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Craps is the
fastest - and certainly the loudest - game in the casino. With the
big, colourful table, chips flying everywhere and players yelling,
it's exiting to watch and exciting to play.
Craps also has
the one of the lowest house edges against you of any casino game,
but only if you make the right bets. In fact, with one type of bet
(which you will soon learn) you play even with the house, meaning
that the house has a zero edge. This is the only casino game where
this is true.
THE TABLE LAYOUT
The craps table
is slightly larger than a standard pool table, with a wood railing
that goes around the outside edge. This railing acts as a backboard
for the dice to be thrown against and is sponge-lined on the inside
with random patterns so that the dice bounce randomly. Most table
rails also have grooves on top where you can place your chips.
The table
surface is a tight fitting green felt with designs to indicate all
the various bets that can be made in craps. It's very confusing for
a beginner, but all you really need to concern yourself with right
now is the "Pass Line" area and the "Don't Pass" area. These are the
only bets you will make in our basic strategy (and for the most part
the only bets worth making, period).
BASIC GAME PLAY
Don't let the
confusing layout of the craps table intimidate you. The basic game
itself is very simple. A new game with a new player (the person
shooting the dice) begins when the current player "sevens out",
which means he rolls a seven. That ends his turn and a new player is
given the dice.
The new player
makes either a pass line bet or a don't pass bet (explained below)
and then throws the dice, which is called the "comeout roll".
If that first
roll is a 7 or 11, this is called "making a pass" and the "pass
line" betters win and "don't pass" betters lose. If a 2, 3 or 12 are
rolled, this is called "craps" and pass line betters lose, while
don't pass line betters win. However, don't pass line betters do not
win if the "craps" number is a 12 in Las Vegas or a 2 in Reno and
Tahoe. In this case, the bet is push - neither the player nor the
house wins. All pass line and don't pass line bets are paid even
money.
Barring one of
the three "craps" numbers from winning for don't pass line bets is
what gives the house it's low edge of 1.4 percent on all line bets.
The don't pass bettor has a stand-off with the house when one of
these barred numbers is rolled. Otherwise, the don't pass bettor
would have a small advantage over the house - something that no
casino permits!
If a number
other than 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12 is rolled on the comeout (in other
words, a 4,5,6,8,9,10), that number is called a "place" number, or
simply a number or a "point". In this case, the shooter continues to
roll until that place number is rolled again, which is called
"making the point", at which time pass line betters win and don't
pass bettors lose, or a 7 is rolled, which is called "sevening out".
In this case, pass line bettors lose and don't pass bettors win.
When a player sevens out, his turn is over and the whole process
begins again with a new player.
Once a shooter
rolls a place number (a 4.5.6.8.9.10), many different types of bets
can be made on each subsequent roll of the dice, until he sevens out
and his turn is over. However, they all have odds in favor of the
house, many of them heavily in favor of the house, with the
exception of two: odds on a line bet, and "come" bets. Of these two,
we will only consider the odds on a line bet, as the "come" bet is a
bit more confusing.
You should
ignore all other bets, as they carry odds that are too high against
you. Yes, this means that all those other players that are throwing
chips all over the table with each roll of the dice and making
"field bets" and "hard way" bets are really making sucker bets. They
may know all the many bets and special lingo, but you will be the
smarter gambler by simply making line bets and taking the odds.
Now let's talk
about line bets, taking the odds, and how to do it.
LINE BETS
To
make a line bet, simply place your money on the area of the table
that says "Pass Line", or where it says "Don't Pass". These bets pay
even money when they win, although it's not true even odds because
of the 1.4 percent house edge discussed earlier.
When you bet the
pass line, it means you are betting that the shooter either makes a
7 or 11 on the comeout roll, or that he will roll one of the place
numbers and then roll that number again ("make the point") before
sevening out (rolling a 7).
When you bet on
the don't pass line, you are betting that the shooter will roll
either a 2 or a 3 on the comeout roll (or a 3 or 12 if in Reno and
Tahoe), or will roll one of the place numbers and then seven out
before rolling the place number again.
Odds on a Line
Bet (or, simply called "odds bets")
When a point has
been established (a place number is rolled) on the comeout, you are
permitted to take true odds against a 7 appearing before the point
number is rolled again. This means you can bet an additional amount
up to the amount of your line bet. This called an "odds" bet.
Your odds bet
can be any amount up to the amount of your line bet, although many
casinos will now allow you to make odds bets of two, three or even
more times the amount of your line bet. This odds bet is paid at a
rate equal to the odds of that point number being made before a 7 is
rolled.
You make an odds
bet by placing your bet directly behind your pass line bet. You
notice that there is nothing on the table to indicate that you can
place an odds bet, while there are indications loudly printed all
over that table for the other "sucker" bets. This is because the
casino does not want to encourage odds bets. You have to know that
you can make one.
Here's how these
odds are computed. Since there are 6 ways that a number 7 can be
rolled and 5 ways that a 6 or 8 can be rolled, the odds of a 6 or 8
being rolled before a 7 is rolled again are 6 to 5 against you. This
means that if the point number is a 6 or 8, your odds bet will be
paid off at the rate of 6 to 5. For every $10 you bet, you will win
$12 (bets smaller or larger than $10 are of course paid at the same
6 to 5 ratio). The odds of a 5 or 9 being rolled before a 7 is
rolled are 3 to 2, so you get paid $15 for every $10 bet. The odds
of 4 or 10 being rolled first are 2 to 1, so you get paid $20 for
every $10 you bet.
Note that these
are true odds - you are paid exactly proportional to your chance of
winning. This is the only true odds bet you will find in a casino,
so be sure to make it whenever you play craps.
AN EASY TO LEARN
BASIC CRAPS STRATEGY
Here's an
example of the three types of outcomes that result when a new
shooter plays and how you should bet.
Assume new
shooter is getting ready to make the comeout roll and you make a $10
bet (or whatever amount you want) on the pass line. The shooter
rolls a 7 or 11 on the comeout. You win $10, the amount of your bet.
You bet $10
again on the pass line and the shooter makes a comeout roll again.
This time a 3 is rolled (the player "craps out"). You lose your $10
pass line bet.
You bet another
$10 and the shooter makes his third comeout roll (remember, each
shooter continues to roll until he sevens out after making a point).
This time a 4 is rolled - one of the place numbers or "points". You
now want to take an odds bet, so you place $10 directly behind your
pass line bet to indicate you are taking the odds. The shooter
continues to roll the dice until a 4 is rolled (the point is made),
at which time you win $10 on your pass line bet, and $20 on your
odds bet (remember, a 4 is paid at 2 to 1 odds), for a total win of
$30. Take your chips off the table and get ready to bet again.
However, if a 7
is rolled before the point number (in this case, before the 4), you
lose both your $10 pass line bet and your $10 odds bet.
And that's all
there is to it! You simply make you pass line bet, take odds if a
point is rolled on the comeout, and then wait for either the point
or a 7 to be rolled. Ignore all the other confusion and sucker bets.
Your have the best bet in the casino and are playing wisely.
IMPORTANT NOTES
ABOUT ODDS BETS
Odds bets can be
made any time after a comeout point is rolled. You don't have to
make them right away . However, you'd be foolish not to make an odds
bet as soon as possible considering it's the best bet on the table.
However, you are permitted to make, withdraw, or reinstate an odds
bet anytime after the comeout and before a 7 is rolled.
When you win an
odds bet, be sure to take your chips off the table. Otherwise, they
are considered to be automatically "off" on the next comeout and
will not count as another odds bet unless you specifically tell the
dealer that you want them to be "working". But in a fast moving and
loud game, your request may not be heard, so it's better to simply
take your winnings off the table and bet again with the next comeout.
Good Luck!
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