The Complete Guide to the Game of Craps 2023

Craps has a surprisingly colorful history. As legend says, it was Sir William from Tyre who invented the game so that his knights would have some sort of entertainment at the Crusades. Another version says that soldiers from Rome played the first version with knuckles and shields from pigs, and from therein it got the name “roll the bones”.

The Craps that we know today was introduced by a wealthy landowner from France named Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. Just like the lot of casino games, Craps likewise achieved popularity in the New World and adapted its vocabulary and rules to satiate local tastes while keeping some from the Old World.

Street Craps surged in popularity during the 2^nd World War, as it was played on army blankets by soldiers which might also give some truth to the stories about Roman Soldiers and Crusaders likewise playing it.

Casino Craps also developed during the 2^nd World War. It was John H. Winn who introduced some changes to the game around this time including “Don’t Pass Bets”, “Wrong” or “Right” betting, and the undying rule wherein players can bet against or with the shooter.

Craps has risen in fame at Nevada casinos and then got another shot at fame with the beginnings of online gambling during the 90s and early 2000. Because Craps is a highly social game, its online form had less success compared to its counterparts like video poker, poker, and blackjack. However, as gaming developers are coming up with new means to combine social gaming and networking with online gambling, that fact about Craps is sure to change.

As is expected from a very engaging game, Craps has a rich array of vocabulary. Nicknames are assigned to the numbers, with a lot of the terminologies used globally and some which are specific to a certain casino. Written below are some of the most pertinent terminologies one must learn:

Aces pertains to the bet on the next roll which is equals to 2

Any Craps pertains to the bet on the next roll which is equals to 2, 3 or 12.

Any Seven pertains to the bet on the next roll which is equals to 7.

Boxcars pertains to the bet on the next roll which is equals 12.

C&E pertains to the bet on the next roll which is equals to 2, 3, or 12 (craps) or 11.

Come Out Roll pertains to the first roll in a betting round. It fixes the point for Don’t Pass Line bets and Pass bets.

Don’t Come Bet pertains to the bet on 7’s appearance before the point gets established again.

Don’t Pass Bet pertains to the bet on the shooter rolling 7 or craps instead of making the point.

Easy Way pertains to rolling out 4, 6, 8 or 10 but wherein the two dice have differing worth or values from each other (meaning not coming in pairs of 4/4 or 5/5 etc).

Field Bet pertains to a bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.

Hardway pertains to a bet on 4, 6, 8 or 10 being thrown together in pairs (3/3 etc) prior to the appearance of an Easy Way or 7.

Hi-Lo is a bet on the nest roll being twelve or two (12 being the highest and 2 being the lowest possible values).

Natural pertains to the Come Out roll of 11 or 7.

Odds Bet pertains to a wager that is made with a Pass Line bet.

Off pertains to a bet that is inactive for the next roll.

On pertains to the bet that is on for the next roll.

Place Bet pertains to the bet that a certain number, example 6 or 9 would be rolled prior to a 7 being rolled.

Pass Line Bet is a bet on the pass line for a Come Out Roll.

Point pertains to the number predicted by the Come Out Roll.

The shooter initiates the game by putting at least the least possible bet on the Don’t Pass Line or the Pass Line. Two dice are rolled until their sides hit the walls on the other side of the table which is simulated on your screen if you are playing the Mobile or Online version of Craps. The shooter is one of the people playing the game, and the position for it alternates in a clockwise manner around the table after each round.

Every round has two parts: Point and Come Out. A typical round starts with Come Out roll. Players end up losing their Pass Line Bets if the Come Out roll is 2, 3, or 12 (craps out). Players win Pass Line Bets if the Come Out roll is a 7 or 11 (natural). All other outcomes of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be the “point” and then the round will move on to its 2^nd phase. All Pass Line bets win if the shooter rolls the point again and if the shooter rolls a ‘seven-out”, a new round begins and Pass Line bets lose.

The table in Craps has 3 main areas:

Centre area – which contains hardway bets and one-roll bets with a big House advantage (all proposition bets).

Two side areas – which contains Field bets, Place bets, Odds bets, Come and Don’t Come bets, Don’t Pass bets, and Pass Bets.

Craps is one of the most exciting casino games. It also has complicated rules and strict standards. But, strategies ranging from intermediate to advanced are limitless. Craps beginners and enthusiasts alike can develop tactics that will help them gain the upper hand. The game presents plenty of betting opportunities to win. The first thing that you have to learn is to get comfortable placing bets in small amounts as a starter.

There are a few basic things that you must know when you play Craps. First, is Pass Line bet. This is the easiest, fastest and safest bet you make during the first half of each round. There are three scenarios that can happen from here:

• Pass line bets win if you receive 7 or 11
• Pass line bets lose if you receive 2, 3 or 12
• Any other value establishes a Point - if the Point rolls again before hitting 7, the bet wins. Otherwise, you lose.

Next, you must learn one of the most widely used strategies of Craps neophytes – to place Pass Line bet followed by a series of Come Line bets. Here is an outline of how to carry this approach out:

1. Place a Pass Line bet
2. Shooter throws/rolls the dice
3. Place bet with single or double odds
4. Place a Come Line bet
5. Shooter throws/rolls the dice
6. Repeat steps 3-5
7. Shooter Rolls

Come Line bets are similar to Pass Line bets, in such a way that these can be made any time. You will also be allowed to bet on the odds if the Point is hit on the preliminary roll of the dice.

Keep in mind:

• The House is given an advantage of 1.41% in Pass Line Bets. In other bets, the House gets a greater edge but still holds better payout for players. It is therefore clear that Craps is a game that is centered on the House edge.
• Since Craps might be not an easy game for beginners to understand, it is best to first play a free-play version at any premier online casino. This way, one can practice until they are better without spending a single cent. Once the time comes that you think you have mastered the game, you can move on to playing with real money.
• If you are still a beginner, it’s best to keep at low-risk bets like Come Line Bet and Pass Line Bet. When you are comfortable enough, then you can consider opting for proposition bets in the middle of the table which of course has higher risk.
• Craps is a game played with people, it is a social game, no matter if you are playing at a casino or online but then, you should take note of the fact that you are playing for yourself, and not for making friends or simply having fun. Focus on the fact that you are playing against the House and whatever are the bets of the other players, it has no impact on yours.