By the time I was 19 I was able to cross off most of these “important”tasks except one. Craps.
It can be intimidating for a new craps player with more than 40 possible bets arranged across the table.
However, craps is the most exciting game in the casino and worth learning. I am going to go over a few basic rules so you can enjoy the game as much as I do.
At first glance the table looks confusing, but playing is not that difficult. No numbers to add in your head, no worries about what the other player might have, and no stress on when to fold’em.
This game is all about the luck of the dice.
Let’s start with the basic passline bet. Before the shooter sends the dice flying (also known as the “come out”roll), you can bet on the passline. The passline is easy to find because it’s the line right in front of you. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win. If the Shooter roles a 2, 3, or 12 you lose. It’s that simple.
Ok, if the roller rolls an 8 (any combination) it becomes a “point”and if the roller roles an 8 a second time the passline bet wins again. In this scenario the same shooter rolls again, but must start over or “come out”.
If the shooter rolls the unlucky 7 also known as “craps”you lose the bet and the next player becomes the new shooter starting the game over.
Now let’s look at my favorite bet, the “odds bet”. When the “point”is made (remember when the shooter rolled an 8 to make the point) you can place bets behind the passline. The odds bets are as follows the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. These bets are the only bets in the whole casino that does not hold an edge over the player. Moreover, by making this bet it actually reduces the edge on the passline bet as well. Cool right!
The craps player can actually double down on there odds bets as well.
If the shooter hits any of your odds bets you get paid odds. For example, if the point is a 6 or 8 you are paid 6 to 5 odds. Meaning if you have a $10 bet you will get paid $15.
That’s a good start for anyone looking to give craps a try. Remember to focus on the passline and the lay bets on the odds bets area. The best plays are the 6 and 8, followed by the 5 and 9, with the 4 and 10 being the last. This is due to the probability of number combinations hitting from the two dice. The number 6 having the highest chance verses the number 10 having the lowest showing.
Now that you’re armed with the basics it’s time to drag yourself over to the craps table and play the most exciting game in the casino.