History – How To Play – Rules – Odds – Strategy – Pro's Perspective
Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps. California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego. Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out. Casino Craps Game Instructions: Choose Craps Lesson 1; Follow the instructions below the craps table picture and learn the craps payout; Move through the rest of the lessons and the craps instructions; Read additional rules for the game of craps in the charts below; And remember, without dice control,craps can't be defeated; Enjoy! How to play craps and how to win is explained by casino gambling expert, Steve Bourie, in this first part of a three-part series. Topics covered include: how. The video should get you started and able to walk up to your first craps table with enough knowledge to shoot the dice and play to win! Just remember, the dealers at the table are always there to help you, so don't be shy. Las Vegas Craps 101. Craps is the fastest-moving of casino table games. An average speed at a busy blackjack table runs around 60 hands per hour, but the house expects about 100 decisions per hour at craps. That, along with the tendency of craps players to have several bets working at once, means that craps requires a larger bankroll than other table games.
Craps is a table game played with dice that is highly popular in land-based casinos. Although it can be played at online casinos, it is more fun and exciting at land-based casinos. Whenever you enter a land-based casino, you will find a table that has players around it screaming and yelling numbers — this is the Craps table. There are two types of Craps. One is casino craps. In this game, players at the Craps table are all betting against the house or the casino, which is why it is called Casino Craps. The second kind is called Street Craps, which is where players play against each other — it used to be played in the streets, hence the name.
Craps is a game of pure luck as it all depends on the dice and the numbers that are rolled. In this game, players will place wagers on the outcome of the two thrown dice. A player who throws the dice is referred to as the shooter. After the dice have been rolled, players will be paid according to the outcome. Some wagers need more than one roll, while other wagers can be settled after one roll. In this tutorial, we are going to discuss the payouts and the different wagers that can be placed at the Craps table as well as the rules players will have to follow while playing at the table.
Craps History
Evidence suggests Craps may have originated and evolved during the ancient Roman Empire. While in camp Roman soldiers used to carve the knuckles of pigs into cubes and would toss them over their shield. The term 'To Roll the Bones' originated from this game. Other theories claim Craps originated in the Middle Ages with the people in the Arabian deserts as they used to play a game that was quite similar to Craps called Hazard or Azzahr.
The definitive rules of this game were founded in the early 1700′s by Montmort. The roll that had the lowest value was referred to as crabs. While many believe this is where Craps got its name from, others believe the word evolved from Crapeaud, which is the French word for toad. Other theories claim the French were trying to reclaim the game as their own and they took the English word Crabs and spelled it in French as Crabes. In the 1700′s, the game succeeded in crossing the Atlantic Ocean and reached Acadia, the French Colony.
In 1755, the French lost their colony and the people of Acadia relocated to Louisiana. They brought the French game Crabes to Louisiana, but the game had changed to Creps or Crebs. By the year 1842, Craps started to be the dominant term and is still the name that is prevalent to this day.
During World War II, the Street version of the game became very popular and was played by the soldiers who used their blankets as the gaming surface. Casino virtual gratis. There was no wall to stop the dice from rolling out so they used blanket rolls to prevent it.
It is also important to note that the Craps version in modern America was brought by in Bernard Xavier Philippe, who was not only a politician but a gambler too. His version of Craps had a flaw that allowed players to exploit the game by taking advantage of the wagering system or by using fixed dice. This problem was fixed by John H Winn who introduced a new wagering option: 'Do Not Pass'. This wagering option is used to this day at any casino that offers craps to its players around the world.
How to Play Craps
As mentioned before, there are two types of Craps, we are going to discuss the gaming procedure of the most commonly played Craps version, Casino or Bank Craps. This version is played at casinos, this is why in this game, players will place wagers against the casino. The payoffs of the game may differ from one casino to the next.
In this game, players will take turns in rolling the dice. As previously mentioned the player throwing the dice is called 'The Shooter'. Before the shooter throws the dice, players will place their chips on the bets they want. They will find the different bets on a piece of green cloth; this piece of cloth has different available bets printed on it. Players can therefore easily place their chips on the bets they want to wager on. Players can usually go ahead and place their chips but there are some wagers that require players to ask the croupiers before putting them.
In order for a Craps player to get the chance to throw the dice as the shooter, he has to be active at the table by placing bets on either the Pass line or the Do Not Pass line wagers. These bets are also sometimes referred to as Right & Wrong or Win and Don't Win bets.
Gibson online casino. Players will roll the dice and keep passing it on in a clockwise direction. The player who is throwing the dice, the shooter, will roll his dice until he loses by getting a 7 or until his round is completed. The dealer in this game, also known as the Stickman is the person who represents the casino. He is called a Stickman because he uses a stick to collect the chips and move the dice around. The Stickman will present the shooter with 5 different dice and the shooter chooses 2 of them. The remaining dice will be placed in a bowl.
There are numerous bet types that can be placed at the Craps table; we are going to discuss the most common one below, the Line Wager. The line wager contains two bets; they are called the Pass Line and the Do Not Pass line wagers. The first one is a bet that the shooter could win.
If the first roll which is also referred to as the come out dice roll lands on either a 7 or an eleven, then the dice shooter will win. If the dice is equal to 2, three, or 12, then shooter will lose. On the other hand, if the dice has any other outcome than the ones mentioned, this value will be called 'Point'. In this case, the shooter will have to throw the dice again.
If he succeeds in rolling the point value before rolling a 7, he will win but if he rolls a 7 before he rolls the Point value, he will lose. The other bet is called the Do Not Pass wager, it is the exact opposite. Both bets pay 1:1.
Craps Rules
The rules at the Craps table include the wagers and the payouts. Apart from these basic rules, there are also some other unwritten rules that casinos implement at the Craps table. If you are a new player, after getting to know the basic payouts, rules and gaming procedure, you should also get to know these etiquette rules because you will be expected to abide by them at any casino.
Some of these rules are concerned with the security of each casino, including the following:
1. You are not permitted to handle the dice with both your hands. This includes shaking the dice in your hands before you throw them. Players are also expected to keep their hands on the surface of the craps table while they are handling the dice.
2. The shooter is required to throw the dice so they hit the other side of the table. Rolls that do not reach the other wall of the Craps table are called Mellenberg Rolls. Some casinos allow these rolls if they get past half the distance to the other wall. Any dice rolls that do not get past half the distance will have to be repeated because these short rolls can be controlled to somw extent.
3. Players should toss the dice on the table. Not slide them.
4. If the thrown dice by some chance hits other players or the hand of the dealer and still lands on the table, it can be counted provided that the players have not interfered with the rolled dice. Some casinos may deem these as no rolls and request the player re-roll the dice.
5. At some casinos, players will be able to call bets. Calling bets means they can start placing bets while they are waiting for their chips — they will call the bet and place it when they get the chips. Casinos that don't allow such bets will have the words 'No Call Bets' printed on the table of the game.
6. Casinos have the right to ask Craps players to leave the table at any given time without having to give any specific reason.
7. Do no toss chips on the craps table. Place them slowly.
8. Whenever players are offered to be the shooter, they are allowed to hand it to any other players at the table.
9. When players place service bets, which are bets that the dealers place on their behalf, they should tip them.
10. Players will tip dealers by throwing the tip on the table and saying 'For the Boys' or 'For the Dealers.' It works both for male and female dealers.
Craps Odds
Understanding and knowing the odds of the dice to get a certain outcome is the essence of Craps. If you are going to place real money wagers at a Craps table, it is essential for you to remember these odds. First of all, you will have a slight disadvantage when you place the Pass Line wager: the odds of winning are 970 out of 1980 times. In other words, the edge of the house for this wager equals 1.414 percent.
You can find the different bets that can be found at casinos, as well as their odds and the house advantage of each wager illustrated below:
The Pass Line wager has odds of 251 to 244, which is why players will be paid even money for this bet. The house advantage for this bet equals 1.414 percent. A Do Not Pass wager has odds of 976 to 949. It also pays even money and the house advantage equals 1.404 percent.
For Pass Line Bets:
– Betting on four or ten has odds of 2 to 1 and it pays out on the same rate, 2:1.
– Betting on five or nine has odds of 3 to 2 and it pays out on the same rate, 3:2.
– Betting on six or eight has odds of 6 to 5 and it pays out on the same rate, 6:5.
All of these bets have the same house advantage that is equal to 4.76 percent.
For Do No Pass Line Bets:
– Betting on four or ten has odds of 1 to 2 and it pays out on the same rate, 1:2. Drinks to order at a casino. The house advantage is equal to 2.44 percent.
– Betting on five or nine has odds of 2 to 3 and it pays out on the same rate, 2:3. The house advantage is equal to 3.23 percent.
– Betting on six or eight has odds of 5 to 6 and it pays out on the same rate, 5:6. The house advantage is equal to 4 percent.
For Field Bets:
– Betting on 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 pays 1:1
– Betting on 2 or 12 pays 2:1
All of these bets have odds of 5:4 and has a house advantage that is equal to 2.78%.
For One-Roll Bets:
– Any Seven has odds of 5 to 1, pays 4:1 and it has a house edge of 16.9 percent.
– Any Craps has odds of 8 to 1, pays 7:1 and it has a house edge of 11.1 percent.
– 2 and 12 Craps have odds of 35 to 1, pays 30:1 and it has a house edge of 13.9 percent.
– 3 and 11 Craps have odds of 17 to 1, pays 15:1 and it has a house edge of 11.1 percent.
British casinos are tightly regulated and they offer better payouts on some of the best.
Craps Strategy
Craps is a dice game in which players will entirely either win or lose depending on the outcome of the dice. There isn't any skill or decision making involved in the game — it is purely based on luck. There are no strategies or techniques to this game either. Despite that, there are some betting tips that can help players minimize their losses and increase their odds.
If you are a beginner, it is better to stick to the Pass Line Bet because the house edge of this wager equals 1.41 percent. The rest of the Craps bets at the table offer worse odds, so this is the best bet for new players. Although the Do Not Pass offers better odds as it has a house edge of 1.36 percent, it is frowned upon because you will be betting against the shooter and people will not appreciate that. It is safer to bet on the Pass Line wager because you wouldn't want to antagonize and cross the shooter for a small 0.05 percent advantage.
Craps Dice Probability Chart
The best bet in craps after the first roll is the odds bet. Once a point is determined, players will be able to place an additional wager that is a multiple of the pass line bet. The multiple differs from one casino to another, but the most common is 2X. The best thing about the odds bets is that it pays according to their true odds, which means the house has a 0% advantage; players should always place these bets.
Stay away from the proposition bets. These bets are settled in one roll.
Although the dealer might tempt you to place these bets, you should not because they have the highest house advantage.
Players are also advised to tip the dealers at the Craps tables. This is not a bribe — in no way can the dealer interfere or affect the outcome of the dice. On the other hand, they can guide you and help you throughout the game. Dealers rely on these tips and they are a great part of their salary. Tipping the dealer will create a repoire and you will receive invaluable advice that will help elevate the level of your game.
Players should also read about the etiquette and learn the unwritten rules of Craps are. Some casinos will give players the boot and request that they leave if they are not following and abiding by these etiquette rules. You can find out more about these rules at the 'Rules' section of Craps on this website.
Lastly, players are advised against taking tips from other players at the Craps table, no matter how tempting it might be, because the other players will not always give the correct advice.
How To Play Craps Video Tutorial
Pro's Perspective: Craps Strategies and Tips
With John Grochowski
Players who take the house edge seriously will quickly come to the conclusion that only a few bets are worth taking. Pass or do not pass and come or do not come are the basics, and some players also like place bets on 6 or 8 despite a slightly higher house edge just so that they can get the most frequently rolled non-7s working for them.
One-roll Bets and House Edge
One roll bets aren't worth a second look. Why settle for an 11.1 percent house edge on any craps when you can bet pass at 1.41 percent? Given that a player is sticking with the best bets, the next question to arise often is, 'Should I take the odds?' The answer depends on your bankroll and bet size.
There is no house edge on the odds. Paying at true odds, they're a rare example of even bets in a casino. To take the odds, however, you must bet pass or come, or don't pass or don't come, and those bets do carry an edge. If you're a table minimum bettor, it's between you and your bankroll as to whether you take the odds.
The Reality of Craps Odds
Blackjack Video Tutorial
Let's say you're at a table with a $5 minimum bet, and you bet that minimum on the pass line 100 times. You have $500 at risk. The 1.414 percent house edge means that at the end of the trial, the average house take from your $500 is $7.07.
Now let's say you bet the $5 minimum on a pass and $10 in double odds. Per 100 trials, you risk $500 on a pass and $1,000 double odds. The odds are a break-even bet, so on average, the house take is zero, while the house take on your pass bets remains $7.07. When results deviate from average, you can have much larger wins when you take the odds, and also much larger losses. Your average loss comes back to that same $7.07 with or without odds.
Now let's say you increase your pass bet to $15 without taking odds. Your risk per 100 trials increases to $150, and your average loss increase to $21.21.
Advantages to Taking Odds
Here's where it's to your advantage to take the odds. Instead of increasing your pass bet to $15, leave it at the table minimum of $5, then use the rest of your intended bet increase to take the odds. That leaves your average loss at $7.07 while opening the door to larger wins.
Many modern casinos offer more than double odds. Some offer up to 100x odds, and it's become increasingly common for American casinos to offer 3x, 4x, 5x odds, meaning you can make an odds bet of three times your pass or come bet if the point number is 4 or 10, four times on 5 or 9 or five times on 6 or 8.
Regardless of what odds the casino permits, the most advantageous play is to use the odds bet to keep your pass or come bet low, then to put more of your money on the higher-paying odds.
Introduction
In California the dice alone may not determine the outcome in craps. So a combination of dice and playing cards, or cards alone, are used. There are numerous ways this is done. Here are some methods I am aware of.
Agua Caliente
Twelve cards are used, an ace through six from two separate decks, with different color back sides. The cards will be shuffled and spread across the table face down. The first card of each color from one end shall be used to represent the roll. The odds are the same as with dice.
Barona
Six cards are used, numbered one to six. They are randomly placed in six positions on the table. The roll of two dice will determine which card(s) are turned over, that shall deterine the outcome for betting purposes. With each new shooter, the cards are re-arranged. The odds are the same as conventional craps.
Fantasy Springs
Same method as the Agua Caliente.
Harrah's
Two separate six-card decks, one red and one green, are used. Each shoe consists one each of ranks A, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Aces count as one, all other ranks count according to its pip value. Six cards are dealt from each shoe. Two ordinary dice are thrown, one red and one green. The outcome of the dice determine which cards are turned over, which represent the roll. The odds are the same as conventional craps.
Normandie
Two partial decks are mixed together, each consisting of all four suits ranked ace to six. So, there are 48 cards total. Two cards are drawn without replacement. If they are the same suit, then there is no action. Otherwise, the two cards represent the roll. This is mathematically equivalent to using dice. There is also a 'No Call' bet, which pays 3 to 1 on two cards of the same suit. The house edge on that bet is 6.38%. As usual with the Los Angeles county casinos, the player must also pay about a 1% fee on all bets.
Pala
The following equipment is used: (A) A red die numbered with three 1's, and three 4's, (B) a blue die numbered with three 2's, and three 3's, and (C) A 36-card deck featuring all possible permutations of two dice. Two cards are drawn at random and placed face down over red and blue regions of the table. The dice are thrown. If the red die is higher then the red card is turned over and used as the roll, if the blue die is higher then the blue card is used. Note that there can be no ties. Also the blue die is irrelevant. A 1 on the red die will always lose to the blue die, and a 4 will always win. The odds are the same as conventional craps.
The 'Super Field' pays if both cards are the 1-1 and 6-6, in either order. Wins pay 500 to 1. The probability of winning is 0.154%, for a house edge of 22.685%.
Pechanga
Pechanga currently follows the Barona method (at least as of 7/26/16). They have previously used other methods so please don't write in to correct me unless you have very current information.
Pauma
A 73-card deck is used, consisting of 12 each of cards ace to six, and one joker. Two cards are drawn to determine the roll. If the first card is the joker, there is no action, and two new cards are drawn. If the second card is the joker, it shall match the first card. The odds are the same as conventional craps.
The joker side bet pays 60 FOR 1 if the first card is a joker. The probability of winning is 1.389%, for a house edge of 16.67%.
The four suit bets, one for each suit, win if both cards are the suit specified, and pays 14 FOR 1. The probability of winning is 5.822%, for a house edge of 18.493%.
San Manuel
Same procedure as Viejas, except 312 cards are in the shuffler and they call it just 'craps.'
Sycuan
The Sycuan follows the same procedure as Barona.
Viejas
The game is dealt at a blackjack-size table called 'Card Craps.' I'm told a 264-card shoe is used, consisting of 44 cards each of ranks ace to six. They start with five 54-card decks (9 cards each numbered 1 to 6), and then remove one of each face (5×54-6=264), to accomodate the shuffler. Two cards are drawn to represent the roll. Due to the effect of non-replacement, the odds will be slightly different from conventional craps.
The maximum win on odds bets is $1,000. If the player wishes to get that limit, with 10X odds after a pass or come bet, then he should not bet more than $10 on a pass or come bet, and $100 on a don't pass or don't come.
For more information, see my page on Card Craps.
Southern California Odds Survey
Here is what I know of the odds allowed in the casinos of southern California.
San Diego County Craps Survey
Casino | Odds Offered | House Edge | Last Surveyed |
---|---|---|---|
Agua Caliente | 3x-4x-5x | 0.37% | Sep. 2013 |
Augustine | No craps | N/A | Sep. 2013 |
Barona | 5x | 0.33% | Dec. 2008 |
Chumash | ? | ? | Never |
Fantasy Springs | 3x-4x-5x | 0.37% | Sep. 2013 |
Golden Acorn | No craps | N/A | Dec. 2008 |
Harrah's | 2x | 0.57% | Dec. 2008 |
La Posta | No craps | N/A | Dec. 2008 |
Morongo | No craps | N/A | Sep. 2013 |
Pala | 5x | 0.33% | Dec. 2008 |
Pauma | 3x-4x-5x | 0.37% | Dec. 2008 |
Pechanga | 10x | 0.18% | May 2014 |
Santa Ysabel | No craps | N/A | Dec. 2008 |
Soboba | ? | ? | Never |
Spa | No craps | N/A | Sep. 2013 |
Spotlight 29 | No craps | N/A | Sep. 2013 |
Sycuan | 5x | 0.33% | Dec. 2008 |
Valley View | No craps | N/A | Dec. 2008 |
Viejas* | 10x | 0.18% | Dec. 2008 |
* The Viejas 10X odds game has a maximum odds bet of $600.
'3x-4x-5x' means the player can bet 3 times his pass/come bet with a point of 4 or 10, 4 times with a 5 or 9, and 5 times with a 6 or 8. Assuming the player always takes the maximum odds, under this rule, his odds win will always be 6 times his pass line bet. The house edge column is the combined house edge between the pass/come bet and full odds.
Disclaimer: The Barona Casino hired me to perform surveys of San Diego casinos for backjack, roulette, and craps. The table above summarizes my findings.
Oklahoma
It seems that Oklahoma also has card craps. Here is what little I know about it.
Winstar
The Winstar uses a 36-card deck, one card for each two-dice combination. It is my understanding that the cards look ordinary, except for a bar code, which corresponds to the dice roll.
Other Games Surveyed in San DiegoInternal Links
- How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
- The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
- Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
- Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
- Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
- California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
- Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
- Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
- Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
- Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.
External Links
- Las Vegas craps survey — The max odds bet allowed at each casino.
Written by: Michael Shackleford