Beginner’s Guide to Playing Online Craps

Craps is one of those rare games that intimidates players especially if they don’t know how the game is played. You can usually spot the Craps table as it has numerous people yelling exuberantly. It’s a game that brings people together. At the same time, it is one of the simplest games to learn.

The rules are also simple and as long as you know the odds and payouts for each bet, you should be able to achieve wins in no time.

In this guide, we will discuss various topics relating to the game of Craps that will help you fully comprehend how the game is played.

The Basics of Online Craps

When you play the game of Craps, there are two different modes you can opt for. You can be an Active player, where you actively throw the dice at the table along with other players, or you can be a Passive player, where you can bet on other people’s dice throws. The latter one is similar to the Bet Behind option available on some Live Blackjack tables.

There is no right or wrong when it comes to this game, so the option is down to you. If you want to be the centre of attention, playing in Active move would suit you best. If you like to take a back seat and watch the excitement as it happens, you can take on a more Passive role.

Let’s start off with the basic rules for Craps. The game pans out as follows. The shooter will place a pass or don’t pass stake and throw the dice for the first time. Rolling the dice for the first time is better known by the term to come out.

Depending on the bet placed in this round, the shooter will either win or lose on the come out. The point also refers to the number that the shooter has rolled. They must roll again before the game round is complete. For example, if the shooter rolls out a 5 on the come out, then they must roll again another 5 in order to win. Any other number will result in a loss.

The sum of two dice will dictate the prospects of the round. A bad outcome would be rolling out 2 3 or 12. On the other hand, rolling out 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is usually considered good. The rolling total will become the number that the shooter must try to roll out again in order to win the round.

Rolling a 7 or 11 is called a ‘natural’ in this game. It automatically leads to a win and the game comes to an end.

The game will then continue, with the dice passed down to the right for another player to roll their come out. All new bets can now be placed and the game will continue just the same way. The game can go on for a long time especially if you are an active player and want to play your round next. However, players tend to move around to new tables.

Different Types of Bets in Craps

Like many games in the gambling industry, the game of Craps is a game of luck. You cannot do anything that will influence the result of a roll of dice. There are some measures and bets you can place to boost your chances of winning though.
It is important that as a player you learn the different types of bets and their probabilities. Here are the different types of bets available in the game of Craps:

• Pass: The most popular bet of all, the Pass bet is a wager on the shooter succeeding. If they don’t win their round, neither will you.  To place a Pass bet, you need to place your chips on the green pass line along the edges of the Craps table.  The Pass Bets will only win, if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the starting roll or if the shooter rolls a five, then another five and finally a seven.
• Don’t Pass: The Don’t Pass bet is the opposite of the Pass Bet. You are betting on the shooter losing. These bets are placed on the don’t pass line.  You can only win a bet if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come out roll or if a point of 8 is in place.
• Come: This bet can be placed on any non come out rolls. You can win this bet by making a point before rolling a 7 or if there is a 7 or 11 as the first role after placing your bet.
• Don’t Come: This bet is on the shooter losing the come bet. You can win this bet if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on their first roll or if the shooter rolls a 7 before the point has been met.
• Odds: The Odds bet is quite rare for this game. It gives the player the same equal opportunity for success as the casino. You can win if you have placed a pass bet and a point has been established. In this case, the shooter must roll the point before a 7 to win the Pass and the Don’t Pass bets. You can also win if you have made a Don’t Pass bet and established a point. In this case, the shooter must roll out a 7 before the point to win.
• Place: A place bet is when you make a bet on the point number or any other possible point number. To win this bet, the number you have wagered on must be rolled out before the point is met or a 7 is rolled out. Similarly, you can also win if the 7 is rolled out prior to your chosen number.
• Buy: The Buy bet is just like the Place bet, with one key difference: The online casino will charge a commission on this bet. You can only place this bet on a single number.
• Hardway: The Hardway bet is a bet on specific combinations of numbers. They can be placed on non come out rolls and will only win if it’s a non come out roll.
• Field: The Field bet enables players to place a wager on a single roll at any point in the game.  You will achieve a win if the shooter rolls out the number you have picked.

Understanding the Craps Table

Now that you know about the different types of bets, you should know a little more about the Craps table. The table can generally hold up to 16 players. Smaller tables can have up to 8 players.

If you are playing at a brick and mortar casino, there will be a Box person. This person is responsible for exchanging money into chips for players to make bets with. They will also oversee the dealers to make sure the game is running smoothly.
There is also the Stickman who announces the outcome of the roll of the dice. This person will use a stick to collect the pair of dice or move them around to the various shooters. The Shooter is the person that will roll out the dice and finally, there are the Base Dealers. Generally, there are two dealers by the side of the Boxman. They will proceed to collect all losing bets and payout any winners at the table.

The Odds and Payouts in Craps

Once you know the rules of the game, you should have a better understanding of the odds and the payouts so you know in advance what you can expect to collect once you have won.

In conclusion, there are many different types of bets available in this game. It can be complicated or daunting trying to figure out which one is best for you. If you are playing online, you don’t have as many options as those of other games such as Blackjack and Roulette. You cannot play in demo mode either.

Your best option to learn the game is to sit in on a Live Craps game and follow what other players are doing.  Even though there is no strategy that you can apply in order to finetune your dice-throwing skills, you can still apply a decent bankroll management strategy in a bid to stretch out your gambling session.