Craps

Rules

The most basic bet in craps, and the bet placed most by craps players, is placed on the 'Pass Line' before the shooter rolls the dice. If the shooter rolls a 'a natural' (7 or 11) before the point is established, all of the pass line bettors win. If the shooter rolls a 'craps' (2, 3 or 12) all the pass line bettors lose. If he rolls a 'point' number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) he must repeat that number again before the 7 rolls in order for the shooter and pass line bettors to win. If the 7 is rolled before the point, the bet is lost.

• pass line
  1 to 1 pay-out, if the first roll of the dice adds up to 7 or 11, you win. 2, 3, or 12 loses the bet. Any other number becomes the 'point' and if the point is rolled again, you win, if 7 is rolled first you lose.
  House edge: 1.4%
  
  
• don't pass
  1 to 1 payout, if the first roll of the dice adds up to 7 or 11, you lose. 2, 3, you win. 12 is a stand off. Any other number becomes the 'point' and if the point is rolled again, you lose, if 7 is rolled first you win.
  House edge: 1.4%
  
  
• come bets
  1 to 1 pay-out, basically the same as the PASS LINE except that you must bet after the point.
  House edge: 1.4%
  
  
• don’t come
  1 to 1 pay-out, the reverse of the COME BET, except that a first roll of 2 or 3 wins, and 12 is a stand off.
  House edge: 1.4%
  

some other bets...

• odds
  'taking the odds'
  Once a ‘point’ or a ‘come point’ has been thrown and you have a pass line bet you may bet up to some multiple, usually 2 times, your pass line bet on the 'odds'. You may take the odds and win if the point or the come point is made before a 7. Pay off is 2 to 1 for a point of 10's or 4's, 3 to 2 for a point of 9's or 5's, 6 to 5 for a point of 8's or 6's.
  'laying the odds'
  This is the opposite of taking odds, in other words betting that a 7 will be rolled before the point, once the point or come point has been established. Pay off is 1 to 2 for a point of 10's or 4's, 2 to 3 for a point of 9's or 5's, 5 to 6 for a point of 8's or 6's.
  House edge on odds bets are very low - 0.5 to 1% depending on bet.
  
  
• big 6 or 8
  Here you are betting that either a 6 or 8 will be rolled before the 7, for a 1 to 1 pay-out. This represents a high house edge bet and is not recommended.
  House edge: 9.1%
  
  
• place bets
  In craps 4,5,6,8,9, and 10 are known as the "place numbers." In a place bet, you are betting that your place number is rolled before the 7. No pass line or other bet on the point is required. Place bets on 6 or 8 offer the lowest house edge and are recommended (note that odds bets are still a better bet though).
  House edge for 4 or 10: 6.7%
  House edge for 5 or 9: 4.0%
  House edge for 6 or 8: 1.5%
  
  
• proposition bets.
  This is simply a bet on the outcome of the next roll. Proposition bets have a high house edge and are not a recommended play. Odds are as follows:
  
  2 or 12 pays 30 to 1, House edge: 13.9%
  3 or 11 pays 15 to 1, House edge: 11.1%
  7 pays 4 to 1, House edge: 16.7%
  Any craps (2, 3 or 12) pays 7 to 1, House edge: 11.1%
  Field ( 2,3,4,9,10,11, or 12), even money for (3,4,9,10,11), 2 to 1 for (2 or 12) House edge: 5.5%
  

Strategy

The key to playing smart Craps is knowing which bets return well, and which bets don't. A simple and sound craps strategy is set out below.

#1 Pick a simple bet that you are familiar with, and

#2 Make sure that the simple bet that you choose is one with a low house edge!!!

#2 sounds obvious, but it is critical. Craps is a game that is savage on ignorant players. Some bets offer great player returns, others offer terrible returns. A place bet on 6, for example has a house edge of just over 1%. A bet on 'Big 6' has a house edge of over 9%. In both cases you are betting that 6 is rolled before the 7.

So here are the smart bets to start with, all with a house edge of around 1.5% which is pretty good value:

- pass line
- don't pass
- come
- don't come
- place bets on 6 or 8 only, other place bets have higher house edge

Once you're familiar with pass line bets, try moving on to odds bets - this is where the really skinny house edges can be found - around 0.5% depending on just high high a multiple of your pass line bet the casino will let you lay or take the odds.

And remember, always stay away from the 'big 6' and 'big 8', proposition bets or place bets on numbers other than 6 or 8 - this is where the casino really robs the player.

Good luck!