how to bet at craps

How to Bet at Craps

Craps might seem intimidating at first glance, with its myriad betting options and fast-paced action. However, once you grasp the basics, it’s an exhilarating and potentially rewarding casino game. This guide will walk you through the fundamentals of placing bets in craps, providing you with the knowledge to confidently approach the table.

Understanding the Craps Table

Before diving into the bets themselves, let’s familiarize ourselves with the Craps table layout. Don’t be overwhelmed by its size; it’s actually quite symmetrical.

The Crew⁚ A Craps table is run by a team of four⁚ the Boxman, Stickman, and two dealers. The Boxman oversees the game and handles the chips. The Stickman manages the dice and calls out the results of each roll. The dealers handle bets and payouts for each side of the table.
The Betting Layout⁚ The felt layout on the table displays the various betting options. You’ll notice two identical sides, allowing players on both sides to place the same wagers.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line⁚ These are the two fundamental bets in Craps, found running horizontally across the table. More on those later!
Come and Don’t Come⁚ Positioned below the Pass Line, these bets function similarly but can only be made after a point has been established.
Proposition Bets⁚ In the center of the table, you’ll find a variety of proposition bets offering quick payouts based on specific dice combinations. While tempting, these bets generally have a higher house edge.
Field Bets⁚ This area offers payouts for a roll of 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Place Bets⁚ These bets allow you to wager on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) being rolled before a 7.
Hard Ways⁚ Betting on “Hard Ways” means wagering on a specific number (4, 6, 8, or 10) being rolled as a double (e.g., two 3s for a Hard 6) before a 7 or an “easy” combination of that number.
Big 6 and Big 8⁚ These bets win if a 6 or 8٫ respectively٫ is rolled before a 7.

Remember, the key is to start with the basic bets and gradually explore more complex options as you gain experience and confidence.

Types of Craps Bets

Craps offers a dizzying array of betting options, each with its own rules and payouts. To navigate this exciting world, it’s helpful to categorize the bets into a few main types⁚

1. Line Bets⁚

These are the most fundamental bets in Craps, forming the core of the game⁚

Pass Line Bet⁚ A bet that the shooter will win. You win if the first roll is a 7 or 11, and lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number establishes a “point,” and you win if the shooter rolls the point again before a 7.
Don’t Pass Line Bet⁚ The opposite of the Pass Line bet. You win if the first roll is a 2 or 3, and lose if it’s a 7 or 11. A 12 is a “push” (tie). If a point is established, you win if a 7 is rolled before the point.

2. Come and Don’t Come Bets⁚

Similar to Line bets but placed after a point has been established⁚

Come Bet⁚ Placed after a point is set. You win if the next roll is a 7 or 11, and lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12. If another number is rolled, it becomes your “Come Point,” and you win if it’s rolled again before a 7.
Don’t Come Bet⁚ The reverse of the Come bet. After a point is set, you win if the next roll is a 2 or 3, and lose if it’s a 7 or 11. A 12 is a push. If another number is rolled, it becomes your “Don’t Come Point,” and you win if a 7 is rolled before it.

3. Proposition Bets⁚

Short-term bets with specific dice combinations, typically located in the center of the table⁚

Bets on any specific number (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12) being rolled.
Hard Ways⁚ Betting on a specific number being rolled as a double before a 7 or an easy combination.

4. Place Bets, Field Bets, Big 6, Big 8⁚

Other common bet types with varying payouts and odds, often placed for multiple rolls⁚

Place Bets⁚ Bets on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) being rolled before a 7;
Field Bets⁚ Bets on the next roll being 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Big 6 and Big 8⁚ Bets on a 6 or 8, respectively, being rolled before a 7.

Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line Bets

The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets are the foundation of craps. They are the first bets you’ll encounter and the simplest to understand. These bets are placed before the shooter throws the dice for the first time, known as the “come-out roll.”

Pass Line Bet⁚

How to Bet⁚ Place your chips on the “Pass Line” section of the table, usually marked with a long rectangular box.
Winning Rolls (Come-Out Roll)⁚
- 7 or 11⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
Losing Rolls (Come-Out Roll)⁚
- 2, 3, or 12 (“Craps”)⁚ You lose your bet.
Point Established⁚ If the come-out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the “point.”
Winning Rolls (After Point is Established)⁚
- The point number⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
Losing Rolls (After Point is Established)⁚
- 7 (“Seven Out”)⁚ You lose your bet.

Don’t Pass Line Bet⁚

How to Bet⁚ Place your chips on the “Don’t Pass Bar” section of the table.
Winning Rolls (Come-Out Roll)⁚
- 2 or 3⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
- 12⁚ A “push” (tie), and you neither win nor lose.
Losing Rolls (Come-Out Roll)⁚
- 7 or 11⁚ You lose your bet.
Point Established⁚ Same as the Pass Line bet ⏤ 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
Winning Rolls (After Point is Established)⁚
- 7 (“Seven Out”)⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
Losing Rolls (After Point is Established)⁚
- The point number⁚ You lose your bet.

Essentially, the Pass Line bet is betting with the shooter, while the Don’t Pass Line bet is betting against the shooter.

Come and Don’t Come Bets

Come and Don’t Come bets are similar to Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets, but with one key difference⁚ you can place these bets after a point has been established on the Pass Line. This allows you to jump into the action even if you missed the initial roll.

Come Bet⁚

How to Bet⁚ After a point has been established, place your chips on the “Come” area of the layout.
The Next Roll (Come-Out Roll for Your Bet)⁚
- 7 or 11⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
- 2, 3, or 12⁚ You lose your bet.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10⁚ This number becomes your “Come Point.”
Winning After Come Point is Established⁚
- Your Come Point is rolled before a 7⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
Losing After Come Point is Established⁚
- 7 is rolled before your Come Point⁚ You lose your bet.

Don’t Come Bet⁚

How to Bet⁚ After a point is established, place your chips on the “Don’t Come” area of the layout.
The Next Roll (Come-Out Roll for Your Bet)⁚
- 2 or 3⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
- 7 or 11⁚ You lose your bet.
- 12⁚ A “push” (tie), and you neither win nor lose.
- 4٫ 5٫ 6٫ 8٫ 9٫ or 10⁚ This number becomes your “Don’t Come Point.”
Winning After Don’t Come Point is Established⁚
- 7 is rolled before your Don’t Come Point⁚ You win even money (1⁚1 payout).
Losing After Don’t Come Point is Established⁚
- Your Don’t Come Point is rolled before a 7⁚ You lose your bet.

Come bets essentially mirror the Pass Line bet, but they come into play later in the game. Conversely, Don’t Come bets mirror the Don’t Pass Line bet.

how to bet at craps