How to play craps

Learn how to play craps and master the basics & the best bets

The craps is a casino game whose progress is very accurate. Before you start betting on these great online casino games or on a land-based craps table, you will need to make sure you fully understand each craps rule and its features. Also, remember that craps is a game that takes a lot of seriousness in the learning process. So practice and play craps online in no money modes, before you start to apply the craps rules in real mode. Do not worry, once you have put the rules of craps into practice, this game will fascinate you.

 If you’ve never played craps in your life, it’s a safe bet that the game seems both complicated and tumultuous to you. It is indeed a casino game that gives pride of place to action. But do not panic! The placing of bets can occur at any time during the game.

While you can play craps knowing only a handful of bet types, you might as well not do things by halves and familiarize yourself with all the bets in the game knowing when and how to place them. Continue reading this article devoted to the rules of craps to play like a professional!

How to Play Craps - Sic Bo Strategy

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To learn how to play craps, let's take a step by step to explore each craps rule

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In online craps (like classic craps), players predict the outcome of a dice roll by placing their bets on different sections of the table. Two six-sided dice are used. The player who is responsible for rolling the dice is called ‘Ponte’. If you are playing in a live casino, all players seated around the table will have the opportunity to roll the dice. The dice are passed from player to player counterclockwise after each round. The start of a game is done according to the following rules:

  1. The shooter (or Ponte) grabs the two dice.
  2. The shooter places a ‘Pass’ bet or a ‘Don’t Pass’ bet. Other players can also place bets.
  3. The shooter begins the game by rolling the dice in the direction of the opposite table edge. This is the initial roll of the dice (Come Out Roll). 

How to play craps

  • The player who rolls the dice is called the shooter or the thrower or Ponte.
  • The thrower, once the dice are in his hands, is the first to place his bet.
  • Once the bet has been made, the other players can place their bets.
  • The shooter signals the start of the game by throwing the dice on the table. This is called a “come out roll”.
  • If a 7 or an 11 is rolled, the player wins once the amount of their bet.
  • If he rolls a 2, 3 or 12, he loses his entire bet, which is called “Craps”.
  • If he rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9, the player establishes a “point”. The dealer, who organizes the game, then takes the opportunity to place a puck on the table, an element that allows the value of the point to be measured.
  • Once the player has established a “point”, he must re-roll the dice.
  • If the “point” is drawn again before a 7, the players who initially bet on “Pass” win the stake and the others lose.
  • If he rolls a 7 before the “point”, those who had bet on “Don’t pass” win and the others lose.

The initial dice roll

As we mentioned previously, the shooter will have to place a ‘Pass’ bet or a ‘Don’t Pass’ bet before making the initial roll of the dice (come out roll). If the roll ends with a 7 or 11, the ‘Pass’ bet wins and the ‘Don’t Pass’ bet loses. This scenario ends the game. If the roll ends up with a 2, 3, or 12, it is craps. The ‘Pass’ bet loses and the ‘Don’t Pass’ bet wins. In some casinos, hitting 12 results in a tie and the original bet is returned to the player. This particular scenario also precipitates the end of the round.

If the roll ends with a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the player establish a point. The dealer will place a puck on that specific number. In this case, the shooter will continue to roll the dice until he redoes the point he has just established or a 7. If he redoes his point, the ‘Pass’ bet wins where the ‘Don’t Pass’ bet loses. If it rolls a 7, it’s the opposite.

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To know how to play craps, you must also master the different types of bets

PassConsists of betting on the fact that the player will shoot a 7, an 11 or establish a “point” from the first throw. Pass line bets pay off once the initial stake.
Don’t PassConsists of betting on whether the player will roll a 2, 3, or 12. Like the pass line bet, this bet pays once the initial bet is made.
ComeSimilar to the Pass bet, this bet does not necessarily take place on the first roll. It is in his interest to invite a late player to join the table and immediately take part in the game.
Don’t comeSimilar to the Don’t Pass bet, this bet does not take place on the initial roll.
OddsThis bet is made in addition to the first four bets that we have just presented to you but after the first roll.
FieldFor a single throw, this bet pays even if one of the following numbers is drawn: 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. If a 2 is drawn, the payout ratio increases to 2 to 1. If the 12 is drawn, the payout ratio increases to 3 to 1.
Big 6Consists of betting on a draw of the 6 before the 7. The Big 6 pays the stake of the bet.
Big 8Consists of betting on a draw of 8 before 7. This bet pays once the initial stake.
SquareConsists of betting on a draw of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 before 7 or just the opposite.
7Consists of betting on an immediate draw of 7. This bet has a payout ratio of 4 to 1.
11Consists of betting on an immediate draw of 11. This bet pays fifteen times the amount of the initial bet.
CrapsConsists of betting on a 2, 3, 12, or Craps with an attractive payout ratio of 7 to 1.

What are the most popular bets?

Despite the variety of bet types, you will be able to try your hand at craps once you have mastered the main bets of the game. Let us take you through them in more detail. 

The ‘Pass’ bets

Pass bets are the easiest type of bet to make. If you make the decision to bet on the pass line, you assume that the initial roll of the dice will result in a 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, the players who bet on ‘Pass’ will receive double. If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, he establishes a point. If you bet on ‘Pass’, the pitcher will have to make this point again to hope to win the bet. If he rolls a 7 before he has been able to make his point, the ‘Pass’ bet is lost. Otherwise, you double your initial bet. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (a craps) on the initial roll of the dice, players who have made a pass line bet will also lose their bet. 

‘Don’t Pass’ bets

As the name suggests, ‘Don’t Pass’ bets are the opposite of ‘Pass’ bets. If you place a ‘Don’t Pass’ bet, it means you are betting against the thrower. You assume the shooter will roll a 2, 3, or 12 on their initial dice roll. If he establishes a point, he will have to roll a 7 before he can redo his point if you want to win your bet. 

The ‘Venue’ bets

A Come bet works on the same principle as a ‘Pass’ bet, except that it is placed after the establishment of a point. If the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11, the come bet wins. If he rolls a 2, 3, or 12, the come bet loses. If the shooter rolls any other number, he establishes a point. If he repeats this point, the coming bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 7 before he has been able to make his point, the coming bet loses.

The bets of ‘Non-Coming’

No-show bets are the opposite of come bets. They can be done at any time after a point has been established. You will win a no-show bet if the shooter rolls a 2 or a 3 after establishing a point. A 12 will result in a tie. If he gets a point, he must imperatively roll a 7 before being able to redo his point so that you can win your no-show bet.

The best bets in online craps

Pass: 1.41%

Don’t Pass: 1.36%

Come: 1.41%

Don’t Come: 1.36%

The Odds Bets

This is an additional bet that you will have the opportunity to place after placing a ‘Pass’ bet, a ‘Don’t Pass’ bet, a ‘Come’ bet or a ‘No Come’ bet. There is no table section provided for this purpose. Deposit your chips behind your initial bet. Odds bets can be placed or withdrawn at any time during the game. You are also free to increase or decrease the value of your additional bets. Also, note that there is a limit to this type of bet. Depending on the casino, you will not be able to place ‘Odds Bets’ whose value is three times that of your initial bet. The odds are set at 2 to 1 for a 4 and a 10, 3 to 2 for a 2 and a 9 and 6 to 5 for a 6 and an 8.

The 'Bets Proposal'

   The ‘Proposal Bets’ group together several types of bet placed on the table sections dedicated for this purpose. Except for adrenaline rushes, we invite you to consume the ‘Proposition Bets’ with extreme moderation. This type of bet generates a colossal house advantage that you could do without. Random roll bets (or single rolls) can be made at any time during the game. You will place them in the table sections on which different combinations of dice appear. Craps professionals will always advise against this type of bet as it generates a considerable house advantage. If you intend to make it to spice up the flow of a game, place this type of bet sparingly!

How to Play Craps