Craps: The Complete Beginners Guide

The craps table looks intimidating with its complex layout and dozens of betting areas, but don't let that deter you. You only need to understand a few key bets to play effectively, and the layout actually repeats itself on both ends for player convenience.

The Table Layout: A standard craps table is about 12 feet long with identical betting areas on each side. The center section (controlled by the stickman) contains proposition bets. The key areas are:

• Pass Line: The most fundamental bet, located around the perimeter
• Don't Pass Bar: The opposite of the pass line, also along the edge
• Come/Don't Come: Similar to pass/don't pass but placed after the point is established
• Place Bets: The numbered boxes (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) in the center of each side
• Field: A one-roll bet in the center of each side
• Proposition Bets: The center section with hardways and one-roll bets

The Crew: Each craps table is staffed by four casino employees:

• Boxman: Sits in the center, supervises the game, handles disputes
• Stickman: Stands opposite the boxman, handles the dice and center bets
• Two Dealers: Stand on each side, handle player bets and payouts

Dice Basics: Two dice are used, numbered 1-6. The possible totals range from 2 to 12, with 7 being the most common outcome (six ways to roll it). This mathematical reality is the foundation of all craps strategy.

Every craps round begins with the come-out roll. This is the first roll of a new game, made by the 'shooter' (the player currently rolling the dice).

What Happens on the Come-Out Roll:

• Roll 7 or 11: Pass line bets win immediately ('natural'). New come-out roll begins.
• Roll 2, 3, or 12: Pass line bets lose immediately ('craps'). New come-out roll begins.
• Roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10: That number becomes the 'point.' The puck moves to that number.

The Point Phase: Once a point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happens:

• The point is rolled again: Pass line bets win. A new round begins with the same shooter.
• A 7 is rolled ('seven out'): Pass line bets lose. The dice pass to the next shooter.

The Rhythm: This is the core rhythm of craps: come-out roll, establish point, try to hit the point before rolling a 7. Everything else is layered on top of this basic structure.

Example Round:

1. Shooter rolls a 9 on the come-out. Point is now 9.
2. Shooter rolls 5, 3, 11, 8 — nothing happens to pass line bets.
3. Shooter rolls 9 — pass line bets win! New come-out roll begins.

Or alternatively:

1. Shooter rolls a 9 on the come-out. Point is now 9.
2. Shooter rolls 5, 3, 11, 8 — nothing happens to pass line bets.
3. Shooter rolls 7 — pass line bets lose. Dice pass to next shooter.

Despite the dozens of betting options, you only need to know a handful of bets to play craps effectively. Focus on these low house edge options.

Pass Line Bet (House Edge: 1.41%):

• Place before the come-out roll
• Win on 7 or 11 on come-out, lose on 2, 3, or 12
• If a point is established, win if point rolls before 7
• Pays even money (1:1)
• This is THE fundamental craps bet — start here

Don't Pass Bet (House Edge: 1.36%):

• The opposite of pass line (betting 'against' the dice)
• Win on 2 or 3 on come-out, lose on 7 or 11, push on 12
• If a point is established, win if 7 rolls before the point
• Slightly better odds than pass line, but socially unpopular

Come Bet (House Edge: 1.41%):

• Place after a point is established
• Works exactly like a pass line bet, but starts fresh
• The next roll is your 'come-out' — 7/11 win, 2/3/12 lose, otherwise a point is set
• Your come bet moves to that number and you win if it rolls before 7

Don't Come Bet (House Edge: 1.36%):

• Opposite of come bet, placed after point is established
• Win on 2/3 on next roll, lose on 7/11, push on 12
• If a number is established, win if 7 rolls before that number

Place Bets on 6 and 8 (House Edge: 1.52%):

• Bet directly on 6 or 8 to roll before 7
• Pays 7:6 (bet in increments of $6)
• Can be placed or removed at any time
• Second-best bets on the table after pass/don't pass with odds

The odds bet is the only bet in the casino with zero house edge. Casinos don't advertise it, and it's not even printed on the table layout. This is the secret weapon of smart craps players.

How Odds Work:

• After a point is established, you can 'take odds' behind your pass line bet
• This additional bet pays true odds — no house edge
• Payouts vary based on the point: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8
• The more you bet on odds, the lower your overall house edge

Odds Limits: Casinos limit how much you can bet on odds (usually expressed as a multiple of your pass line bet):

• 1x odds: Reduces combined house edge to 0.85%
• 2x odds: Reduces to 0.61%
• 3x-4x-5x odds: Common on Vegas Strip, reduces to 0.37%
• 10x odds: Reduces to 0.18%
• 100x odds: Found at some Downtown casinos, reduces to nearly zero

Strategy Implication: Always take maximum odds when possible. A $5 pass line bet with $25 in 5x odds is far better than a $30 pass line bet with no odds.

Don't Pass Odds ('Laying Odds'): You can also take odds on don't pass bets. The payouts are reversed (you're the 'house'), so you risk more to win less, but there's still zero house edge.

Where to Place Odds: Stack your odds bet directly behind your pass line bet, slightly outside the pass line area. The dealer will adjust if needed.

The center of the table features flashy proposition bets with big payouts. These bets have terrible odds and should generally be avoided.

Hardways (House Edge: 9-11%):

• Betting a specific total will be rolled as doubles before 7 or the 'easy way'
• Hard 6 (3-3) and Hard 8 (4-4): Pays 9:1, true odds 10:1
• Hard 4 (2-2) and Hard 10 (5-5): Pays 7:1, true odds 8:1
• These bets stay up until they win, lose to 7, or lose to the easy way

One-Roll Proposition Bets (House Edge: 11-17%):

• Any 7: Pays 4:1, house edge 16.7% — terrible bet
• Any Craps (2, 3, or 12): Pays 7:1, house edge 11.1%
• Yo (11): Pays 15:1, house edge 11.1%
• Snake Eyes (2): Pays 30:1, house edge 13.9%
• Boxcars (12): Pays 30:1, house edge 13.9%

The Field Bet (House Edge: 2.8-5.6%):

• One-roll bet that 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 will appear
• Usually pays 2:1 on 2 and 12, 1:1 on everything else
• Better than center bets, but still not great

Why to Avoid These Bets: The house edge on proposition bets is 10-17% compared to 1.4% on pass line. Over time, these bets drain your bankroll at roughly 10x the rate. The flashy payouts are marketing — the math doesn't lie.

When Entertainment Trumps Math: If you want to make an occasional proposition bet for excitement (like a $1 yo-leven when the shooter is hot), that's fine. Just don't make them the core of your strategy.

Craps has more etiquette rules than any other table game. Following these protocols keeps the game flowing and prevents superstitious players from getting upset.

Buying In:

• Wait for the current roll to complete before putting money on the table
• Place cash on the layout and say 'change only' — never hand it to the dealer
• Don't buy in during a hot roll if you can avoid it

Handling the Dice:

• Use only ONE hand to pick up and throw the dice
• Keep the dice visible above the table at all times
• Throw the dice to hit the back wall
• If a die goes off the table, the next roll may be delayed for inspection

The Big No-Nos:

• Never say 'seven' during a roll. Use 'big red' if you must reference it.
• Don't throw cash on the table when dice are out
• Don't reach into the table area when dice are in the air
• Don't dangle hands over the rail — dice might hit them

Making Bets:

• Place your own pass/don't pass and field bets
• Toss chips to the dealer for place bets and say 'Six the hard way' or 'Place the eight'
• For proposition bets, toss to the stickman with a clear call
• Know your bets before you call them — the table moves fast

Tipping:

• Tip by making a bet for the dealers: 'Two-way yo' (one for you, one for dealers)
• Or place a bet on the pass line for them
• Tip after big wins or when coloring up

The Social Element: Craps is a communal game — most players are betting together and cheering for the same outcomes. Embrace the energy. High-five strangers on big wins. Commiserate on seven-outs. It's part of the experience.