Craps Guide - Rules and Strategies

The objective of playing craps is to establish a "point" number by throwing the dice once. Only the numbers numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 can be a point number. You then to try and roll that number again. If you roll a 7 before rolling a point number you are out of the game.

The first roll of the dice is known as the Come Out Roll. If the result of this roll is a 7 or an 11 the player automatically wins. If a player throws any number other than a 7 or an 11 on the Come Out Roll, the number on the dice's face establishes a point number. Once a point is established, the shooter wins if they roll that number again before throwing a 7.

In real life, players take turns rolling the dice, passing the dice in a clockwise fashion around the table. However, some online versions of the game may have only you and the computer as players. Your cue always that a new game is about to begin is if you see a prompt that says, "Come Out Roll".

The payoffs for each wager are based on the probability of a number combination being rolled versus the probability of the number 7 being thrown. This is called "house odds." For instance, the probability of the 4 being rolled is 3 out of 36 while the 7 will appear 6 out of 36 rolls. Therefore the "true odds" for the 4 is 6-to-3 or 2-to-1. The 4 is actually paid at 9-to-5However, some bets allow you to increase your pay off by betting on what is called "true odds".

In online craps, animated dealers, computer prompts and option menus will assist you in how and when to wager during the game. These "fields on the table will be clearly marked so you will know exactly where to place your bet. Some online versions of the game also allow you to bet on the outcome of the game. Your options are to bet with or against the shooter.

To bet with the shooter, you must place your bet in an area marked "Pass Line", before the new shooter throws the first roll also known as the "Comes Out Roll" To bet against the shooter, you must place your bet in an area marked "Don't Pass". This area is generally located just inside "Pass Line" on the table and marked by clear graphic lines. The "Pass Line" and Don't Pass Line" bet are the simplest wagers that a player can make and are usually accomplished with a point and click of your mouse.

Once the dice is rolled and a "point is established, you can place an additional bet behind your "Pass Line" bet. This is called "taking odds." Some online casinos offer up to 100 times the odds of your "Pass Line" Bet once the shooter has established a point number. These odds will be conveyed to you via a message, online voice, option window or some other kind of graphic.

Betting the "Don't Pass Line" is the exact opposite of betting the "Pass Line". The "Don't Pass" bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. Once the shooter establishes a "Point" your "Don't Pass" bet stays in action, until the shooter rolls a 7 or make his or her "Point". A "Don't Pass" bet wins if the shooter fails to make his "Point", but loses if the shooter makes their "Point".

Wagering in craps makes more sense visually once you recognize the way the bets are laid out on the green field of the table. Chips are often placed or removed from the table by a long stick called a "lammer" that may be represented as a graphic or animation on your computer.

Here is a summary of the common types of bets placed in a game of online Craps:

Pass Line
The wager wins 1-1 if a 7 or 11 are rolled on the Come Out Roll or if the shooter rolls the established point before rolling a 7.

Don't Pass Line
This wager wins 1-1 if the shooter throws a 2, 3, 7 or 11. If a 12 is rolled, the wager on the Don't Pass Line is a tie.

Come Bet
This is the same as a Pass Line Bet only it is made at any time after the first Come Out roll is thrown.

Don't Come Bet
This is the same as a Don't Pass Line Bet and is made at any time after the first Come Out Roll is thrown.

Field Bet
This is a bet on one roll of the dice that is placed at any time. The wager is 1-1 win if a 3,4,9, 10 or 11 are rolled. If a 2 or 12 is rolled, the bet wins 1-2.

Odds Bet
This is an additional wager made that is made after an existing, Pass, Don't Pass, Come or Don't Come Bet has been placed on the table. Odd bets allow the player to be paid at the true odds, as opposed to the house odds of the number being rolled.

Hard Ways or Doubles
This is a bet that a 4,6, 8 or 10 will be rolled as doubles before a 7 or any other combination of that number is rolled and puts the shooter out of the game. If the shooter rolls Doubles then the pay off is 9 to 1 if he rolls an 8 or 6 and 7 to 1 if he rolls a 10 or a 4.

Place Bets
Place bets are 1-1 bets that pay off if 4,5,6, 8,9 and 10 are is rolled before the player rolls a 7.

Any Seven
This is a bet that can be made at any time during the game that wins if the player rolls a 7. It pays odds of 4 to 1.

Any Craps
This is a one-roll bet that is made at any time. The wager pays 2to 1 if a 2,3 or 12 are rolled by the shooter after the come out roll.

Eleven
If the shooter rolls an 11 and you place a one-roll bet, it pays odds of 15 to 1.