The basic idea behind Craps is
to establish a "point" number and roll that number again
before rolling a 7 (craps). Only the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10
can be a point number and all other rolls on the dice have special
meanings depending on when they are rolled (before or after a point
is established).
The casino game of Craps is played with a set of two perfectly
balanced dice with each die having six white dots numbered 1 through
6. The game is played by tossing the dice from one of the short ends
of the table to the other (make sure that both die hit the opposite
side wall of the table). Payoffs are made based on the number combination
displayed when the dice come to rest.
The inside walls of the table are covered with a serrated egg-carton
like foam, designed to make the dice bounce around to assure randomness.
Each throw of the dice is called a "roll". Players take
turn rolling the dice, clockwise around the table, and the player
rolling at any given time is called the "shooter". When
a new shooter is given the dice, his or her first roll is called
the "Come Out" roll. This begins a new series of rolls
by that shooter and lasts for as long as that shooter continues to
make winning rolls.
A new game in Craps begins with the "Come Out" roll.
A "Come Out" roll can be made only when the previous shooter
fails to make a winning roll -- more correctly known as "not
making the "Point" or "seven out". A new game
then begins with a new shooter. If the current shooter does make
his "Point", the dice are returned to him and he then begins
the new "Come Out" roll. This is a continuation of that
shooter's roll, although technically, the "Come Out" roll
identifies a new game about to begin.
When the shooter fails to make his or her "Point", the
dice are then offered to the next player for a new "Come Out" roll
and the game continues in the same manner. The new shooter will be
the person directly next to the left of the previous shooter.
On the "Come Out" roll, the "Pass Line" bet
wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11. The bet loses automatically
if the shooter rolls 2, 3 or 12. This is known as "rolling craps".
If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the shooter must roll this
same number again (to win) before rolling the number 7. Rolling any
of these numbers on the "Come Out" roll is called "establishing
the "Point". Any number so rolled is thereafter referred
to as the "Point".
Establishing a "Point" is an event that happens as the
immediate result of the "Come Out" roll, unless that "Come
Out" roll results in 7, 11, 2, 3 or 12, in which case more rolls
must be made until a "Point" is established.
It now becomes important to mention a device that looks like a
hockey puck called the "Puck". It is white on one side
and black on the other, and is used by the dealers to identify the "Point".
Once the shooter establishes the "Point", the dealer will
move this puck to that "Point" number and turn it the white
side up. The puck stays on this "Point" until the shooter
either makes his "Point" or until he sevens out. When the
puck is moved to the "Don't Come" bar 12 area and turned
black side up. The significance of this device is only in tracking
the game. White side up over a "Point" indicates the game
is in progress and that this box number is the "Point".
Black side up means a new "Come Out" roll is about to take
place.
As with all table games, you will begin by changing your cash money
into gaming chips. In Craps you do this by throwing your money on
the table and yelling, "change". If the table is playing
well there will be a lot of people crowding around and a lot of noise,
so make sure you yell out. Also it is a good idea to wait and ask
for change between rolls of the dice.
In Craps, winning or losing depends on a variety of different possible
outcomes on any roll of the two dice. The two dice can produce many
different number combinations; some can be made several ways, others
only one way. For example, two dice can roll the number 6 as follows:
5/1, 4/2, 3/3, 2/4 and 1/5. But the number 2 can only be rolled one
way: 1/1.
Numbers such as 6, which can be rolled several ways, don't pay
as much as numbers which can be rolled only one way, unless you are
betting that the number will be rolled in a specific way, such has
3/3, known as "Hard ways". All winning payoffs are, therefore,
determined by the frequency in which any two-dice number combinations
can be rolled. Generally, the harder the combination is to roll,
the more it will pay, and vice versa.
Although really taking advantage of the many betting options can
involve a considerable degree of mastery, in its simplest form, Craps
is a game where players bet either that the shooter will make his "Point" or
that he or she will not make their "Point". Betting that
the shooter will make his/her "Point" is called betting "with
the shooter" (also called "betting right") and betting
that the shooter will not make his/her "Point" is called "betting
against the shooter" (also called "betting wrong").
To bet with the shooter, you must place your bet in an area marked "Pass
Line", before the new shooter rolls the dice. The so-called "Pass
Line" is a strip on the table layout marked by two lines roughly
two inches wide and it rims the entire table layout across from the
Box Man. To bet against the shooter, you must place your bet in an
area marked "Don't Pass". This area is also a strip on
the table layout and it rims the table directly above the "Pass
Line".
No matter what stage the game is in, whether on the "Come
Out" roll, or in progress, you can jump in immediately and place
any bets. The only exception to this is the bet called the "Pass
Line" bet with odds", which can be made only on the "Come
Out" roll. You can, however, bet with the shooter even while
the game is in progress by placing a "Pass Line" bet without
odds. Placing your chips halfway over one of the two lines framing
the "Pass Line" area does this.
Before the new shooter rolls the dice on his or her "Come
Out" roll, there are a variety of bets that can be made. The "Pass
Line" and Don't Pass Line" bet are the most common bets
to make. Once the shooter establishes a "Point", you can
then place an additional bet behind your "Pass Line" bet.
This is called "taking odds".
In most casinos you can bet up to three times the amount of your "Pass
Line" bet. This is called "taking full odds". Some
casinos offer up to 100 times odds! This simply means that you can
bet up to 100 times the amount of your "Pass Line" bet
once a "Point" has been established.
Betting the "Don't Pass Line" is the exact opposite of
betting the "Pass Line". The "Don't Pass" bet
wins if the shooter rolls any craps; 2 or 3 (12 is considered a push;
the bet neither wins nor loses, merely stays in limbo till a decision
is reached on subsequent rolls) and loses if shooter rolls a 7 or
11.
Once the shooter establishes a "Point" your "Don't
Pass" bet stays in action, win until the shooter rolls a 7 or
make his/her "Point". Therefore, a "Don' Pass" bet
wins if the shooter fails to make his "Point", but loses
if the shooter does make the "Point". You can also take
odds on a "Don't Pass" bet.
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