• Remember that losing and winning bets can happen even when you are not a shooter. Many beginning players believe their bets are only worth in the game when they roll the dice. However, you participate in the game even when you are not the shooter but have bets on the table.

The Layout of the Craps Table

Besides learning which bets to make, beginning craps players should also learn the layout of craps tables. Learning all types of bets is a must because that can help you make more winning bets. Now let’s explore the craps table layout.

The standard craps table has two sides (left and right) with identical patterns. There is no difference between the left and the right side, and this type of design helps craps players to join the game on either side of the table quickly. It also ensures smooth and fast gameplay even with plenty of bettors present on the table.

Sections on the Craps Table

The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar is where players make their pass line bets. If the bettors think the shooter will roll a combined 7 or 11, the dealer (or themselves if they play craps online) will put their bets in the pass line box section of the craps table. If the bettors think the shooter will land either 2, 3, or 12, commonly known as “don’t pass bets,” these bets will go into the “Don’t Pass Bar” box on the table.

Come and Don’t Come sections on the table work the same way as the pass line bets. However, players can make such bets only after the pass line bets. If the player thinks the craps shooter will make a 7 or 11 on their dice roll, they put their bets in the Come box. If they believe the shooter will make a 2 or 3 with their next roll, they place their bets into the Don’t Come Box.

Big 6 and Big 8 sections on the table are some of the favourite bets to many craps players. With these bets, players pick whether they believe the craps shooter will make a 6 or 8 before they land a 7.

The Field section is where players bet on whether the shooter rolls 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 with a single dice roll. Players can double their money wagered if they bet on the dice landing on either 2 or 12. Many craps players believe The Field bets are valuable bets to make because it covers many numbers. However, some statistics point out that landing 5, 6, 7 and 8 happens more frequently.

The Place section is where the fastest bets happen in the game of craps. Players bet whether the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 before landing a 7. Players can make these bets at any time in the craps game. If you think the shooter rolls a seven before any of the mentioned numbers, you can make a “Place to Lose” Bet, located on the “The Place” section on the craps table.

Centre Section is the middle section of the craps tables, shared by all players. Here you can make your proposition bets, which are one-roll bets casino players make on the odds of dice landing on a particular pattern.

The Most Common Craps Bets

If you are a casino beginner, you do not have to memorize all the bets in the game of craps. However, you need to know a couple of the most common bets to make your playing more enjoyable. These are the top two betting options you can take in the game.

Pass Line Bet Vs. Don’t Pass Bet.

Casino players join craps games using only this Bet. When making a pass line bet, you are betting that the shooter will likely roll a combined value of 7 or 11 before rolling a 2, 3, or 12. Statistically, 7 is the most likely number to land when you play craps, which is why so many casino players take a Pass Line Bet.

The Don’t Pass Bet is the reverse option of the Pass Line Bet. Players bet on a 2 or 3 landing before 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls 12, the Bet is a push, and players receive their wagers back.

Come Bet Vs. Don’t Come Bet.

Players can make these two bets only after the point is established. Players make their Come Bet if they think the shooter will roll a value of 7 or 11 before rolling the point number.

The Don’t Come Bet is the reverse option when players bet on the shooter landing the point number dice value before landing 7 or 11.

Craps Tips for Making Winning Bets

Nobody wants to make losing bets, so beginning players should check out the following essential tips to increase the chances, so their Bet wins.

• Set up a bankroll

Like any other casino game, you must have a bankroll before you play craps online for real money. When you have a bankroll, you can easily choose which tables and betting limits to play.

• Choose a craps variant that suits your needs

Some online casinos offer a few different game variants, so checking which game you feel most comfortable playing is essential. Also, make sure you know all the rules and odds of the game variant, as that can significantly impact winning or losing.

• Check the bet limits in the game

Beginning players and those with limited bankrolls should not jump into high-stakes action if they don’t want to lose their money quickly. Find a game with reasonable bet limits, play responsibly, and enjoy playing craps!

• Pick a craps game that offers a higher RTP percentage

Most craps games in online casinos have an RTP above 98%. If the online casino offers a lower RTP for their craps casino games, it is better to look for another online casino to invest your money and play.

• Use welcome bonuses in your favour

All online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new customers. Bonuses come with different wagering requirements, which is another thing to pay attention to, but using a welcome bonus can help you instantly boost your bankroll and extend your gameplay. Find the best casino bonuses online, read reviews of online casinos, and choose an excellent platform to play online craps.

• Practice by playing craps for free

As soon as you learn the basic rules, types of bets to make, and how the game of craps works – it would be best to play the game for free to get the feel of it. At GuruCasinoBonus, you will find free practice games to play and perfect your gaming skills. You can test strategies without risk and get familiar with the game.

How is Real-Casino Craps Game Different from Online Craps?

The rules of craps are the same between brick-and-mortar casinos and online casinos, and the main difference is the physical presence of a shooter, bettors and staff in land-based casinos. A few people operate on the craps table – The Boxman, The Stickman, and the Base Dealers.

The Boxman takes the chips and exchanges them for cash from players. They also pay attention and observe the dealers, ensuring they do not miss some of the bets.

The Stickman is easily noticeable at the craps table, holding a long hook with which he moves the dice on the table. The Stickman also announces the outcome of the dice roll.

Base Dealers, usually two of them present on one craps table, are the people collecting bets and paying out winnings. They can also place bets on behalf of craps players.

These people at the craps table work quickly since the craps game goes very fast. They also use a craps puck on the table, helping players keep track of the game.

There is no staff present in the online craps table layout, apart from the live dealer craps games in online casinos. Also, when playing craps online, players are always the shooter in every round, while in land-based craps, you can bet even without rolling the dice yourself.

Finally, the primary and most significant difference between online and offline craps is that in online craps, the RNG (random number generator) determines the outcome of the rolls. That ensures the randomness of every roll and a fair play craps game.

Basic Terms in Craps

Craps game has numerous terms, most of them related to different bets. The following are just a few standard terms you should know.

• Big Red – dice with a combined value of 7.
• Crap Numbers – numbers 2, 3, or 12.
• Crap Out – losing the Come Out roll with dice value of 2, 3 or 12.
• Box Numbers – bets on numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
• Easy Way – dice rolls of 4, 6, 8 or 10 without the double.
• Front – a synonym for the pass bets line.
• Natural Numbers – rolled value of 7 or 11.
• Hard Number – any roll with dices rolling as a pair. For example, a combined eight of two 4s.
• Hi-Lo – one roll bet with a 2 and 12.
• Hard Way – a wager on numbers 4, 6, 8 or 10 that wins if the dice land as any pair.
• Outside Numbers – bets on numbers 4-10 or 5-9.
• Inside Numbers – bets on numbers 5-6 and 8-9.
• Right Bettor – a player that makes pass bets.
• Wrong Bettor – a player that bets against the shooter.
• Snake Eyes – a slang term for a pair of 1s, for a combined value of 2.
• Little Joe – a slang term for a rolling value of 4.
• Little Phoebe – a slang term for a rolling value of 5.
• Puppy Paws – a slang term for a rolling value of 10.
• Puck – the disc on the craps table used for marking the point number.
• Place Bets – betting on individual numbers in the game.
• Working Bets – bets in play for the next roll.

How To Play Craps FAQs