Let’s take a break for a moment from poker. Craps is one of the most exciting table games played in casinos today. It is one of the few truly social games and one of the few played with dice. The following article is an introduction to this game. It can support players approaching the green felt for the first time, giving them the confidence to place their first bet properly.

An Introduction to Craps

Dice have been used for fun for millennia – since the dawn of recorded history itself. The element of chance involved when rolling the dice continues to remain one of the most exhilarating anticipatory events, from the annual family board game at Christmas to the winnings in the online casino. It is here in particular where the rolling of dice holds greatest sway over its audience in the game of Craps, each player around the table focuses on the numbers that are going to be revealed on those little cubes of destiny. However, players new to the game should realise that they need to be aware not simply of the rolling of the dice and the calling of a few bets.

The first factor in a Craps game is the shooter. This is the person who rolls the dice down the table, aiming to hit the far wall of the enclosure to reduce the chance of a controlled roll.

The shooter and all the other players around the table can bet in a number of ways – pass line bets and don’t pass line bets being the most common, and for ease of use new players should stick to these bets. A pass line bet is a bet that the shooter will make his or her point number. A don’t pass line bet is the exact opposite – that the shooter will not make their point number. A point number is decided after the ‘come-out roll‘, or the first roll a shooter plays.

If on this first roll a shooter lands 7 or 11, all pass line bets are won, but if he reaches 2, 3 or 12 all pass line bets are lost. Likewise, following a don’t pass line bet during the come-out roll, 7 or 11 loses while 2 and 3 win. If a 12 is reached it is a tie, and the player making that bet stays on for the next round (this is done to ensure the House maintains an advantage over the odds). This form of betting is often called ‘playing the dark side‘, as it is seen as a negative bet amidst the euphoria around the table. A player making such a bet is essentially willing the dice-roller to lose – a good way to lose friends and alienate people.

If, during the come-out roll, a shooter rolls 4,5,6,8,9,10 the come-out roll is over. This number becomes the ‘point‘ number, or the number for which a shooter is aiming. At this stage the dealer moves an ‘On‘ button to this number to identify to the table the number for which the shooter is aiming. If the shooter rolls the point score, he wins his odds, but if he rolls a 7, he loses. If this is the case, the role of shooter revolves clockwise around the table.

In black and white it seems straightforward, and indeed pass line and don’t pass line bets are good ways for players to familiarize themselves with the myriad of other bets that can be made. Should a player be handed the dice to take up his roll as shooter he always has the option to refuse. After all, he can still bet on other shooters while he is learning the intricacies of the table.