How To Play Craps: A Beginner's Guide
If you walk through any major casino, you will undoubtedly find a table that is much louder and more energetic than any other game in the building. People are screaming, high-fiving strangers, and cheering as the dice bounce down the length of a massive, incredibly confusing green felt table. This highly intimidating game is the game of Craps. To someone who has never played, the betting layout looks like an alien language. There are confusing boxes and numbers, and the dealers are shouting slang. But this is a huge misconception. Despite the crazy layout, craps is actually one of the simplest, and most profitable games in Vegas. If you just learn the basics, you can confidently roll the dice.
The Pass Line Bet: The Foundation of Craps
The only logical way to survive the craps table is to completely ignore 95% of the table. The confusing center sections are terrible traps with massive house edges. You only care about one line that borders the felt: the "Pass Line". Making a Pass Line bet is how you play the game. At the start of a round, the shooter rolls the dice for the first time. With your money on the Pass Line, you instantly win even money if the Come-Out roll is a 7 or an 11. You lose immediately on a 2, 3, or 12. The math is that basic: 7/11 wins, 2/3/12 loses.
The Second Phase of the Game: The Goal of the Shooter
But what about the other numbers? If the shooter rolls any other number a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that specific number officially becomes "The Point". The dealer will take a large plastic puck and places it onto the corresponding box. The rules of the game now completely change. To secure a win, the shooter keeps throwing until they roll the Point again. When the Point rolls, the table cheers and wins. Here is the danger: if a 7 appears prior to the Point, this is called "Sevening Out". All Pass Line bets are swept away, the round is over, and the next person shoots. The entire excitement is basically just a massive group of people hoping the Point hits before the 7.
The Secret Odds Bet: When the puck is ON, you can place an 'Odds' bet behind your chips. This is the Odds bet and it is literally the only bet in the entire casino that pays true mathematical odds. The house has no advantage here.
Don't Pass Line: You can play the 'Don't Pass' line. This is betting on the 7, or if the shooter fails. It has a lower house edge, but you will be the most hated person at the table since you win when the table loses.
Avoid the Center of the Table: The 'Hardways' and 'Any Seven' bets with the huge payouts have astronomical house edges with huge casino advantages. Never, ever place a chip in the center of the craps table.
Craps Basics Cheat Sheet: The Only Rules You Need
To make your very first trip to the craps table, as easy and stress-free as possible, review the simple cheat sheet below. It summarizes the absolute core mechanics of the fundamental craps bet: the Pass Line.
The Dice RollThe NumbersWin or Lose
The Come-Out Roll (First Roll)7 or 11You get paid
The Come-Out Roll (First Roll)CrapsInstant Loss
Setting the PointShooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.The puck flips ON
The Ongoing GamePoint is hitYou WIN your Pass Line bet (and any Odds bets). Round resets.
The GrindThe Deadly 7Total Loss
To wrap it up, craps is not a game you should be afraid of. The casino purposefully designs the table layout to look incredibly complex and confusing so casual gamblers will guess and lose their money. By simply walking up, placing your chips exclusively on the Pass Line, avoiding the middle of the table, and completely ignoring the screaming center of the board, you are playing the best game on the floor. Grab the dice, throw them against the back wall, and enjoy the absolute most thrilling, high-energy casino experience in the world.