Craps is one one of the most popular casino games, but many people often don’t know the rules of it, as they would know how to play blackjack, poker, roulette, and other popular casino games for example. In that regard, let’s shed some light on the game, rules, keeping them simple and clear.
Who Runs a Craps Table?
Boxman, he’s appointed by the casino, and he:
- Sits at the centre of the table, behind the chips.
- Watches the money, manages the chips, settles big problems.
Who Is Throwing The Dice In Craps?
Shooter, player at the turn
- If you’re playing, you can volunteer to shoot the dice when it’s your turn.
- After a shooter “seven-outs” (loses), the dice pass to the next person clockwise around the craps table.
- The Boxman doesn’t pick the shooter — the players take turns!
Craps Table Illustration
How Many Dice Are Used In Craps?
- Two dice are used; the shooter throws both dice together.
- Both dice must hit the far wall of the table (casino rule, to make sure it’s a fair roll).
- The total of the two dice decides what happens, not just one die.
- The total of two dice can add to: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, and 12.
What Are The Possible Outcomes When the Dice Are Thrown In Craps?
On the Come Out Roll (first roll):
- 7 or 11:
- Pass Line wins — You win if you bet on the Pass Line.
- The shooter gets to roll again.
- (This is a “natural” roll — great start!)
- 2, 3, or 12:
- Pass Line loses — You lose if you bet on the Pass Line.
- The shooter is done with this roll, and the dice go to the next person.
- (This is “craps” — a bad roll for Pass Line bettors.)
- Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10):
- This becomes the Point number.
- The shooter continues rolling, trying to roll the Point number again before rolling a 7.
- If the shooter rolls the Point again, Pass Line wins.
- If the shooter rolls a 7 before the Point: Pass Line loses (this is called “seven-out”).
When Do You Place Bets In Craps?
1. Before the First Roll (Come Out Roll)
- Place your main bets before the shooter rolls the dice for the Come Out Roll.
-Pass Line Bet: You bet that the shooter will win (roll 7 or 11).
–Don’t Pass Line Bet: You bet that the shooter will lose (roll 2, 3, or 12).
2. After a Point Is Set
- Once the Point number is set (any number between 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), you can place additional bets like:
-Come Bet: This is like a new Pass Line bet, but it’s made after a Point is set.
–Place Bets: Bet on a specific number (like 6 or 8) to be rolled before a 7.
-Odds Bet: You can put additional chips behind your Pass/Don’t Pass bet to increase the payout (this is a no house edge bet — it’s the best bet in the casino!).
Conclusion
We hope we’ve clarified the basics of how to play craps. While it may seem a bit complex at first, the rules are quite straightforward once you get the hang of them. The best way to fully understand the game is to visualise it in action, so we recommend starting with a free game online to get comfortable with the flow and different bets.
Picture credits – Wikipedia
Feature Image by caro_oe92 from Pixabay
