Craps is a popular dice game that can be found in many casinos. It might seem complex at first because of the variety of betting options and the unique terminology, but the basic bets are quite simple to understand. Here’s a beginner’s guide to betting on craps:
### Understand the Table and the Dice
– **The Table:** The craps table is divided into various betting areas. There are two main sections, one for each side of the table, and the middle section where proposition bets are placed.
– **The Dice:** Two six-sided dice are used. The sum of the numbers rolled on the two dice determines the outcome of the bets.
### Learn the Basic Bets
#### Pass Line Bet
– **How to Place:** Place your chips on the Pass Line area before the ‘Come Out’ roll (the first roll of a new round).
– **What it Wins:** If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, the bet loses. If any other number is rolled, that number becomes the ‘Point’.
– **Point Number:** If a Point is established, the bet wins if the Point is rolled again before a 7.
#### Don’t Pass Bet
– **How to Place:** Place your chips on the Don’t Pass Bar before the Come Out roll.
– **What it Wins:** It wins if the Come Out roll is a 2 or 3, ties if it’s a 12, and loses if it’s a 7 or 11. If a Point is established, the bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the Point.
#### Come Bet
– **How to Place:** After the Point is established, you can place a Come bet by putting your chips on the Come area.
– **What it Wins:** It works similarly to the Pass Line bet. 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 ‘Point’ and you win if that number is rolled before a 7.
#### Don’t Come Bet
– **How to Place:** Place your chips on the Don’t Come Bar after the Point is established.
– **What it Wins:** It works similarly to the Don’t Pass bet. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, you win. If it’s a 2 or 3, you lose. If it’s a 12, it’s a tie. If any other number is rolled, that becomes your Point, and you win if a 7 is rolled before your Point.
### Understand the Odds Bet
– **How to Place:** After a Point is established on a Pass Line or Come bet, you can place an additional bet known as ‘Odds’.
– **What it Wins:** This bet pays true odds, which means it has no house edge. The odds bet wins if the Point is rolled before a 7.
### Know the House Edge
– **Pass/Come and Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Bets:** These have some of the lowest house edges in the casino.
– **Odds Bets:** These have no house edge.
– **Proposition Bets:** These are risky bets with high house edges and should be avoided by beginners.
### Betting Etiquette
– **Wait for the Come Out Roll:** Only place Pass/Don’t Pass bets before the Come Out roll.
– **Don’t Touch the Dice:** Once the dice are set by the stickperson, don’t touch them unless you’re the shooter.
– **Be Polite:** The dealer and other players will appreciate a friendly demeanor.
### Practice Before Betting
Before playing with real money, consider playing craps online for free or using a craps simulator to get a feel for the game and the betting rounds.
Remember, the key to betting on craps is to keep it simple at first. Focus on the basic bets and learn the rules thoroughly before moving on to more complex wagers. Good luck!