Learn how to master the rules of craps!
Craps is the classic casino game that involves throwing dice - a game loved all over the world.
But as with just about all other games, there are of course rules to follow, and these are the ones we should go through in this guide.
Our hope is that afterwards you will feel wiser when it comes to craps and how to play it!
Before reading further, we would recommend our Basic guide about craps, which may be okay to read too - preferably before you continue to read here.
We have also written a separate Guide about Craps strategies, which you can read after this guide if you want. Then we also wrote a guide on different variants of craps As you can also read.
The more read you, the better the conditions you get at the gaming table!
But let's get started with this guide now!
The purpose of craps
The purpose of craps is to invest money on what you think the result will be from two thrown cubes.
It sounds very simple and uncomplicated, right?
But it's not that simple. The fact is that there are many different bets in craps, and it is because of them that many at first glance may think that craps do not look so easy - the gaming table can be quite confusing for a beginner.
But, let's put it this way: Craps is neither complicated nor very advanced - but on the other hand it is not something you just sit down and play without being able to do the rules.
So that's why you read this guide! Because when you first understand the craps rules, you will notice that the game is both fun and actually not as difficult as you might think in advance.
Casino games are of course different, in Roulette If we have a roulette wheel and in craps we have a number of other purposes that are important for the game. We will now explain them a little closer!
The crap table
What can be a little scary for beginners is the table in craps, which at first glance looks quite advanced.
What we see on the table are the various efforts that can be made. And it looks a little confusing, we agree! But you can be safe because we want to go through these in this guide. Good, right?
Dice
In craps, two dice are thrown. But if you become a shooter, you get five dice from the croupier and then simply choose the two you want to throw with.
All the dice look alike, but this is a small custom in the game that still exists today.
The Puck / Pucken
What is called "The Puck" is a kind of button where it says "on" on one side and "off" on the other. This button indicates whether a game round is in progress or not.
The Stick
This is the stick that the so -called "stickman" uses to handle and move the dice on the gaming table.
The shooter
The player who throws the dice is called The Shooter.
The Boxman / The Boxperson
The one from the casino's staff who takes care of the various efforts and chips.
The Stickman / The Stickperson
The casino staff that takes care of the dice and announces the different results is called "stickman" or "stick person".
Possible combinations
When playing craps, two dice are used and these are always thrown at the same time.
As is well known, there are six pages on a cube, which means that there are a total of 36 combinations (6 times 6) that can occur when the two dice are thrown.
The combinations are as follows:
| Terningens am | Combination | Odds |
| 2 | 1-1 | 35:1 |
| 3 | 1+2 | 2+1 | 17:1 |
| 4 | 1+3 | 3+1 | 2+2 | 11:1 |
| 5 | 3+2 | 2+3 | 1+4 | 4+1 | 8:1 |
| 6 | 1+5 | 5+1 | 3+3 | 2+4 | 4+2 | 6.2:1 |
| 7 | 3+4 | 4+3 | 2+5 | 5+2 | 1+6 | 6+1 | 5:1 |
| 8 | 4+4 | 5+3 | 3+5 | 2+6 | 6+2 | 6.2:1 |
| 9 | 4+5 | 5+4 | 3+6 | 6+3 | 8:1 |
| 10 | 4+6 | 6+4 | 5+5 | 11:1 |
| 11 | 5+6 | 6+5 | 17:1 |
| 12 | 6+6 | 35:1 |
From the table above you can see that there is different chance that different numbers will be thrown out. For example, only 1 combination provides 2 (1 + 1) while there are 6 combinations that give 7.
With this found, number 7 is the most common number that pops up and on average this happens every sixth throws.
In the next section, we will take a closer look at what the odds look like in craps.
Craps odds and payments
In the table below, we will now take a closer look at what the odds look like in craps, how big/small the house's advantage (House Edge) is. This is for the various combinations that can be achieved in craps:
| Effort | House advantage (House Edge) |
| Don't Pass Line/Don't Come Bet 2x odds | 0.83% |
| Pass Line/Come Bet 2x odds | 0.85% |
| Don’t Pass/Don’t Come | 1.40% |
| Pass Line/Come | 1.41% |
| Place 6 & 8 | 1.52% |
| Lay 4 or 10 | 2.44% |
| Lay 5 or 9 | 3.23% |
| Place 5 & 9 | 4% |
| Lay 6 or 8 | 4% |
| Buy 5 or 9 | 4.76% |
| Buy 4 or 10 | 4.76% |
| Buy 6 or 8 | 4.76% |
| Field Bet | 5.56% |
| Place 4 & 10 | 6.67% |
| Hardway 6 or 8 | 9.09% |
| Any Craps | 11.11% |
| Hardway 4 or 10 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 16.70% |
When it comes to the payouts in craps, it looks like this:
| Effort | Payout |
| Pass Line | 1:1 |
| Don’t Pass | 1:1 |
| Come | 1:1 |
| Don’t Come | 1:1 |
| Field | 2: 1 (2, 12) or 1: 1 (3, 4, 9, 10 and 11) |
| Hardways | 9: 1 (6, 8) or 7: 1 (4, 10) |
| Horn | 30: 1 (2, 12) or 15: 1 (3, 11) |
| Any Craps | 7:1 |
| C/E | 3: 1 (2, 3, 12) or 7: 1 (11) |
| Any 7 | 4:1 |
| Place inserts | 9: 5 (4, 10) or 7: 5 (5, 9) or 7: 6 (6, 8) |
House advantage (House Edge) in Craps
In one of the above tables we have listed what the house's advantage (House Edge) looks like, but we would like to explain this a little more detailed.
No matter what casino game you play, the house always has some advantage (Edge). Otherwise, they would soon go bankrupt.
This means that the house is already a bit on the side you can say, and in this way the fight is never quite similar.
It is never possible to eliminate the advantage of the house completely, but with the help of different strategies or efforts you can reduce it.
We have written a separate GUIDE ABOUT HOUSE ADVANCE (HOUSE EDGE) that you can read.
Also read our Guide about Craps strategies.
The various inserts in craps
We will now tell you more about the various effort options available in craps, because there are quite a few!
1. Pass Line
This effort along with "Pass Pass" is the easiest you can do. If you bet on "Pass Line", you want the first throw to be 7 or 11, if it is, you win as much as you bet.
If, on the other hand, it is 2, 3 or 12, you lose the entire bet.
If there is another number it will be "point" and then you want this number to come up again before it turns 7.
2. Don’t Pass
Do not work in the same way as "passport", but the opposite, with the difference that if there is 12, it will be a draw instead.
3. Come
Come and Come work in the same way as the passport and pass.
But these can only be played after Come Out Roll is done, and a "point" (points) is established.
If you want to bet on Come, put your chips in this field and if the cast is 7 or 11, you win, but if it's 2, 3 or 12, you lose. Same as for passport in other words
If the dice shows another number, this is what you want to come up again, before it turns 7.
4. Don’t Come
If you are the opposite of Come and now you want it to be 2 or 3. If there is 12, it will be a draw.
5. Field Bets
What is called Field Bets in Craps are some of the simplest bets that can be made in the game. And the advantage is that it can be done both before the come out roll and after if you want.
The figures that apply to Field Bets are: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
If one of the numbers is thrown, you win, but if 5, 6, 7 or 8 will be displayed, you lose!
It may sound simple and as if the chance of winning these numbers is high, but note that the probability of coming up is 16:36 while the risk of 5, 6, 7 or 8 appears instead is 20:36 - In other words, a slightly more likely.
6. Place Bets
This bet is also very simple, but note that it is not possible to bet place bets until the come out roll is thrown.
To make a place bet, you bet on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. You win if this number comes before 7, but you lose if 7 comes up first.
Place bets are divided into Place 6 and 8, Place 5 and 9 and Place 4 and 10. What sets them apart is the house's advantage (House Edge) and the payouts.
7. Hardways
The effort called "Hardway" is an effort that the dice will show the same number. For example, two threes, two fours and so on.
There are a total of four hardways and there is an effort that it will be either two 2s, two 3s, two 4s or two 5's.
To win on an effort like this, your numbers (the ones you bet) must appear before the dice shows another combination with the same number.
For example, if you bet on Hardway 6 (3 + 3), this must come up before the dice shows 2 and 4 or yes, simply all sums that turn 6.
Note that you lose if 7 pops up, but if another number appears, nothing happens, your bet is left until you either win or lose.
8. One Roll Bets
One roll bets or "single roll bets" as they are also called are bets that are determined with a single dice throw.
The payments are high and can therefore be attractive, but note that the house has a high advantage on many of these.
Below we list all single roll bets / one roll bets:
a. Any 7
Here you bet there will be a 7er.
The house's advantage (Edge) on Any 7 is 16.70% and the payment is 4: 1.
b. Any Craps
You are aiming for the "shooter" to throw 2, 3 or 12.
The house's advantage (Edge) on any craps is 11.11% and the payment is 7: 1.
c. 2 or 12 Bets
You are betting that a 2s or a 12er will be thrown. The advantage of the house (Edge) is 13.89% and the payment is 30: 1.
d. 3 or 11 Bets
You bet a 3s or 11s will be thrown. The advantage of the house (Edge) is 11.11% and the payout is 15: 1.
e. Horn Bets
The dice show 2, 3, 11 or 12.
f. Big Six, Big Eight
This effort is won if a 6 or 8s are thrown before a 7er. If you win you double your money.
9. Odds Bets
When it comes to different games or strategies in craps, what is called to "take odds" is the best you can do.
When it comes to taking odds, there is something you can do on Pass Line games and Pass Line games.
What you do is simply adding several chips behind these lines.
But what is so good about taking odds? Well, the advantage of the house (Edge) is significantly reduced when you do this on the passport or pass the passport line. But remember: You can only take odds after a point has been established, and you also need you to make a passport or pass the passport line inserts first.
We have written a separate Guide on Craps Strategies And there we tell you more about this by taking odds, so feel free to read this one!
10. Buy Bets
What is called Buy Bets works in principle in the same way as Place Bets - you bet on one or more numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. That number must be rejected before 7.
What sets Buy Bets and Place Bets apart is the payout, which in this case matches the odds and many therefore believe that this will be a more fair game.
But with that said, the casino has therefore added a small special advantage to itself in Buy Bets. It costs 5% to play on this bet.
Exactly how 5% is paid can vary from casino to casino, but this amount is paid on your bet, not on your winnings.
At some casinos it has to be paid directly while others, slightly "kinder" casinos allow you to pay the fee only if you win.
Just as with Place Bets, Buy Bets is divided into: Buy 6 & 8, Buy 5 & 9 and Buy 4 & 10. And what sets them apart is the payouts. But note that they are completely in line with the odds, so payout and odds are the same in buy bets.
How to Play Craps - Step by Step of a Game Round
Now it is time for us to describe what a game round of craps can look like!
1. Make a deposit
Unfortunately, it is not possible to test play craps in live casinos for free, so the first thing you need to do is deposit money into your gaming account that you can play for.
We have written a guide on different Payment methods As today is available to choose from.
2. Buy your chips
In craps, chips are used and before the round can begin you must buy these. Here you can simply present the money you are willing to play for, and then the staff switchs them to chips.
3. Make your bets
Now that you have your chips, you can start betting. There are different fields on the gaming table for different bets and you simply place your chips on what you want to bet on.
If you play at a land-based casino you will notice that a craps table is quite large and if you do not reach the field you want to bet on, you will get help from the croupier or the person named "Stickman".
When it comes to what is the highest and lowest possible efforts, it is different from casino to casino.
4. The shooter is selected
In craps, there is something that looks like a puck and it's just that - The Puck. When "Off" appears turned up, it's time for another round and a new shooter must be selected. And then the "shooter" becomes the one who throws the dice.
When the first throw in a round takes place, it is called Come Out Roll.
The croupier then gives five dice to the "shooter", but only two will be used. The shooter can simply choose two of the total five.
5. Come Out Roll starter
Now the "shooter" will throw the dice and this first thrown in a round is called Come Out Roll. This thrown in many ways what the remaining part of the round should look like.
There are three different opportunities for the round: that it becomes natural, craps or points.
- Natural = If the cast turns 7 or 11, it is called natural. The round ends immediately and those who bet on the Pass Line wins while those who bet on the passport lose.
- craps = If the cast instead is 2, 3 or 12, it is called "craps" or that you "crapping out". Those who focus on the passport line lose the effort while those who bet on the passport win. But only if it is 2 or 3. Is there 12 it will be a draw!
- Point = If the first cast instead is 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 or 10, it will be point. One point is now established.
The puck will now be turned from "off" to "on" and then placed on the number thrown out.
The figure is now "point" and the shooter continues to throw the cube until the same number reappears or until it turns 7.
If you have bet on the Pass Line, you win whose number of points is thrown before 7 and vice versa if you bet on the pass line.
After that, the round ends and then a new shooter will be the one that throws the dice.
Our other guides about craps:
Here at Dobisinternational we have several guides with information about the game craps. Below are some of our other guides: