The Dos and Don’ts of Craps
Part 2

by J. Phillip Vogel

We continue with Part 2 beginning with a Quick Betting Reference Chart.

Part 1 can be found by clicking here

Quick Betting Reference
For easy reference, below is a summary of the main features for the various bets in craps, including a basic description, payout, and corresponding house edge.

Betting Summary: Multiple Roll Bets

Bet	Basic Description	Pays	Vigorish
Big Six	Six shows before seven	1-1	9.09
Big Eight	Eight shows before seven	1-1	9.09%
Buy 4	Four shows before seven	39-21	4.76%
Buy 5	Five shows before seven	29-21	4.76%
Buy 6	Six shows before seven	23-21	4.76%
Buy 8	Eight shows before seven	23-21	4.76%
Buy 9	Nine shows before seven	29-21	4.76%
Buy 10	Ten shows before seven	39-21	4.76%
Come	Delayed Pass Line Bet	1-1	1.41%
Don’t Come	Delayed Don’t Pass Bets	1-1	1.37%
Don’t Pass	Betting against the point	1-1	1.37%
Hard 4	Roll 2-2 before seven/easy four	7-1	11.1%
Hard 6	Roll 3-3 before seven/easy six	9-1	9.09%
Hard 8	Roll 4-4 before seven/easy eight	9-1	9.09%
Hard 10	Roll 5-5 before seven/easy ten	7-1	11.1%
Lay 4	Seven shows before four	1-2	2.44%
Lay 5	Seven shows before five	2-3	3.23%
Lay 6	Seven shows before six	5-6	4.00%
Lay 8	Seven shows before eight	5-6	4.00%
Lay 9	Seven shows before nine	2-3	3.23%
Lay 10	Seven shows before ten	1-2	2.44%
Pass Line	Betting on the point	1-1	1.41%
Place 4	Four shows before seven	9-5	6.67%
Place 5	Five shows before seven	7-5	4.00%
Place 6	Six shows before seven	7-6	1.52%
Place 8	Eight shows before seven	7-6	1.52%
Place 9	Nine shows before seven	7-5	4.00%
Place 10	Ten shows before seven	9-5	6.67%

Betting Summary: Proposition/Single Roll Bets

Bet	Basic Description	Pays	Vigorish
Any Craps	2, 3, or 12 on next roll	7-1	11.1%
Any Seven	A one-roll on the seven	4-1	16.2%
Field	2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 next roll	2-1	5.56%
Hop (two numbers)	Any specified two numbers	15-1	11.1%
Hop (one number)	Any pair of numbers	30-1	13.9%
Horn	2, 3, 11, or 12 next roll	By number	12.5%
Horn (2 or 12 high)	2, 3, 11, or 12, double on 2 or 12	By number	12.8%
Horn (3 or 11 high)	2, 3, 11, or, 12; double on 3 or 11	By number	12.2%
World	2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 next roll	By number	13.3%
2	Two shows on next roll	30-1	13.9%
3	Three shows on next roll	15-1	11.1%
11	Eleven shows on next roll	15-1	11.1%
12	Twelve shows on next roll	30-1	13.9%

Basics Tips and Strategy
While there are plenty of strategies designed to fit the various playing styles, for beginners I suggest sticking with the “Do” side of the table, taking it slow until you have mastered to game basics. Here are some basic strategy tips to help you get started.

• Play the pass line. The pass line is the most fundamental bet in craps, and perhaps the best place to start if you’re a beginner. It’s simple and comes with the added benefit of offering a moderately low house edge of 1.41%. Regardless of your bankroll, play at the table minimum until you understand how the bet works.
• Take the odds. If you’re betting the pass line (or the come), be sure to take proper odds as this drastically reduces the house’s edge. For example, if you take full odds at a double odds table (2 times the pass bet) the combined edge for the pass line and odds is only 0.6%--quite a drop from the 1.41% you’re getting on the pass line alone.
• Avoid proposition bets. There are some craps players who use proposition bets as a hedge against another bet. They might, for example, bet a $3 Any Craps (7-1) to protect their $20 pass line bet on the come out roll. While the effectiveness of such strategy varies, for the beginner, there is one rule to follow concerning proposition bets: stay away. They house edge on each and every one of these best is poor at best, and downright horrible at its worst.

Once you’ve given craps a try, you’ll find that it really is one of the easiest and most entertaining games in a casino. And if you do it right and stick with the bets that offer the best odds, you’ll likely find yourself on the receiving end of some nice paydays.

J. Phillip Vogel’s Website is: www.theopn.com