C R A P S BASICS The game of craps is played on a large rectangular shaped table and offers a great variety of betting options. Bets are dependent upon the point value of two dice thrown by a player or "Shooter." All players may bet on the shooter to win or lose as well as make other independent bets. Most bet on the shooter to win and cheer for the dice to cooperate. This is the unique attraction the game of craps has to casino players. The dice used in craps have six sides representing numbers 1 through 6 by the number of dots. The two dice together can add up to number values 2 through 12 in a total of 36 possible combinations. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- | | | . | | . | | . . | | . . | | . . | | . | | | | . | | | | . | | . . | | | | . | | . | | . . | | . . | | . . | ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The chart below shows the number values and the dice combinations that can make them. 2 (1-1) 3 (1-2) (2-1) 4 (2-2) (1-3) (3-1) 5 (1-4) (4-1) (2-3) (3-2) 6 (3-3) (1-5) (5-1) (2-4) (4-2) 7 (1-6) (6-1) (2-5) (5-2) (3-4) (4-3) 8 (4-4) (2-6) (6-2) (3-5) (5-3) 9 (3-6) (6-3) (4-5) (5-4) 10 (5-5) (4-6) (6-4) 11 (5-6) (6-5) 12 (6-6) There is only one way a 2 can be made or a 12 can be made but six different ways a 7 can be made. Therefore a 7 is six times more likely to be rolled than a 2 or 12. The probabilities or odds of the different combinations and the bet payoff establishes the casino's percentage advantage or "PC." A partial craps table layout is shown below. +---+---+-----------------+ ANY SEVEN | | |--|--|--|--|--|--| _____ _____ _____ _____ | | D | | | | | | | | . || . | | . . || . . | | P | O | 4| 5| 6| 8| 9|10| | . || . | | . || . | | A | N | | | | | | | | . || . | | . . || . . | | S | ' |-----------------+ ----- ----- ----- ----- | S | T | | _____ _____ _____ _____ | | | COME | E | . . || . . | | . || . | | L | P | | C| . . || . . | | . || . | | I | A |-----------------+ ----- ----- ----- ----- | N | S |2-3-4-9-10-11-12 | --- --- --- --- --- --- | E | S | | E | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | | 6 | 6 | | | | FIELD | C --- --- --- --- --- --- | +---+-----------------+ _____ _____ _____ _____ | |BIG|BIG| DON'T PASS | | . . || . . | | . . || . . | | | 6 | 8 | BAR 12 | E | . . || . | | . . || . | | +-------------------- | C| . . || . . | | . . || . . | | P A S S L I N E | ----- ----- ----- ----- +-------------------------+ ANY CRAPS BETS and PAYOFFS Pass Line: The first roll of the dice is known as the "come out roll." If a bet is placed on the Pass Line then and a 7 or 11 rolls, the bet wins. This is called a "natural." If a 2, 3 or 12 rolls, the bet loses. These numbers are called "craps." If any other number comes up, that number becomes the Pass Line "point." In this situation, the Pass Line wins if the Shooter rolls or "makes" the point before rolling a 7. If a 7 rolls before the point rolls, the Shooter "sevens out" and Pass Line Bets lose. The Shooter continues to roll the dice until they seven out where upon the dice pass to the next player. All players may bet on the Pass Line. They do not need to be shooting the dice. When the "Stickman" dealer offers the player the dice, they may pass them to the next player and never shoot. Pass Line bets that win pay even money or 1 to 1. They cannot be removed or reduced once a point is established as the casino has the advantage after a point is established. Don't Pass Line: The Don't Pass Line bet is the reverse of the Pass Line. It wins on the come out roll if a 2 or 3 rolls and loses if a 7 or 11 rolls. The number 12 is a "stand-off" with neither the player nor the casino winning. In some casinos, 2 is the stand-off number instead of 12. Any other number thrown becomes the point. To win the Don't Pass Line bet, a 7 must be rolled before the point rolls. If the point rolls before a 7, the bet loses. As before, the player does not have to be the Shooter to make this bet. The Don't Pass Line bet pays even money. They may be decreased or removed once a point is established but never increased. This is because the player has the advantage after a point is established. Come: A player also can bet the "Come" any time after a point has been established on the Pass Line. The Come bet is a Pass Line type bet made after the Pass Line come out roll. The win-lose rules for the Come bet are the same as for the Pass Line. The next roll of the dice decides whether the player wins or loses, or establishes a point that must be rolled before a 7 rolls. The Come bet and its point are independent of the Pass Line point. It pays even money and cannot be removed or reduced after a point has been established. Don't Come: The Don't Come bet is the reverse of the Come bet. The Don't Come bet is a Don't Pass Line type bet made after the Pass Line come out roll. If there is not a specific location on the layout for this bet, place it in the Don't Pass area. The win-lose rules are the same as for the Don't Pass Line. The next roll of the dice decides whether the player wins or loses or establishes a point. The point if established cannot roll before a 7 for the player to win. The Don't Come bet pays even money. It may be decreased or removed after a point is established but never increased. Come and Don't Come bets allow more action for players between Pass or Don't Pass cycles. The casino PC on them is the same as the Pass and Don't Pass bets. Odds: A Player may elect to make a bet in addition to the original or "flat" bet after the point is established. A Player may "take" odds on any Pass Line or Come bet. Pass Line odds bets are placed just outside the Pass Line bet location. Come odds are given to the dealer. Odds bets on Pass Line and Come bets pay the true or fair odds. There is no casino PC on them. Odds bets should be made in the correct increments related to the point. If the point is a 4 or 10, an odds bet will be the same amount as the regular bet. The payoff will be 2 to 1, which is the true or fair odds of winning. There are three ways that either of these points can be rolled and win versus six ways a 7 can be rolled and lose. Therefore it is twice as likely that a 7 will roll as the point will roll and the fair odds payoff should be 2 to 1. If the point is a 5 or 9 and the player has a bet such as $3, the casino usually will allow an odds bet of $4. This is done for convenience to keep the winning payoff an even amount. The payoff will be true odds of 3 to 2 or $6 for $4 bet. This is because there are four ways that one of these points can roll and win versus six ways a 7 can roll and lose. If the point is a 6 or 8 and the player has a bet such as $3, the casino usually will allow an odds bet of $5. The payoff will be true odds of 6 to 5 or $6 for $5. This is because there are five ways that one of these points can roll and win versus six ways for a 7 can roll and lose. All Pass Line or Come Line odds bets may be removed or reduced by the player after a point is established. A Player also may "lay" odds on any Don't Pass Line or Don't Come bet. The player is giving odds in this bet. The player bets more than they would win but there is a corresponding greater chance they will win. Don't Pass odds are placed next to the Don't bet typically with one chip flat on the table surface and the balance staggered. Don't Come odds bets are given to the dealer. Don't Pass and Don't Come bets also pay true or fair odds. There is no casino PC. The sizing of odds bets on Don't Pass or Don't Come bets is based on the possible winning amount. If the point is 4 or 10, the player may make a Don't odds bet twice the size of their flat bet. The payoff will be 1 to 2, one-half of the odds bet or the same as the flat bet. This is true or fair odds of winning because there are six ways to roll a 7 and win versus 3 ways to roll the point and lose. It is half as likely that the point will roll as a 7 will be roll and the fair odds payoff should be 1 to 2. If the point is 5 or 9, the player would usually be permitted make an odds bet to pay an even amount in relation to their flat bet. If their flat bet is $3, they would lay odds of $6 and the payoff will be 2 to 3 or $4 if a 7 rolls. If the point is 6 or 8, the player would usually be permitted make an odds bet to pay an even amount in relation to their flat bet. If their regular bet is $3, they would lay odds of $6 and the payoff would be 5 to 6 or $5 if a 7 rolls. Don't Pass and Don't Come odds bets may be removed or reduced after the point is established but never increased. The examples above are for casinos allowing "Single Odds." Some casinos offer "Double Odds" or better. This increases the size of the odds bets that have no PC in relation to the flat bets that have a small PC. This is desirable providing the player has an adequate bankroll to support the increased bets. Ask the dealer for assistance in sizing the odds bets if required. Place Bets: Place bets may be made directly on numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 without requiring a flat bet. They may be made at anytime by giving the bet to a dealer. All place bets may be at anytime increased, decreased, taken back by the Player and called "off" or not working. They are usually off on the come out roll unless designated otherwise by the Player. Place bets are paid as follows. Points of 4 or 10 pay 9 to 5, points of 5 or 9 pay 7 to 5 and points of 6 or 8 pay 7 to 6. These are not true odds. Buy and Lay bets: Buy and Lay may be made directly on numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 without requiring a flat bet. The Buy bet is a bet on that number rolling before a 7. A Lay Bet is a bet that a 7 will roll before the number bet. Buy and Lay bets may be made at anytime. All Buy and Lay bets may be at anytime increased, decreased, taken back by the Player and called "off" or not working. They are usually off on the come out roll unless designated otherwise by the Player. Buy and Lay bets are paid at true odds however a commission or "virgorish" is charged. On Buy bets it is usually 5 percent of the amount bet. On Lay bets it is usually 5 percent on the amount that can be won. Hardways: Hardway Bets are located in the center of the layout and may be bet on any roll. There are four possible Hardway Bets. They are the Hard Four (two 2s), Hard Six (two 3s), Hard Eight (two 4s) and Hard Ten (two 5s). The player wins if the Hardway number they are betting on rolls before a 7 is rolled or before a non-hardway combination rolls. For example, a Hard Six wins only if two 3's are thrown before a 7 or an easy 5-1 or 4-2 combination rolls. Hardways usual work unless the player designates the bet to be off or down. Hardways are paid as follows. Hard Six and Hard Eight usually pay 9 to 1. Hard Fours and Hard Tens usually pay 7 to 1. Big 6 and Big 8: Big 6 and Big 8 bets may be made any time and withdrawn any time by the player without dealer intervention. They pay even money when a 6 or 8 rolls respectively and lose when a 7 rolls. One Roll Bets: The following bets may be made on any roll and win or lose depending upon the outcome of that roll alone. They win if the number or numbers rolls and lose if any other number rolls. The player places the Field Bet. All other bets are given to the dealer to be placed in the center of the layout. Field Bets pay if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 rolls. If a 2 or 12 rolls normally the payoff is 2 to 1. In some casinos one of these numbers may pay 3 to 1. Any 7 Bets pay 4 to 1 if any 7 rolls. Any Craps pay 7 to 1 if 2, 3 or 12 rolls. Two Craps or "Aces" pay 30 to 1 if two aces (1s) roll. Twelve Craps or "Box Cars" pay 30 to 1 if two sixes roll. Three Craps or "Ace-Deuce" pay 15 to 1 if an Ace and two roll. Eleven pays 15 to 1 if a five and 6 six rolls. Horn Bets pay even money if a 2, 3, 11 or 12 rolls. These are usual payoffs but they may vary. If the player is not sure, ask the dealer before placing a bet. CASINO PERCENT ADVANTAGE The large variety of bets in craps have a wide range of casino percent advantages or "PCs." The PCs are calculated based on the probabilities or odds of the various dice combinations rolling verses the bet's payoff. The usual casino percent advantages on different bets are: Pass Line - 1.4% Don't Pass Line - 1.4% With Single Odds - 0.8% (Resultant PC factoring flat With Double Odds - 0.6% and odds bet combined) Place Bets (6 or 8) - 1.5% Place Bets (5 or 9) - 4.0% Place Bets (4 or 10) - 6.7% Buy or Lay Bets - 5.0% (Paid when making bet) Hardway (6 or 8) - 9.1% Hardway (4 or 10) -11.1% Big 6 or Big 8 - 9.1% Field (2 to 1 on 12) - 5.6% Field (3 to 1 on 12) - 2.8% Any 7 -11.1% Any Craps -11.1% 2 Craps (Aces) -13.9% 3 Craps (Ace-deuce) -11.1% 12 Craps (Sixes) -13.9% Eleven -16.7% Horn -16.7% SMART GAMBLER STRATEGY Craps can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable casino games to play. $mart Gamblers who play it take approaches such as recommended below. These steps limit their entertainment cost to an absolute minimum and ensure that their playing time is maximized. First it must be accepted that there is no system that can turn craps into a long term winning proposition. Do not believe any advertisements for "systems" that claim otherwise. The mathematics of the game is against the player in the long run. The chances of the dice rolling one combination or another is not dependent on any previous roll or other event. They are just random occurances. There is no betting system that can overcome the casino's PC. The most important thing when playing craps is only to make Pass Line or Don't Pass Line bets and then take the maximum odds possible. This will reduce the casino's PC to less than -0.8% on the resultant bet that is attractive. If there are choices between casinos offering different maximum odds, select those ones that offer the highest odds. This will further reduce the casino's PC. The craps table layout does not specifically show a location to put odds bets. They are the only bet in craps without a PC and the casino hopes the players don't understand or make them. If the $mart Gamblers wants more action between the Pass and Don't Pass cycles, they can make Come or Don't Come bets taking the maximum odds possible. There is one major caution on these recommendations. If odds are taken they must be planned for in the player's money management. Single odds double the bankroll requirement. Double odds increase it even more. If multiple Come and Don't Come bets are made, they also must be planned. A good strategy is find the lowest minimum bet game offering the highest odds bet that matches a player's bankroll. See the $mart Gambler tutorial on Money Management and the Planning-Money Management feature for more information on planning the bankroll and bet sizing. There is one additional point a player may wish to consider regarding choosing either the Pass or Don't Pass Line bet. If the Pass Line bet is made and subsequent Come bets are made, it is possible to have a total of six bets and odds in action. All six can be lost at once if a 7 rolls. If the Don't Pass Line bet and subsequent Don't Come bets are made, they can only be lost one at a time as that number rolls. There is no significant difference in the odds or casino PC with either approach. It is just up to how the player feels about their gambling. Except placing the points 6 or 8, which have a casino PC of - 1.5%, all other craps bets have excessive casino advantages. $mart Gamblers avoid them at all times. Why does the casino offer so many different bets? Why do the dealers chant "The Hardway is due, bet the Hardway?" Look at the casino's PC on hardway bets and the other proposition bets. The $mart Gambler may see other players make these high PC bets and even win, sometimes. However they know that the players making these bad bets are paying a significant price for their entertainment and will not succeed in the long run. The $mart Gambler resists the urge and limits their bets to the ones with the lowest possible casino advantage. What is the difference of limiting bets to the Pass or Don't Pass line with odds for a casino PC of -0.8%? Situation: Three day gambling trip, 15 hours of craps play, average of 60 decisions per hour, average bet of $10. By limiting bets, the entertainment cost will average $72 for the trip. Often the player will come out a winner but over the long run they will lose an average of $72 per trip. Not taking the odds, betting the Field, Hardways or other high PC bets, could change the average PC to -5.0%. At this average PC, the player will lose an average of $450 per trip. They will experience fewer winning trips and more losing trips. Multiple this by four trips a year for ten years and the difference is $15,120. If the $mart Gambler chooses to play craps, there is another approach they may wish to follow. While there is no statistical validity for it, it is a means to control play and get more enjoyment playing. The idea is to play for a planned period until hopefully one good streak occurs. That is when the dice run "hot" and the shooter makes many points in a row. When the shooter finally sevens out, many players will leave the table. That is a good time also to leave and take a break to savor the win. $mart Gamblers follow these guidelines and their experiences at the craps table last longer and are more enjoyable. Copyright 1992-1994 PC Information Systems All Rights Reserved