While the craps table layout may look intimidating for those who have never played the game – or for those who have only played it from time to time – the fact is that the basic game of craps is quite easy to understand.

When played at a casino, the game of craps is generally called Casino Craps because the casino accepts and pays off all bets.

Craps may be played with as little as one player who places a bet or wager against the casino. The game begins with one player who is the “Shooter” (the player who will roll the dice) placing a bet on the “Pass Line” of the craps table layout. This is the time when the remaining players also place their wagers.

When the game is ready to begin, the “Stickman” slides a number of dice to the shooter from which the shooter selects just two.

The shooter then rolls the dice to the opposite end of the table. This first roll to start the game is called the “Come-Out” roll.

There are three – and only three – outcomes that are possible when the dice are rolled. And each outcome is based on the numbers that appear on the dice.

Here are the three possible outcomes:

Outcome #1 – The dice show a total of 7 or 11.
In this case, the shooter and all players betting on the pass line win their bet at even money. So if you bet $10 on the pass line you win $10.

Outcome #2 – The dice show a total of 2, 3, or 12.
In this case, the shooter and all players betting on the pass line lose their bet. So if you bet $10 on the pass line you lose your $10.

Outcome #3 – The dice show any other of the remaining numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
In this case, the number rolled becomes “The Point” number and the shooter continues to roll the dice until:

(a) the point number is rolled – in which case the shooter and all players betting on the pass line win their bet at even money. So if you bet $10 on the pass line you win $10, or

(b) a 7 is rolled – in which case the shooter and all players betting on the pass line lose their bet. So if you bet $10 on the pass line you lose your $10.

That’s it in a nutshell. The game of craps doesn’t get any more complicated than that.

You roll the dice on the come-out roll and you win, lose, or establish a point. After your roll establishes a point, you continue to roll until: (a) you roll the point and win, or (b) you roll a 7 and lose.

By the way, when you roll a 7 and lose, that’s called a “7-Out”.

And note that there is no limit as to the number of times you can roll the dice. It could be as few as just one more roll, or it could be as many as twenty, thirty, or even forty rolls or more. As the shooter, you just continue to roll the dice until you roll your point number and win, or you roll a 7 and lose.

Here’s an example to further illustrate how to play craps – the basic game. You are the shooter. You and the other players at the craps table place bets on the pass line.

• Your initial come-out roll shows a 7 or 11.
• You and all the players betting on the pass line win their bet at even money.
• The game continues and you continue to roll the dice.
• Your next roll will be your new come-out roll.

• Your new come-out roll shows a 2, 3, or 12 (called “crap” dice).
• You and all the players betting on the pass line lose their bet.
• The game continues and you continue to roll the dice.
• Your next roll will be your new come-out roll.

• Your new come-out roll shows a 5 (which becomes your point number).
• The game continues and you continue to roll the dice.
• You continue to roll the dice until a 5 first appears (and is a winner for you and all pass line bettors), or a 7 first appears (and is a loser for you and all pass line bettors).
• When you 7-out (and all craps shooters eventually 7-out) the dice are then passed to the person to your left who becomes the new shooter.

• The game of craps starts all over again with that new shooter

A simple game of rolling the dice, establishing a point number, and continuing to roll the dice hoping you roll your point number before you roll a 7.

Good Luck!

This ensures that the craps table will be running smoothly, and that all craps players will behave and conduct themselves in an orderly manner. No sense in starting an argument or heated discussion with someone on a craps table over a few things that could be avoided, and thus preventing the game from turning sour for all other players at the craps table.

When someone offers another player the dice to shoot at a craps table, a player may actually pass the dice to the next player without offending anyone. One player though, should remain as the shooter betting on either the pass line or don’t pass line in order for the game to continue.

Another craps table etiquette is to simply say “for the boys” or “for the dealers” when tipping.

Other manners and etiquette regarding the craps table include actions during the come-out roll. It is actually considered bad luck when someone says the word “seven” on the craps table, which is why the number is simply referred to in many casinos as “Big Red” or simply as “Red”.

This version of the game is what is known as street craps. The other version of craps involves having the players wager their money up against the bank, which is also referred to as bank craps. The game’s outcome is decided on the roll of a die. In some cases, the game is decided on a number of rolls using two dice.

The game of craps uses only a few pieces of equipment, which is one of the reasons why it can be played easily in almost any setting. In such situations, many side bets are common and covering or “fading” bets against the dice roll are prevalent.

There are two kinds of bets in the game of craps. One is called the pass line bet. The pass line bet is when a bet is placed on the pass line right before a new shooter starts his or her roll. It is also known as the come out roll.

If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, you are the winner, if they roll a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. The other type of bet is the odds bet, which is done after the point has been established. It is an additional bet behind the pass line bet.

There are many differences regarding the two bets, and experienced craps table players know when to use each specific type of bet when playing the game.

The pass line bet is the simpler bet of the two. The bettor simply places their bet on the pass lie before a new shooter starts with his or her roll, known as the come out roll. If the new shooter rolls either a 7 or an 11, you win, but if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. For any other number rolled by the shooter, that number becomes what is called as the point number.

The current shooter must roll the dice again and roll the same number before they roll a 7. If they are successful, you win even money for your pass line bet. If they are not successful and they roll a 7 before the point number again, you lose your pass line bet.

The odds bet is made once the point is already established. Here, the bettor can put in an additional bet behind the pass line bet.

The odds bet is the only bet in a casino that does not have a house edge, and is paid off with true odds.

A lot of casinos offer double odds. Double odds allow the bet to be twice the size of your initial pass line bet.

The origin of the game is actually quite difficult to pinpoint, and may have even dated back to the time of the Crusades. The American version of the game however, was brought by Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville to New Orleans. The man was a scion of many rich Louisiana land owners and was a well known politician and gambler.

The game of craps basically has one player wager their money either up against each other, known as street craps, or against the bank, referred to as bank craps. The winner is decided based on the results of a roll, or a series of rolls, using two dice.

These days, the game of craps can be played not only in casinos and gambling areas, but also online. Craps is available in many gaming and casino web sites these days.

Most of these web sites offer the game for free, while some have memberships that are not free or have monthly charges.

Casino players may either play craps with real money or just for fun, and extra prizes are sometimes available in both variants of the game.

Understanding the game goes a long way in having more money in your pockets coming out that you did coming in.

One good strategy involves the pass line bet. The pass line bet is put on the pass line on a come out roll, which you can tell usually by a laminated marker that says “off”. For pass line bets, do not make any of them after the come out roll.

Although it is allowed, this sort of betting is very much ill-advised as the value of a pass line bet goes down after the come out roll. The house edge is actually only 1.41% on the pass line, which is actually good compared to most of the other bets on your craps table, as well as most other casino games.

You may also opt to play the odds bet, where the bet has no house edge. To make an odds bet right after a pass line bet, all you have to do is put the odds bet right behind the pass line bet which is outside the pass line area on the portion of the table that is closer to you.