.: Craps Casino Game Review

This game brings out the emotions more than any other. It is nice to walk around and take a long look, drink in the atmosphere - check out the other players - there is a freedom here to applaud, cheer and let loose.

Gamblers, especially the ladies, are less intimidated by this game. Check out the layout where theres plenty of features and options. It my look complicated, however the game is indeed simple, and to the educated gambler - even simpler because he or she knows that, in fact, there are only three major bets to be considered when slashing that casino advantage way down to less than 1%.

As you check out the table, note the minimum bet and the odds posted. Do these numbers fit into your wager management plan? See how the dice are running.

To understand how to play craps, you have to start with the two dice in play. Each cube has six sides, with one to six dots each. Both die are rolled, and the values added together. Lets run through the numbers: 2, 3, & 12 are called craps - losers. 7 & 11 are natural - winners. Point Numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 & 10 and these points, must be repeated before a 7 is rolled.

The three major bets are come, place, and pass line. They will be discussed later. Understand craps is a 2 phase game. There is the 'come-out' roll and the 'points on' rolls. The game starts with the come out roll. The Come-Out roll has 3 possible outcomes - a win by rolling a 7 or 11, rolling craps, which causes everyone to lose the bet, or setting a point with the other number. If a point is set, in the subsequent rolls, 7 is the worst possible number as it ends the game and all money left on the table is collected by the house. If the point is rolled again, everyone wins - money is rewarded based on your wagers, all the money is left on the table, and another come-out roll starts a new game with the same shooter.

In more Detail
When a player is handed the dice to throw, the first roll is the Come-Out, and a 7 or 11 immediately wins. Whereas the 2, 3, or 12 immediately loses. If the player throws any of the other numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, the player continues to throw until either that same point number is rolled again, in which case the player wins, or until a 7 is rolled, in which case the player loses. Any other number has no significance to the pass-line wager.

This explains why the 7 sometimes wins, and sometimes loses. If it is thrown on the first roll, it wins. However, if its thrown when the player tries to repeat his first-roll number, it loses, that is called a 7-out.

Then its the next players turn to shoot. A shooter retains the dice as long as he or she continues to make passes or wins -- either immediately on the come-out with a 7 or by repeating the point number successfully. The player keeps the dice even if he loses on the come-out roll with a 2, 3, or 12. The player loses the dice only after a 7-out is rolled.

This is the pass-line bet - the most popular bet at the table and the first recommended wager. The pass line extends around both ends of the table. Place your pass-line bet directly in front of you. Its ideal to arrive at a table when a shooter is coming out. Youll know this from the position of the puck, which says ON=white side, and OFF=black side.

If the shooter made a point on the come-out roll, and is now trying to repeat that number, the dealer will place the puck with the white ON side toward the rear center of the box that corresponds to the number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10). If the shooter is trying for a 6, the puck will be in the 6 box with its ON side showing. However, if you notice the puck with the black side OFF in the Dont Come area, that means the next roll is a come-out. This is your signal to make that pass-line bet. And when the shooter wins, everyone on the pass-line wins.

Craps is a really fun game. Admittedly though, it is much more fun at a land based casino. There is an atmosphere and community that develops amongst the players. The4 craps table is always the place you hear cheering and jeering. Playing online doesn't have that same feeling - and the streakiness of the game is lost without all those people around cheering you on!

The Odds Bet
Winning is even sweeter when you have backed up your pass-line bet with an odds bet placed directly behind it. This odds bet is made only after a shooter has established a point. But, you say, the layout has no space for an odds bet. Thats because the casino doesnt advertise odds bets. Odds bets are paid at even money - no casino edge. The casino usually limits odds bets to 5X the pass line bet. At 10-times odds, the casino advantage is reduced to .2%! Just 2X odds gives the casino a .63% advantage. The odds bets are determined by a probability chart and are based on 36 combinations a pair of dice can be rolled. There are 6x^ = 36 possible combinations that can be rolled. The 7 can be rolled in six combinations; thats the highest combination probability. The 6 and 8 can be rolled five combos, the 5 and 9 can be rolled four combos, and the 4 and 10 can be rolled three combos each.

Group the point numbers in sets, like this:
6 and 8 - 6 to 5 odds. Pays $6 for every $5 wagered.
5 and 9 - 3 to 2 odds. Pays $3 for every $2 wagered.
4 and 10 - 2 to 1 odds. Pays $2 for every $1 wagered.

The casino pays correct odds bets, unlike a pass-line bet that pays even money. This information is important because, if you do not take the correct odds with the right amount of chips, you will be paid even money only. The whole idea behind taking odds is for bigger wins. If you dont memorize this information, just ask the dealer, What is the correct odds amount?, and follow those instructions.

The Come Bet
The second optimum bet at a craps table is another two-step with odds that is under that low, low 1% advantage for the casino. Its the come bet, which is boldly displayed on the layout. For this bet, you place the chips near your position on the table, while the shooter is trying to repeat a point number. Think of this bet as a delayed pass-line bet.

Lets say 6 has been established as the shooter number to win on the pass-line, and you want an additional bet working for you. Okay, make that same bet as described in the come bet area. If the next roll is a 9, you will be looking for 6 on the line and a 9 coming before a 7 rolls. If the next roll is a craps, you lose the come bet. A 7 or 11 wins outright, but remember the 7 wipes out the pass-line bet. In this case, the dealer places the payoff directly beside your bet. It is your responsibility to immediately pick up the chips. If your come bet is a point number, the dealer will position that bet for you. Now comes the second part--making the odds bet to lower the casino advantage. Position this bet near the original Come bet and, clearly, say to the dealer, Odds on my come bet. At any time, you can remove odds bets (but not pass-line or come bets).

The Place Bet
A place bet can be made any time after a point is established. The place bet on a 6 or 8 has a casino advantage of 1.5%. Wagers must be made in multiples of $6 because the payoff is $7 for every $6 bet. Its very important that you clearly state your desire to make a place bet and have the dealer place the 6 or 8 for you. Do not confuse the place bet with the Big 6 or 8 that is prominent on the layout. This wager is even money and has a casino advantage of 9%.

Place bets can be taken off at any time, and the bets are off on a come-out roll. When a place bet is won, the dealer will hand you your winnings only. If you want it all back, tell the dealer to please take down the 6 or 8. Otherwise, the bet remains in play until someone rolls a 7-out.

Tips for Playing Craps
Wager Management Tip: keep your pass-line bet to the table minimum. Save the parlay (progressive betting) for betting odds--double, triple or whatever the table will allow, where the house advantage is low. Well, what about all those other bets on the layout? Stay away from them. They are mostly sucker bets with anywhere from a 4% to 16% house advantage. Focus on the educated bets, the big three with the lowest house advantage. Plenty of action there. However, there are a couple of other bets you might want to consider, the dont pass/dont come bets that are easily recognized on the table layout. These are called wrong bets, but they still keep you in that low 1% casino advantage range. I make no apologies for recommending wrong bets, because you know you are going to run into cold craps tables, and this is the only game where a losing streak can give you a betting advantage. Wrong bets can be right bets sometimes. Caution: dont be loud and conspicuous when making these bets, especially when the dice come up in your favor, because the rest of the table likely bet the other way.

Understanding the Lingo
Boxcars=12
Cinco, Dos and Adios=7
Big Red=7 out
Dice=bones, cubes, GI marbles.
Bears paws=double 5s
Ducks going to water=hard 4
Little Joe from Kokomo=point 4
Fiver=point 5
Jimmy Hickspoint 6
Eighter from Decatur=point 8
Niner from Caroliner=point 9
Field is alive after 5=field bet

Blowing on the dice comes from an old superstition that bad luck can be restored by an application of healthy breath. So give it a shot. But when playing at a land based casino, make sure the dice stay over the table surface and clearly within view of the dealer.

Have fun playing craps!