Understanding Craps

We covered the most common bets on the table, such as, the Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, Don't Come, and Free Odds or True Odds and we have not even covered half of the layout or everything one can do at a Craps table, but we have covered enough to understand the basic fundamentals of the game—we will get to a more in depth instruction later—one needs to know the basics before one jumps to the intermediate and advanced information.

Understanding the basic bets and the flow and motion of the game:

1. A shooter will be shooting a Come Out roll.
   OR
2. Trying to roll the Point again before a seven comes up.

These are the two most quintessential steps that drive “The Game Of Craps.” And they will go on, and on, and on, and on; never ending, never changing.

On a Come Out roll after a Point has been rolled…

If a shooter has rolled a few numbers before rolling the point for a Pass Line winner, the Come and Don't Come bets and their respective Free Odds or True Odds are still sitting on the numbers. Several things can happen to those bets depending on what the player wants to happen.

• The Come and Don't Come bets are always ON and cannot be otherwise. A bet is a bet, cannot take it back.
  • If a 7 is rolled, the Come bets lose
  • If a number that a bet is on is rolled, the Come bet wins.
• The Come bet Free Odds or True Odds bets are always OFF but can be called ON.
  • If they are OFF and a 7 is rolled, the Come bet Free Odds or True Odds bets are given back the the player; again, the Come bet itself loses.
  • If they are OFF and a number that a bet is on is rolled, the Come bet wins but the Free Odds or True Odds bets are given back the the player.
  • If they are ON and a 7 is rolled, the Come bet and its Free Odds or True Odds bets lose.
  • If they are ON and a number that a bet is on is rolled, the Come bet and the Free Odds or True Odds bets win.

So whether a players wants them ON or ON is up to the risk the player wants to take.

In addition to the basic bets, and whilst the game plays on, the game allows the making of Side Bets—also called Proposition, prop, or exotic—and are arranged all over the layout and can be for a single roll of the dice or multi-Roll.

SEMANTICS [TO] or [FOR]: It is important to mention and understand.

Before making a side bet or proposition bet look at the pay-out info. It may read “FOR 1” or “TO 1.”

• If it reads TO 1, the pay-out is X for that $1 bet plus that $1 is given back for a total of X + 1, unless it is left to ride.
• If it reads FOR 1, this is where it can get tricky especially at the low end Casino's and their interpretation. The pay-out is Y for that $1 bet and the house takes the $1. total of Y.

Basically the pay-out is the same: X + 1 = Y; 4 to 1 is the same as 5 for 1.

The thing to keep an eye out for is when it reads less than the standard pay-outs , such as 4 for 1—DO NOT PLAY AT THESE PLACES!

The Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, Don't Come, and Free Odds or true Odds bets are all multi-roll bets—they may require more than one roll of the dice to determine the outcome.

In addition to these multi-roll bets, there are a few more—some not as smart to bet as others.

Place To Win

The Place or Place To Win bet is a that can be placed on any of the Point numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 at anytime, but is usually made after a point number is already established. The player is betting that the placed number will roll before a 7.

Place Bets:

• Can be put up or taken down at any time.
• They are automatically OFF—or not working—on the come out roll; they can be called ON or OFF at anytime if desired.
• The lowest house percentage Place bets are on the 6 and 8. The others aren't so great but can be improved by making buy bet instead.

Place To Lose

The Place to lose bet is basically the opposite of the Place bet. The player is betting that a 7 will roll before the number. This bet can be made at any time, but is usually made after a point number is already established.

Buy

The Buy is similar as the Place bet except that there is a 5% vigorish, or vig, up-front in exchange for receiving the True odds.

The vig is figured on the amount wagered. If a $20 Buy bet is made on the 4, the player would put down $21 in the Come area and tell the dealer “Buy the 4.” The Dealer will then move $20 to the number 4 point box and place a BUY button on top of it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house. The result is that the bet will win $40 (2 to 1) instead of $36 (9 to 5). If the bet does win and the player still wants to keep the Buy bet up, the player will have to pay another another 5% vig.

NOTE: The vig is returned if the Buy bet is removed before it wins or loses.

Buy Bets:

• Can be put up or taken down at any time.
• They are automatically OFF—or not working—on the come out roll; they can be called ON or OFF at anytime if desired.
• The lowest house percentage Buy bets are on the 4 and 10. The others aren't so great.

Lay bets

The Lay Bet is basically the opposite of the Place Bet. The player is betting that a seven will roll before the laid number. This bet can be made at any time, but is usually made after a point number is already established.

The Hard Way bets are located just underneath the Seven bet in the Proposition area, which is in the center of the layout on the table—since these are considered to be a Proposition bet.

A Hard Way in craps, is any roll of the dice where both die show the same number. A 4 and a 4 is a hard 8. Any other combination that totals eight is referred to as the Easy Way. This is because, for all even numbers, there is only one combination on the dice that will roll it the Hard Way. Even the 2 and 12 are the hard way—the only way, which makes them the super hard way. Yes a player can bet it, but they are single roll bets.

The hard way bets will win if the number comes up the hard way, and lose if it comes up the easy way or a 7.

The Hard Way Bets:

• Can be put up or taken down at any time.
• They are automatically ON—or working—on the come out rolland cannot be called OFF.

STICKMAN [hard 4]: “Double deuce” • “Deuce deuce on the loose” • “Pay the Man/Woman with the tu tu” • “Double snake eyes”
STICKMAN [easy 4]: “Little Joe” • “Thirty One”

STICKMAN [hard 6]: “Pair-o-treys” • “Thirty Three” • “Six six double sticks”
STICKMAN [easy 6]: “The national average” • “Sixie from Dixie”

STICKMAN [hard 8]: “Square pair, like mom and dad” • “A dot in each corner”
STICKMAN [easy 8]: “Eighter from Decatur”

STICKMAN [hard 10]: “Puppy paws” • “pair-a-roses” • “Pair of sunflowers” • “Fifty-five to stay alive” • “Big Dick” • “Pay the Man/Woman with the big dick”
STICKMAN [easy 10]: “Sixty-four, wanting more.” • “Sixie from Dixie”

The Big 6 and Big 8 bets are located close to the players for easy betting and there is a reason for that—These are by far the worst bets to make, and the casino wants to make it convenient for the player to make them.

When a players places a Big 6 or Big 8 bet or both, the player is betting that the bet the number bet will come up before a 7—no different than any other bet on the table except the pay off. It is an even money win.

Why go through all that trouble to win even money when the Place bet pay off is 7 for a 6? Sure it is betting more than a player may want, but if a player cannot make a proper bet with the proper amount needed, STEP AWAY FROM THE TABLE AND GO HOME!!!

Single Roll bets are determined by the out come of the next roll of the dice—it will either win or lose—which is why they have the highest pay-out and the lowest odds or chances of winning.

The Field bet encompasses the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12 and is an even money bet except on the 2, which pays [double: 2 to 1], and the 12, which pays [triple: 3 - 1].

The house edge on the field is 2.77%.

Taking another look at the Dice Combinations Table

There are 16 possible ways to make the numbers in the field.

There are 20 possible ways to make the numbers NOT in the field.

There are better and worse bets.

In casino games, the house offers proposition bets which are often not favored by experienced gamblers, as the house edge on them far exceeds the edge on the normal game.

Craps also has these proposition bets that offer higher payouts but again, at a higher house advantage.

A neat feature about these proposition bets is they can be made at anytime during the game—anytime except maybe while the dice are in mid roll.

The proposition bets are placed in the middle of the craps table with the craps stickman handling the bets, because he would proposition you to make that bet.

STICKMAN: “Get your eleven bets 15 to 1! C and E! Any Craps! Right here!”

Casino's offer a way to bet multiple bets at once.

Any Craps - C

Located at the very bottom of the Proposition area, and along the sides, it with the C inside a circle, the Any Craps bet—also called Craps—is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be either a 2, 3, or 12.

It pays $7 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 8 for 1; it still pays $7 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

C and E

Located to each side of the Proposition area with the C and E inside their own circle, the C and E bet is another way to bet Any Craps and Eleven on the next roll, and only the next roll

Some toss $2 and say “C and E” Thus putting a $1 on each of the craps and eleven bets. Why? Remember these are Proposition bets.

It pays $7 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 8 for 1; it still pays $7 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

Horn

Located just above the Any Craps bet, the Horn bet encompasses the 2, 3, 12, and 11 with a minimum bet of $4—$1 for each number on the next roll, and only the next roll. If the table layout does not have the horn bet, a player can still make one most often.

The Horn bet is basically betting the numbers individually, but the convenience of the Horn bet is not having to say “A dollar on the two. A dollar on the three. A dollar on the twelve. A dollar on the eleven.” Just toss the money and say “Horn” Some players toss a $5 chip and say, “Horn high Eleven.” So there will be $1 on each of the 2, 3, and 12, and $2 on the eleven. One can easily say “Horn high Three.”

There is no Horn pay-out like the Any Craps bet; each number has its own pay-out; (see 2. 3, 11, or 12).

Keep in mind that 3 out of the 4 bets will lose. If a 2 is rolled, and a $4 Horn bet was made, $3 is taken away, but the $1 on the 2 will win.

One can bet the numbers individually and at their discretion.

Seven

STICKMAN: “Seven out, line away” • “Five two, you’re all through” • “Big Red” • “Six ace, end of the race” • “Front line winner, back line skinner” • “Up pops the devil” • “Seven’s a bruiser, the front line’s a loser” • “Grab the money”
The Seven, or sometimes called Any Seven—there are some layouts that allow a player to bet a particular way the dice will come up as 7—is located at the top of the Proposition area; the Seven bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be a 7—Any Seven.

It pays $4 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 5 for 1; it still pays $4 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

2

STICKMAN: “Craps” • “Deuce” • “Sanke Eyes” • “Two aces” • “Rats eyes” • “Two craps two” • “dimples” • “Take the come double the field”
The 2 is located inside the Horn area; the 2 bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be a 2.

It pays $30 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 31 for 1; it still pays $30 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

3

STICKMAN: “Craps” • “Ace Deuce” • “Australian Eleven” • “Winner on the dark side” • “Three craps three” • “Three craps, ace caught a deuce, no use” • “Take the come pay the field”
The 3 is located inside the Horn area; the 3 bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be a 3.

It pays $15 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 16 for 1; it still pays $15 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

11

STICKMAN: “Yo Leven” • “Yo” • “Sixty-Five stayin' alive” • “Pass Go and collect”
The 11 is located inside the Horn area; the 11 bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be a 11.

It pays $15 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 16 for 1; it still pays $15 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

12

STICKMAN: “Craps” • “Boxcars” • “Atomic craps” • “A triple in the field” • “Midnight” • “Crapus Maximus” • “Push the don’t” • “All the spots we got” • “Take the come triple the field”
The 12 is located inside the Horn area; the 12 bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be a 12.

It pays $30 for every $1 wagered. Some tables may read 31 for 1; it still pays $30 whether they give back the $1 or not. (see semantics)

There are some unknown bets that at some Casino's they may still know them, but these are often gone with the true old-time gambler

The World

The World or Whirl, bet is similar to the Horn, but it includes the Seven in addition to the 2, 3, 11, and 12 bets betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will be either a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12. Each number has its own pay-out; (see 2. 3, 7, 11, or 12).

The minimum bet is $5 for the The World as it is basically putting a $1 bet on each of those numbers. Again, much easier saying “Five dollars on the World.” Instead of calling each number out.

Keep in mind that 4 out of the 5 bets will lose. If a 2 is rolled, and a $5 World bet was made, $4 is taken away, but the $1 on the 2 will win.

Hop Bets

A Hop bet is betting that the next roll, and only the next roll, will result in one particular combination of the dice—this is a rare bet and most Casino's do not offer this.

If a Casino is found that offers the Hop bet, making the Hop bet is as easy as saying, while tossing chips to the Stickman, “Hopping hard way four!” Or “Hopping seven!” Any number or combination can be called a Hop bet, such as, “Hopping four!”

The pay-out for the Hop bets are:

• Even numbers are paid $30 for every $1 wagered.
• odd number hop bets are paid $15 for every $1 wagered

Depending on the bets you make, the house edge in craps can vary from less than 1% to more than 16%. No other casino game offers such a great opportunity to make both wise and foolish bets. Here’s a quick comparison of the edge for each of the bets in craps.

BET: HOUSE HEDGE
Don’t pass line or don’t come (single odds): 0.68%
Pass line or come (single odds): 0.85%
Don’t pass line or don’t come (no odds): 1.36%
Place bets: 1.52% to 6.67%
Buy bets: 1.67% to 4.76%
Lay bets: 1.27% to 4.00%
Big 6 and 8: 9.09%
Hard ways: 9.09% to 11.11%
The field: 2.77% to 5.56%
Seven: 16.67%
Any craps: 11.11%
2 or 12: 13.89%
3 or 11: 11.11%
The horn: 12.50%
The world: 13.33%

The pass line at craps is one of the best bets in the entire casino. Combined with a single odds bet, which is available almost universally, the house edge on the pass line is less than 1%. This is better than every game except blackjack. With a 10× odds bet, available at many major casinos, the house edge drops to a razor-thin 0.18%, and thinner at a 100x table.

GAME: HOUSE HEDGE
Blackjack: 0.50%
Baccarat (banker): 1.06%
Craps (pass line with single odds): 0.85%
Craps (pass line with 10× odds): 0.18%
Craps (pass line with 100× odds): 0.1%
Keno: 25%
Roulette (double zero): 5.26%
Slots: 3% or more%