Table of contents
- 1 Where does Craps come from?
- 2 Basic Rules: How Craps Works
- Play 3 Craps against each Other
- 4 Craps in the Casino
- 5 How to roll the dice correctly
- 6 Betting options
- 7 Pass Bets
- 8 Don't Pass Bets
- 9 Come Bets
- 10 Don't Come Bets
- 11 Odds Bets
- 12 Proposition Bets
- 13 Place Bets
- 14 Buy Bets
- 15 Lay Bets
- 16 Hard Way Bets
- 17 The Best Craps Strategy
- 18 Craps Variants
- 19 dollarpean Seven Eleven
- 20 Card Craps
- 21 Craps Glossary: The most important technical terms
- 22 Conclusion: Craps is Easier than You Think
Craps is a Dice game which is particularly popular in the USA. It can be played both in a private setting, as well as in the casino. Craps was the first dice game that ever made its way into the casinos. Sometimes gambling is also considered Craps Shooting or Seven Eleven refer.
Photo © YesGnome Gaming Solutions
Anyone who has ever taken a look at a craps table may have their hands clasped over their heads. In fact, the jumble of different fields, numbers and characters looks quite complicated. However, the complexity is mainly due to the different betting options, which are optional. As with Roulette there are also individual fields for this on the table covered with green felt.
In the casino, the craps table applies as the loudest . Because here it is sometimes high. The chips and dice are flying through the area, the bets are called out loudly and the tempers heat up. Nothing with poker face and crackling tension. No wonder that four employees are necessary here. As the queen of dice games, craps is one of the most entertaining games of chance ever. Either you love it or you hate it.
If you focus on the basic rules first, you will quickly master this seemingly complicated game of chance. Plenty Online Casinos offer demo games that are all about play money. These are ideal for gaining a little experience, getting a feel for craps, gradually familiarizing yourself with the variety of bets and developing a game strategy.
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Where does craps come from?
Where the gambling craps came from exactly, is not clearly verifiable today. It is known, however, that the modern variant has its origin in
New Orleans
hat. It got there during the colonization across the Atlantic. At first it was played in the French-speaking part of Canada, and then spread throughout the continent.
Craps is a simplification of the medieval dice game Hazard
. This, in turn, was one of the first casino games ever.
In English, "crabs" are both crabs and toads. However, the term actually comes from Creole and refers to "crabe", which refers to the lossy combination of a one-two. Speaking in a Creole accent, it sounds like craps. Crapauds were the craps players who used to be based on the streets of New Orleans.
Basic Rules: How Craps Works
Playing Craps against each other
All participants of the game gather around a table. The player who rolls the dice will Shooter (eng. Gunner) call. He first bets a certain amount in the form of chips, the so-called Banco . This he places on the Pass Line . The other players will Fader call. You are now betting on whether the shooter will win (Pass Line) or lose (Don't Pass Line) . The Pass line and Don't Pass line are the base bets that are chosen most often. Once all your bets have been placed, the shooter takes two dice in his hand and rolls them.
In the first litter, the so-called "Come Out Roll" (invites. "Ejection"), the following rules apply:
- An eye total of 7 or 11 is called Natural and the shooter immediately wins 1 : 1. It also wins the Pass Line bet, all those who have bet on Don't Pass lose. The round is over.
- An eye total of 2, 3 or 12 is called crap and the shooter loses immediately. The Don't Pass line wins, the one who bet on the pass line loses. The round is also over.
- An eye total of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 becomes the so-called Point , the shooter rolls the dice one more time.
From the second throw (point) the following rules now apply:
- If the same sum of eyes as before, i.e. the point, is rolled, the shooter wins and the pass line 1 : 1 (Don't Pass loses).
- With an eye total of 7, the shooter and the pass line lose (Don't Pass wins).
- With any other eye sum, the shooter continues to roll the dice until one of the other two game-deciding events occurs.
Craps at the Casino
In the casino, the basic rules are identical, except that here you do not act against the other players at the table, but play directly against the bank. The betting offer may differ from casino to casino. The payout percentages are also not necessarily uniformly regulated.
A craps table in the casino is supervised by four employees who all have their fixed tasks:
- The Boxman has control over the bank, he oversees the chips.
- The two Dealer are responsible for collecting and paying out the bets. They also place the bets called out by the players on the appropriate fields.
- The Stickman stand directly opposite the boxman. With his long stick (Engl. stick) he collects the dice after each roll and only gives them to the next player when all bets have been paid out. He is also responsible for announcing the results. He also ensures that undecided players finally decide.
Photo © GamblingSites
How to roll the dice correctly
At the beginning of each game, the stickman puts the first shooter five Craps dice from which he may choose two. The other three serve as a reserve. For example, if a cube falls to the ground, one of the replacement cubes is taken, so that no one has the opportunity to prong or swap the cube when picking it up. However, many craps players believe that it brings misfortune to make a roll with different dice. That's why they often demand from the stickman "Same Dice!“ , so the same cubes. If he picks them up, that's fine too.
Unlike dollar-Paean dice, the American craps dice are distinguished by the fact that they have and are not rounded. The cubes are monochrome but transparent. The eyes are relatively large and white, so everyone quickly recognizes them. For private use, of course, there are also normal game cubes.
Betting options
Pass Bets |
The Pass Bet, which has already been mentioned briefly, is certainly the most famous and most important bet in craps. If you place your bet on the pass line around the other squares, you bet on the Come Out Roll and win if the shooter rolls a natural (7 or 11). If the shooter rolls a crap (2, 3 or 12), the bet is lost. For the eye totals 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, the round continues. If the same value is rolled in the point before a 7 comes, the pass bet wins. At a 7 before the point, the line loses.Payout Ratio (usually): 1 : 1
Probability of winning: 49.29 % Bank Advantage: 1.41 % |
Don't Pass Bets |
The Don't Pass Bet is the exact opposite of the Pass bet. So here the bet is that the shooter loses. The Don't Pass line wins if the shooter throws a 2 or 3. At the 12 (in some casinos also at Crap 2) there is a stand off, i.e. a draw. This means that the bet is neither won nor lost. On the other hand, if the shooter throws a 7 or 11, then the Don't Pass line has lost. Every other eye sum generates a point again. If this point number comes before the 7, then the Don't Pass bet loses. Otherwise, she wins.Payout Ratio (usually): 1 : 1
Probability of winning: 49.30 % Bank Advantage: 1.40 % |
Come Bet |
The Come Bet basically works like the Pass bet, only that it is placed while the game round is already running. The pass bet can only be placed before a Come Out roll. If the player bets on Come, then he wins if a 7 or an 11 falls in the next roll or if a come point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) before the game ends 7 is hit.Payout Ratio (usually): 1 : 1
Probability of winning: 49.30 % Bank Advantage: 1.40 % |
Don't Come to Bet |
Just as the Don't Pass bet is the opposite of the Pass bet, the Don't Come bet is the opposite of the Come bet. So it is also placed during a running game round, but won only when the shooter hits a 2 or 3 or when the game-ending 7 is hit before the come point. At the 12, the draw is again valid. You win when the shooter loses.Payout Ratio (usually): 1 : 1
Probability of winning: 49.30 % Bank Advantage: 1.40 % |
Odds Bets |
Odds bets are additional bets or rather probability bets that may be placed by all players after the Come Out roll. To do this, you must have previously made a pass line bet. For the Odds bet, chips are placed directly behind the pass bet. In the Odds bets it is bet that the point will be thrown before the 7. The good thing about the Odds bets: they are offered by the casino at fair odds, i.e. without a bank advantage. The payout is based on probability. For example, at point 4, there are only three ways the dice can fall to give this eye total. At point 8, on the other hand, there are already five possible combinations. The chances of winning on an 8 are therefore higher than on a 4. The odds are correspondingly worse for an 8 than for a 4. American casinos usually offer double odds. This means that a maximum of twice the original bet may be placed on odds bets. The payout percentages in detail:
- Sum of eyes 4: Odds 2 : 1, Probability 1/3
Note: Smart Craps players do not increase the pass bet, but enter an odds bet. |
Proposition Bets |
In the case of the proposition bets, it is bet that a certain amount of eyes will fall in the next roll:
- Crap 2: Bet on the eye total 2
- Crap 3: Bet on the eye total 3
- Seven: Bet on the eye total of 7
- Eleven: bet on the sum of eyes 11
- Crap 12: Bet on the eye total 12
- Any Crap: Bet on the 2, 3 or 12
- Field: bet on the sum of the eyes 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12
|
Place Bets |
Place bets are quick bets that can be placed at any time after the Come Out roll, before a 7 has been rolled. Here, a bet is made on a certain amount of eyes:
- 4: Bet that the sum of the eyes of 4 will fall before the next 7
- 5: Bet that the eye total 5 will fall before the next 7
- SIX: Bet that the eye total of 6 will fall before the next 7
- 8: Bet that the eye total 8 will fall before the next 7
- NINE: Bet that the eye total 9 will fall before the next 7
– 10: Bet that the eye total 10 will fall before the next 7
To complete a place bet, you throw the chips to the dealer and tell him the desired number. He then takes over the placement. The place bets can be changed after each roll. In the vast majority of casinos, the place bets are not decided by a come out roll of the shooter. On the craps table, this is indicated by a button with the inscription "Off". The place bets are off because it is a Come out roll. For the following point throws, the button is turned to "On" and placed in front of the necessary point number. Only now can Place bets be won or lost. |
Buy Bets |
The buy bets correspond to the place bets, only that you get better (fairer) payout percentages here. However, they are also bought with a commission of five percent of the stake. So if a player wants to bet $ 50 on the 8 as a buy bet, he must first pay a fee of $ 2.50. If the bet is won, the player wins $ 150. It is important to remember: you risk not only the stake in the amount of 50 dollars, but also the fee, that is, a total of 52.50 dollars. Note: Since the bank advantage for buy bets is generally 4.76 percent, the buy bet is always preferable to the place bet for the eye totals 4 and 10. |
Lay Bets |
Lay bets are the opposite of buy bets. So you bet that a 7 falls before the set sum of the eyes. Here, too, a commission of five percent is due, with which the casino secures its advantage.
- Lay 4: Bet that the eye total of 7 will fall before the next 4
- Lay 5: Bet that the eye total of 7 will fall before the next 5
- Lay 6: Bet that the eye total of 7 will fall before the next 6
- Lay 8: Bet that the eye total of 7 will fall before the next 8
- Lay 9: Bet that the eye total 7 will fall before the next 9
- Lay 10: Bet that the eye total of 7 will fall before the next 10
Some casinos waive the fee of five percent, but use different payout percentages for this:
- Lay 4 and Lay 10: Payout 5 :11 (bank advantage 3.0%)
|
Hard Way Bets |
Eye totals can be created in different ways by the two dice. The Hard Way bets are made on the fact that they are created by a doublette. For an 8, this would be the case, for example, by 4 + 4. However, if the 8 comes about through 2 + 6, then the soft way is spoken of. In the Hard Way bet, the double must fall before the sum is rolled as a soft way or a 7. The Hard Way bets are placed in the middle of the table, where the dice printed with the same pairs of eyes are located.
- Hard 4: wins at 2+2, loses at 3+1 (or 7)
- Hard 6: wins at 3+3, loses at 5+1, 4+2 (or 7)
- Hard 8: wins at 4+4, loses at 6+2, 5+3 (or 7)
- Hard 10: wins at 5+5, loses at 6+4 (or 7)
|
The Best Craps Strategy
The optimal strategy for craps is actually quite simple: you should only bet with the lowest house advantage play. That is exactly why we have always included the probability of winning and the bank advantage in the different betting options here.
If it comes to a point, then the odds bets will be interesting, because the bank has no advantage here. Smart players should place the most bets on exactly these additional bets. Because the bank does not earn anything from this, the odds bets are usually limited by the casino to 3, 4 or 5 times the pass bet.
All the other numerous betting options sometimes have significantly higher house advantages and should therefore simply be ignored. Betting here can be fun if you have the necessary change and no problem losing it. However, if you want to leave the casino with more than you brought with you, use this simple strategy: Just bet on Pass/Don't Pass and Come/Don't Come and maximize the bets in the point with an odds bet.
Craps Variants
In contrast to card games, the dice games were frowned upon for a long time worldwide, especially in the casino. They were not considered fine enough to be celebrated in the elegant atmosphere of a casino. Craps was, after all, the first dice game that made it into the legendary casino of Monte Carlo has succeeded. This paved the way to casinos around the world. However, this very fact has also contributed to the fact that today there are – although not many, at least a few – different variants.
dollarpean Seven Eleven
While in Germany the majority of people have probably never heard of craps, the dice game is very well known and widespread in the United States. If it is offered in German casinos, then usually in the
the dollar-Paean variant
which has been significantly simplified, perhaps also to make it easier for casino visitors to get started.
The dollarpean Seven Eleven no bets on Come or Don't Come, no odds bets, Proposition bets, Buy bets and Lay bets. This has the disadvantage for the players that the bets that are favorable for him have been canceled. In addition to the odds bets, these are also the place bets on 6 and 8, which are only paid out with even Money and not with a odds of 7 : 6.
Card Craps
When the dice games were more frowned upon than ever, some craps fans knew how to help themselves and simply put the dice through Playing-cards exchanged, which are revealed. So, for one game, two or three decks of cards will be 48 or 72 cards used. The aces, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s and 6s are used. The rules are otherwise largely identical to the dice game.
As a supplement, there is a bet on card Craps on Double Hard Way Bets . In this case, it is bet that a certain sum of eyes comes before the 7 by two identical cards. The cards are identical if they have the same value and the same suit. A Double Hard 4 can therefore be created by four variants: hearts 2 + Hearts 2, clubs 2 + Clubs 2, diamonds 2 + diamonds 2, spades 2 + Spades 2. The bet is lost if the sum of the eyes falls in any other way or if the 7 is revealed.
Other variants:
- Crapless Craps/Bastard Craps : Simpler variant with other types of bets
- The Rich Craps : Is played with only one die, with a 6 the player wins, with a 1 he loses
- High Points Craps : 2s and 3s are ignored (the dice are rolled again), at 11 and 12 the player automatically wins
- New York Craps : Variant with higher house Edge, table without Come, Don't Come and Place bets, player must bet 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, casino retains five percent of winnings
- Simplified Craps : Even simpler variant in which the player wins at 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 and 12 and loses at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Craps Glossary: The most important technical terms
- Boxcars: two 6s
- C and E Craps: Number 11
- Center Field: 9, because it is in the middle of the numbers in the Field field
- Craps: 2, 3 or 12
- Jimmy Hicks: Number 6
- Little Joe or Little Joe from Kokomo: 4 (specifically thrown as 3+1)
- Natural Winner: 7 or 11 in the first roll
- Puppy Paws: two 5s, but "Hard 10" or "10 hard" is more common
- Skate and Donate: number 8
- Skinny Dugan: a 7 that loses
- Snake Eyes: two 1s
- Yo or Yo-leven: number 11
Conclusion: Craps is easier than you think
Admittedly, at first glance craps looks incredibly complicated, especially because it is also relatively unknown in dollar pairs. But if you take a closer look at the rules of the game, you will quickly realize that the traditional dice game is not rocket science. For beginners, the basic rules with a few basic bets are completely sufficient.
Even strategists leave the countless betting options cold. They focus on those with the least banking advantage and these are just the said basic bets.
Because craps is one of the two casino games that sometimes even no house advantage casino friends should definitely take a closer look at the dice game. In this country, it unfairly leads a shadowy existence. If you want to master craps, you have to keep an overview and recognize chances of winning. It requires Tactics and sensitivity . Then it also works with the profit! The online casino is ideal for practicing and comfortable playing.
