If you’re a craps player, you know it’s essential to learn how to shoot dice properly if you want to enjoy the game. After all, how you roll your dice will determine your game’s outcome. Craps is a game played on a board with two rolling dice and betting chips, and one can hold up to twenty players. Furthermore, at first glance, it might seem complicated, but it has some basic rules that help you become consistent.
To play, one player throws the dice on the craps table, also known as a shooter, and aims to land a seven or eleven. At the same time, other players taking part place bets on the odds of the shooter rolling the winning numbers. However, the game is not as simple as just a magical number coming up, but you don’t have to worry. We’ve got your back.
This piece looks at the basic rules of craps and everything you need to know to play like a pro. So if you’re ready for lady luck to blow on your dice, keep reading to learn more.
What is Craps?
Craps is a popular casino game played by a shooter rolling two dice on a craps table for a set outcome. A single game can accommodate up to twenty players who alternate as the game’s shooter and win by correctly predicting the rolled numbers.
On the other hand, the craps table is divided into different sections with numbers representing possible outcomes. A dealer will have a big, round, white puck with an ‘on’ sign on one of the numbers to represent an ongoing game. Furthermore, they will place the black side with an ‘off’ to indicate when a new game is about to start. This is when you can buy chips and place bets on a game.
The first dice roll is called the come-out roll, and you place your bet depending on whether you think the shooter will win or lose. If you bet on the pass line, you bet the shooter will roll a seven or eleven, which will win them and you the game. In this case, he keeps throwing the dice until he losses.
However, you win if you bet on the don’t pass and the shooter throws anything other than a seven or eleven. It’s a bit more complicated than that, but we will look at it in the section below.
Furthermore, if the shooter throws a four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten, the dealer places the puck with the white side facing up on that number to continue the game. New players cannot join the game at this point, and the shooter has to throw that number before throwing a seven to win the game.
As you can see, the craps game is interesting and easy to follow when you know how it’s played.
Rules at the Craps Table
Wait for the Dealer to Announce a Shelve
A craps table can only hold twenty players at a time, and each player’s section has a shelve to place chips. These help dealers keep track of players’ bets and the game’s progression. In addition, new players cannot bet on an ongoing game. Instead, they must wait for it to end, the dealer to pay winning players, and shelves to open up. Once they do, the dealer will announce it, and new players can join the game seamlessly.
Wait for Shooters to Strike Out
If you’re the shooter in a craps game, you will remain the shooter until you strike out or lose a game. Then the shooting position will go to the next player until they strike out. So if you’re at the craps table, observe the shooter etiquette and wait until the game comes around to your shooting turn.
You Cannot Bet on Separate Die
Like Noah’s ark, dice on a craps table come in pairs. Only the total of both the rolled numbers count and you cannot bet on the outcome of an individual die. So don’t be an amateur, and remember to add both dice to get the number a shooter throws.
You’re Playing Whether Shooting or Not
Some people assume they are only playing when they are rolling the dice. On the contrary, you can win and lose whether you’re the shooting player or not. As long as you have your chips on the table and wagering on an outcome, you also stand to win or lose. So before placing your chips on a craps table, ensure you know what you’re doing and that you’re ready to play.
Betting Rules
When it comes to betting in craps, bets come in all shapes and odds, and depending on your strategy; you have multiple opportunities to win. This makes craps more fun than most other gambling games. Below we’ve highlighted some bets and their rule of thumb.
Pass Line
This is a craps bet placed on the first shooter’s throw. It states that if the shooter lands a seven or an eleven, players who pass the line also win the game and lose if he lands a two, three, or twelve. However, if he lands any other number, the game continues by placing the puck on that number and wins by landing it again before landing a seven.
Come Bet
You can only place a come bet after a shooter makes their first throw and lands a point. In this scenario, you win when the shooter lands a seven or eleven and lose when it’s a two, three, or twelve. However, the game continues when he lands any other number, which becomes your new point.
Conclusion
Craps can be a bit challenging to get the hang of, but well worth taking the time to learn.
Craps is one of the few gambling games in that players can rely on other players’ luck or strategy and skill to win. It has multiple chances than most games, which helps you make the most of your time at a craps table. If you are also believer of astrology science, it might be wort checking your daily luck before getting into the game.
Finally, if you’ve been thinking of becoming a craps player, we hope this content helps you grasp the beautiful game’s ins and outs.