Craps Rules
Craps is also one among the popular casino games that people enjoy at traditional casinos. This game of dice generates plenty of excitement at the tables, probably one of the reasons for its popularity. A game of chance, craps is played with a couple of six-sided dice. Bets are placed on the rolling of the dice. The dice are thrown by one player or "shooter", but as the game progresses, each player will get the chance to become the shooter and roll the dice. The dice are usually passed on in a clockwise direction as each player gets a turn to toss the dice.
The dice are constantly monitored for damage and not allowed to wear out. Usually they are checked after a certain number of throws and replaced after a maximum usage of eight hours. To be the shooter, you must follow certain rules laid down by the casino. Dice can be thrown with one hand only, towards the opposite side of the table. If the dice fall off the table, they will be carefully examined by the casino employees for any damage. Damaged dice will be replaced before play can resume. There can be as many as twenty players at a craps table, but only one shooter. All the players including the shooter can bet on the fall of the dice.
The "come out roll" is the first toss of dice in craps. If the dice shows 7 or 11 at the come out roll, it is known as a natural. The pass line bettors will win the bet while the others lose. The round will end here. Instead if the dice roll out a 2, 3 or 12, the pass line bet will lose and the don't pass bettors win. There will be a tie if the come out roll throws up 12. Any other number like 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 shows at the come out roll, it is identified as the "point". The shooter has to roll the point number prior to rolling 7. Pass line bets win in such case while the don't pass bets lose. But suppose the shooter rolls out 7 prior to the point number, the don't pass bets win while the pass bets lose. The round of the game will continue till the shooter achieves the point number or rolls a 7 prior to the point, in which case he is said to crap out.
Various kinds of bets can be placed on the rolling of the dice in the craps game. The craps player should be familiar with the bets available and the payout for these bets. Some of the craps bets are explained below:
- The Pass Line Bet:
This is the easiest bet and one of the most common bet that could be placed. In this wager, you bet that 7 or 11 will be rolled at the come out roll. You will win double if the come out roll is a 7. If the come out roll does not show a 7, but instead shows 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, a point is established. With your bet, you anticipate the point number to show up once again before the shooter rolls the 7. If he does, you win the bet, but if not you lose the bet. You would also lose if the shooter turns up 2, 3 or 12.
You can also place odds on when the point number will be rolled. There are different odds for each point number. For 4 or 10, the odds are 2: 1. Odds for 5 or 9 are 3:1 while it will be 6:5 for 6 or 8.
- Don't Pass Line Bet:
Basically, don't pass line bets are the exact reverse of pass line bets where you bet against the shooter. Here, you bet that the shooter will crap out in the come out roll by rolling a 2 or 3 or a 12. If a point is established, you will win if the shooter spins up 7 before rolling the point number.
- Come Bet:
The come bet is similar to the pass line bet, but you bet after the point has been established. You will win if 7 or 11 is rolled after your come bet. If 2, 3 or 12 is rolled after the come bet, you lose. The point number must appear before 7 for you to win. Pass line bets and come bets share the same odds.
- The Don't Come Bet:
Don't come bet is exactly the reverse of the come bet. Again, you place your bet after the first roll (come out roll).
- Place Bets:
The point is established before you place your bet in this case. You are betting that a particular number will appear before 7 will be rolled. In case the said number appears, you win. Payout rates are 9:5 for 4 or 10 and 7:6 for 5, 6 and 8.
- Field Bets:
For a field bet, you stake that 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 will show up. If anything else shows up, you've lost your bet. Here, equal money is paid for 2 or 12, while the payout is 2:1 or 3:1 for any of the other numbers.
- The Big Six, Big Eight Bets:
You win the bet only when 6 or 8 are rolled ahead of the seven. Betting is allowed any time and you will win even money.
- Proposition Bets:
These are single roll bets which are placed in the middle of the table. They are detailed below:
- Any Craps: 2, 3 or a 12 must show. The pay out is 8:1
- Any seven: 7 must be turned out for a payout at 5 to 1.
- Eleven: When 11 shows up, the payout is 16: 1.
- Ace Deuce: When a 3 is rolled, payout is again 16:1.
- Aces or Boxcars: If 2 or 12 show up, the payout is 30:1.
- Horn Bets:
In Horn bets, you bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 as a single unit for the subsequent roll. It is in fact four different bets and the payout depends on the number rolled, reduced by three units for the other 3 lost bets.
- Hardway Bet:
In the hard way bet you are betting on a pair of numbers of the same value showing up. In this case, you will still win if the dice display 7. Payout is based on the number shown. Hence, for 4 or 10 the payout is 8:1 while it is 10:1 for 6 or an 8.
In craps, the house advantage differs depending upon the bets placed which ranges between 2% and 17%. The most easy and safe bets are the come bets and the pass line bets. To win at craps, you must place pass line bets and come bets instead of the others.
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