If you walk onto a casino floor, it is usually incredibly easy to locate the Craps pit; just follow the noise.
Adding to the stress, there are four different casino employees managing the game, shouting commands and moving stacks of money at lightning speed.
Furthermore, you do not need to understand 90% of the confusing bets on the table to play the game perfectly.
Let’s learn how to throw the dice, understand the “Pass Line,” and experience the most thrilling game on the casino floor.
The Foundation: The Pass Line Bet and the Come-Out Roll
The Pass Line is the long, curved betting area that wraps entirely around the outside edge of the table layout.
A new round of Craps begins with a “Come-Out Roll.” This is the first roll of the dice by a new shooter.
A 7 or 11 on the Come-Out Roll is an instant winner for the Pass Line. The dealer will pay you even money (1 to 1) on your bet immediately.
Outcome 3 (Establishing the Point): This is the most common outcome and the heart of the game.
The dealer will take a large, physical plastic puck (which is white on one side and black on the other) and place it directly on that number on the layout, white side up.
Phase Two: Hitting the Point vs. Sevening Out
Once “The Point” is established (let’s use 8 as our example), the rules for your Pass Line bet completely flip.
Your Pass Line bet wins, the dealer pays you 1 to 1, the puck is flipped to “Off,” and the game resets to a brand new Come-Out Roll.
Once the Point is established, the number 7 transforms from your best friend into your absolute worst enemy.
The entire table groans, because a 7 means every single Pass Line bet instantly loses.
You are now a competent Craps player. By simply placing a chip on the Pass Line and cheering for the Point, you are playing the game correctly.
The Secret Weapon: “Taking Odds” Behind the Line
If you want to play like a true professional, there is one secret, unwritten bet you must learn: “Taking Odds.”
It is mathematically perfect; the casino pays you out exactly according to the true statistical probability of the dice rolling the Point before a 7.
If the Point is 5 or 9, the true odds are 3 to 2. The Odds bet pays exactly 3 to 2.
Then, once the Point is established, they place the absolute maximum allowable amount of money on the “Odds” bet directly behind it.
Ignore the yelling, ignore the complex center bets, and just focus on hitting the point.
The Craps Cheat Sheet for Beginners
- The Come-Out Roll: The very first roll of a new game. Place your bet on the Pass Line.
- Phase 2: The rules flip. You now want the shooter to roll the Point number again.
- The Secret Bet: The Odds bet has a 0% House Edge. Always take the maximum odds the casino allows.
- The Golden Rule: Stick to the Pass Line and the Odds. Let the tourists throw their money away in the middle of the table.
The Dice Combinations Explained
| Dice Total (The Roll) | Number of Ways to Roll It | The Probability (Out of 36) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | Only 3 ways each | Hard points to hit, which is why the Odds bet pays a lucrative 2:1. |
| 7 (The Most Important Number) | 6 ways (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1) | The most mathematically probable roll with two six-sided dice. |
| The Craps Paradox | Because a 7 is the most common roll, it is your best friend on the Come-Out, and your worst enemy during the Point phase. | The entire game is built around the mathematical dominance of the number 7. |
Do not let the complex layout and the shouting dealers intimidate you from experiencing the best game in the building.
If you stick rigidly to this simple strategy, you will be playing with better odds than 95% of the other people in the casino.
Roll the bones, fear the 7, and enjoy the incredible camaraderie of the Craps pit.