Knowing the basic craps rules is key to succeeding. Having a solid craps strategy will help you make the right plays at the right time and knowing.

Rules and Strategies for Craps

1. This page will explain Craps rules and strategy. Learn how to play Craps and win.
2. Learn all the basics behind how to play craps. From being the shooter to placing bets and their payoffs, these visual instructions will help you on your way to.
3. Come and learn the best practices of playing craps ➤ Read basic craps rules & tips ➤ Practice your skills playing free craps games online ➤ Become the best wizard & use the strategy playing for.

Perhaps you shied away from playing craps because the game looks so daunting. True, at first glance, a craps table layout looks quite confusing. There are a variety of bets that you can make, and everything seems so complicated. Actually the basic game is quite simple and easy to learn.

Craps involves rolling a pair of dice. The player who rolls the dice is known as the 'shooter'. When two dice are rolled, any number between 2 and 12 can come up. Some numbers appear more often than others. For example there are six different ways to roll a 7, but only one way to roll a 2 or a 12. The number 7 has a better than 16% chance of coming up on each roll, whereas there is less than 3% chance of rolling a 2 or 12. Probabilities for other numbers are as follows: 6s and 8s under 14%, 5s and 9s nearly 11%, 4s and 10s almost 8%, 3s and 11s slightly less than 6%.

As you can see 7 is the most frequently rolled number, that’s why the game revolves mostly around that number. The number 7 wins only if it comes up on the come-out roll. If it’ is rolled while the shooter is trying to repeat his point number, the 7 loses, but the point number wins. More about that in a moment.

Craps table layouts at online casinos usually show only one half of the table. In a live casino the second half is exactly the same, making it a bigger table so that more players can join in and place bets.

When a new shooter rolls the dice the first time it’s called the 'come-out' roll. Supposing the shooter rolls a 7, then a 5, that means the 5 becomes the point. The shooter continues to roll the dice until his point number (in this case 5) repeats or he 'sevens-out' (rolls another 7). When either of these things happen, that particular round of play is over. A new shooter makes a new come-out roll.

The game is tracked using a plastic marker. This marker is black on one side, and white on the other. When the marker is turned black side up, it indicates that the shooter is making a come-out roll. After the shooter makes his point, the marker is flipped over, with the white side up, and placed on the number that corresponds to the point.

While this is going on, you can place your first bet. On the table layout you’ll see two lines, one marked 'pass', the other 'don’t pass'. For now we’ll concentrate on the more popular of the two, which is 'pass'. Pass and don’t pass bets are basically direct opposites of each other but carry about the same odds,

To place your bet, simply put your wager somewhere on the pass line. If the number rolled on the come-out is 7 or 11 you win and are paid 1:1. You would then bet on a new come-out roll. If the dice thrown total 2, 3 or 12 (a 'crap'), you lose your bet. If the total is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the 'point'.

Let's say you have made a pass line bet and a point of 5 has been established. You may now bet an amount equal to your pass line wager by placing it behind your pass line bet, but outside the pass-line strip. This means an 'odds bet' on 5. If 7 turns up before 5, you lose both bets. If 5 is thrown before 7, you win both bets.

The odds bet is the best bet you can make in a casino because the house has absolutely no edge. The casino will pay you true odds. For example, if you’ve bet pass line with odds and the point is 10, you will receive a 2-1 payment on your odds bet. The amount you win depends on what the point is, and how difficult it is to roll that point number. (See the percentages in an earlier paragraph.) On points of 4 or 10 the pay-off is 2 to 1, on points of 5 and 9 it's 3 to 2 and on points of 6 or 8 you get 6 to 5.

Now you know the most favorable and most popular bets you can make in Craps. The casino edge on a pass line with odds bet is less than 1%. There are many other types of bets, most of which have too great a house advantage. For now stick to what you’ve learned here. You will get to know about the 'sucker' bets soon enough.

How To Win At Craps:

Here is my formula for winning at craps: Set your perimeters. Decide in advance how much of a bankroll you're willing to risk and how big a win you'd be happy with.

Personally, my aim is to win an amount equal to what I start with. If I buy-in for $50, I will quit when I've doubled my stake or lost it. With my objectives clearly defined, I can not get into a situation I might sorely regret later. Whether the session ends positive or negative, I take an extended break before trying again.

In craps, as in most other games, if you want to win big money, you have to risk big money. There is probably no way around this fact. But, as a smart gambler you don't make large bets with the money you brought to the table. Keep your wagers small until you can bet back what was the casinos money -- your winnings.

Start cautiously, wager no more than the minimum unit required. When you win, bet two units. Win again, risk three units. If you win a third time, bet five units. Then stay at that level until you lose. Revert back to the table-minimum after a loss. This assures that you risk only your winnings in pursuit of larger gains, while making your own, original bankroll last as long as possible.

Don’t risk more than your predetermined stake. Conversely, once you've reached what you set out to win, cash in and pat yourself on the back for being so smart!

Good Luck!

Craps is the game, where the players use two hex-shaped cubes (dice), with 1-6 black dots, marked on their surface. However it would be incorrect to claim that Craps is a dice game, as dice is widely used in many other games as well. The whole game is played onto special gambling table, having quite high flanges. This is the only gambling table, which has so high flanges, that they prevent falling of cubes outside of it. In the game can participate a big number of players, generally up to 20 persons. One of the players throws the cubes and he is called Shooter, and the rest of players place their bets on the result of his throw. The main goal of the players who place their bets is to predict the combination occurred after the throw of the cubes and then to place their bets accordingly. Let’s find out more about online craps!

Definition of a Shooter

In any gambling round there can be just one Shooter. As he dices away, he passes dice to the next player sitting on the lefthand of him.

Craps Gameplay

Craps playing process has generally two stages:
Come Out Roll and Point Roll. Lets consider them from the perspective of a Shooter. . Come Out Roll is the first throw of dice, required to define Point number. Point number is fixed if the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 fall out.In this case the play switches to Point Roll stage.
If the numbers 2, 3 or 12 fall out upon the first throw, Craps situation is pronounced, and Shooter dices away and passes his right to throw dice to the next player. In case when number 7 or 11 falls out, the situation is called Natural, and then Shooter wins and throw dice again.
At Point Roll stage the player continues to throw dice until Point number or number 7 will fall out. In first case Shooter wins, and the game starts from the very beginning and Shooter takes dice again. If number 7 falls out, Shooter dices away and passes his right to throw dice to the next player.

Websites list with this game:

Craps Bets

Now we can consider Craps game play from the perspective of the other players, using the example of possible bets.

• Pass Line – this bet is placed at Come Out Roll stage. This bet wins, if number 7 or 11 falls out, and looses when the numbers 2,3 or 12 fall out as well. Also this bet continues to play if Point number is defined. In this case it wins if Point number falls out faster than number 7 (another words faster than Shooter wins) This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Don’t Pass Line – this bet is a contrary one to Pass Line bet. This bet is also played at Come Out Roll stage. This bet wins if the numbers 2 and 3 fall out or is returned to the player when number 12 falls out, and looses when number 7 or 11 fall out, and continues to play if Point number is defined. Furthermore it wins, if number 7 falls out faster than Point number (another words when Shooter dices away). This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Come – this bet is placed at any stage for the next Point number, which Shooter will throw out. This bet wins if in the process of the next throw the sum of the points equates number 7 or 11, and looses when the numbers 2,3 or 12 will fall out. Any other number is defined as Come Point and the bet is switched on the corresponding gambling field and following which it may win, if Come Point number falls out faster than number 7 does. This bet plays up to the end, and it can’t be cancelled or changed. This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Don’t Come – this bet is placed after Point number was defined. This bet wins, if number 2 or 3 falls out, looses if number 7 or 11 falls out, and is returned to the player when number 12 falls out. If any other number falls out, it is defined as Don’t Come Point number and the bet is switched on the corresponding gambling field and following which it may win, if number 7 falls out faster than Don’t Come Point does. This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Pass Line Odds – this one is additional bet, which may be placed to increase the value of already placed Pass Line bet after Point number was defined. It wins in the same cases, when Pass Line bet does. This bet is paid in the following manner: upon number 4 or 10 – 2:1; upon number 5 or 9 – 3:2; upon number 6 or 8 – 6:5.

• Don’t Pass Line Odds – this one is additional bet which may be placed to increase the value of already placed Don’t Pass Line bet after Point was defined. It wins in the same cases when Don’t Pass Line bet does. This bet is paid in the following manner: upon number 4 or 10 – 1:2; upon number 5 or 9 – 2:3; upon number 6 or 8 – 5:6.

• Come Odds – this one is additional bet, which may be placed to increase the value of already placed Come bet (generally not more often than 3 times) after Point number was defined. It wins in the same cases when Come bet does. This bet is paid in the following manner: upon number 4 or 10 – 2:1; upon number 5 or 9 – 3:2; upon number 6 or 8 – 6:5.

• Don’t Come Odds – this one is additional bet to increase the value of already Don’t Come bet after Point number was defined. It wins in the same cases when Don’t Come bet does. This bet is paid in the following manner: upon number 4 or 10 – 2:1; upon number 5 or 9 – 2:3; upon number 6 or 8 – 5:6.

• Win – this bet is placed for any number, falling out faster than number 7 does to get a prize. This bet is paid upon number 4 or 10 – 9:5; upon number 5 or 9 – 7:5; upon number 6 or 8 – 7:6.

• Lose – this bet is placed for a certain number, falling not faster than number 7 does to get a prize. This bet is paid upon number 4 or 10 – 5:11; upon number 5 or 9 – 5:8; upon number 6 or 8 – 4:5.

• Hard Way – this bet is placed for the case when the player may do double like 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5 or the same sum of points in the form of some other combination faster than number 7 falls out. This bet is paid upon combination of numbers 3+3 or 4+4 – 9:1; upon combination of numbers 2+2 or 5+5 – 7:1.

• Big Six – this bet is placed for the case when number 6 falls out faster than number 7 does. This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Big Eight – this bet is placed for the case when number 8 falls out faster than number 7 does. This bet is paid like 1:1.

• Field – this bet is placed at any stage of a game and wins if after the next throw the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 fall out. This bet is paid in the following manner: upon the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 – 1:1; upon number 2 or 12 – 2:1.

• Any Craps (C) – this bet wins if after the next throw the numbers 2, 3 or 12 fall out. This bet is paid like 7:1.

How To Play Craps Basic Strategy

• Craps Two – this bet is placed for the case when after the next throw number 2 falls out. This bet is paid like 30:1.

• Craps Twelve – this bet is placed for the case when after the next throw number 12 falls out. This bet is paid like 30:1.

Craps Rules And Strategy

• Craps Three – this bet is placed for the case when after the next throw number 3 falls out. This bet is paid like 15:1.

Craps Rules Betting Strategy

• Any Seven – this bet is placed for the case when after the next throw Shooter will strike 7. This bet is placed like 4:1.

Craps Rules And Strategy

• Eleven (E) – this bet is placed for the case when after the next throw number 11 falls out. This bet is placed like 15:1.

Craps chances and strategy

From the perspective of casino the most profitable bets are Pass Line Odds, Don’t Pass Line Odds, Come Odds, Don’t Come Odds, but they can be placed after when Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, Don’t Come bets are already done. The combination of these bets is the best appropriate playing strategy in Craps.