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How to Play Craps
Craps
can be as simple or as complicated as you want the game
to be. Craps looks intimidating at first because of its crowded,
noisy atmosphere and complex table, but it's really not
too bad once you get the hang of a few of the simpler
craps bets.
The thing that worries new players the most is looking like a newbie in front of all the people at the table. Gamblers can be a superstitious lot so new craps players are sometimes worried about breaking some sort of table etiquette and upsetting everyone else at the table.
One simple solution to that problem is to first acquaint yourself with craps at an online casino instead of a live casino. When you play online, there is no pressure because there aren't twenty other gamblers playing with you, and you can take as long as you want.
Free Craps Game
If you already know how to play Craps, go ahead and practice by playing this free craps game, courtesy of Cherry Red Casino: Or, learn about all of the best online craps casinos. If you don't know how to play, scroll down for the full craps rules.
Play More Casino Games at GoCasino.com!
Flow of the Game
Players at a craps table take turns throwing two dice down a long table. The first roll is called the "come out" roll and it establishes the point. If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, it's considered a win for most players. If the come out roll is a 2, 3 or 12, it's considered an automatic loss for most players.
Every other outcome of the come out roll sets the point. From this point on, the same thrower will continue throwing the dice until that person either rolls that same point again or hits a 7. If the point is hit again, it's considered a win. If a 7 is rolled before the point appears again, it is considered a loss.
The person throwing the dice is called the "shooter" and continues rolling the dice until he or she throws a 7 after establishing a point. As soon as a 7 ends the round, the next person at the table may be the shooter.
Pass Line Bet
The pass line bet is the most basic and common craps bet. You place your bet on the pass line at the beginning of a new throw (hence its name) and win or lose according to the following rules:
- If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, you win your bet.
- If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come out roll, you lose your bet.
- If the shooter rolls any other number you will win if the shooter rolls that same number again before rolling a 7. If a 7 appears before the point is rolled again, you lose the bet.
Don't Pass Line Bet
The Don't Pass Line Bet is generally frowned upon in live casinos because it is a bet that you place against the shooter. This bet is the exact opposite of a pass line bet. The odds are slightly more favorable on this bet than on the Pass Line Bet so if you are playing online, this isn't a bad bet to make.
The rules of the don't pass line bet are as follows:
- If the come out roll is a 2 or 3, the don't pass line bet wins.
- If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, the don't pass line bet loses.
- If the come out roll is a 12, the bet is a tie.
- If any other number is rolled, the don't pass line bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 again before rolling that same number.
The Odds Bet
The odds bet is an awesome bet because it has exactly zero house edge. There aren't very many opportunities like that in any casino so this bet should become a part of your arsenal as soon as you get the hang of craps.
You may only place an odds bet after placing a pass line bet, and after a point has been established. The odds bet then wins if the point is hit again before a seven is rolled. This bet pays out true odds based on the point that has been set:
| Point | Payout Odds |
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 |
The one limitation of the odds bet is that most casinos impose a maximum bet size on this bet. Most casinos only allow the odds bet to be twice as large as the pass line, bet but some casinos allow larger bets, up to 100 times as large as the pass line bet.
Other Bets
There are quite a few other bets in craps, but the ones listed here will get you off to a great start. Practice these bets online at first and then try them out at a live casino until you're completely comfortable with the game.
Once you have these bets down pat, you can graduate to some of the more advanced bets. The bets on this page, however, are the best bets for your money - especially the odds bet. If you would like information on some of the advanced craps bets, head over to OnlineCraps.net which is a great spot for online craps info. Or, read our craps strategy page.
