According to probability, the best possible bet in craps is simple. The odds say that you’ll always have the best chance at winning money by betting the “don’t pass” or the “don’t come” line after the shooter rolls the point, and taking the maximum odds.
Great. Now what is “the point,” how do the odds work, and what is all this gibberish that the people crowded around the table are yelling?
Even if you come in with a good understanding of how everything works, the craps table can initially be pretty intimidating. Even though the best bet is a simple one to remember, it’s still one of the most complicated games on the casino floor, and it can be hard to follow the action and keep all of the etiquette in mind.
This guide attempts to simplify things as much as possible for those that want to give themselves the best possible chance of winning money, but who also want to enjoy the social aspect of the game. The first step is simply in learning the basics of how everything works. You’ll then move on to practicing on a virtual machine before stepping up to a real table.
The Basics of Betting
The fundamentals of craps are simple. People take turns rolling a pair of dice, and the person currently rolling is the “shooter.” The shooter is required to bet whatever the table minimum is on either the “pass” or the “don’t pass” line. These are the simplest bets on the table. With a pass bet, you win automatically if the shooter rolls 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, however, the pass bets lose and the don’t pass bets win. If any other number is rolled, that number is established as “the point,” and play continues without any bets being paid. The shooter must now engage in a series of rolls until they either hit a 7 or hit the point. If they hit the point first, the pass line bets win. If they hit the 7 first, the don’t pass line bets win.
The “odds” in craps are not a probability of winning; they are a side bet that can only be made after the point has been established. The interesting thing about the odds is that they are one of the only bets you will ever see on a casino floor that does not favor the house at all. This is why so many people are attracted to craps. There is an exactly even probability of either side winning the bet. The only limitation is that the house will cap the amount you can bet on the odds, in a way that usually gives the player six times the current pass line wager in return. If you want to bet against the point, it’s called “laying the odds.” If you want to bet with the point, it’s called “taking the odds.”
The place where craps gets complicated is in all the exotic side bets that clutter up the table. For the most part, however, you can just ignore these unless you want to fool around and have fun.
Virtual Practice
The best place to get used to betting is on a virtual machine. These can be found on casino floors, and were once somewhat rare but are starting to appear with increased frequency. They are collectively referred to as “bubble craps,” and some of the most commonly seen brands include the Aruze “Shoot To Win” and the Interblock “Organic Craps” machine. You interact with them through a virtual screen, but there is an actual bubble pit in the middle that rolls real oversized dice in place of a shooter. They’re usually designed for up to six to eight people to play simultaneously at individual seats with individual screens.
The rules of craps and the types of bets are the same with these machines, but they move at a slower pace and without the pressure of the crowds of other people thronging a live table. You can learn how to place bets with these machines at lower cost, as they do not have the table minimums that are common to live tables. Usually the minimum bet at a machine will be $1, whereas live tables usually have a minimum of $5 if not $10.
Table Etiquette and Lingo
So you’ve got your betting strategy down, and you’ve put it to the test at a bubble machine. Now it’s time to learn how to handle the table.
Placing a bet is pretty straightforward. Place your chips near the dealer and ask for the line that you want. You’ll quickly get a sense of how things are done just by watching a game for a few rolls. The only thing that complicates the whole affair is the special terminology used at the table. There’s a long list of terms, but a few are most commonly used at casinos throughout the world. Each location may have its own local terminology, which you can pick up simply by hanging around the table and watching some rolls.
One custom of craps that is important is that the word “yo” is used in place of 11, so that the dealer does not mishear it as seven. The dealers are often called the “boys,” and the man who sits at the middle of the table and supervises the game is the “boxman.” If the dealer makes a mistake, which does happen with some regularity due to the pace of the game and the surrounding noise, the boxman is who you’ll want to politely address if the dealer does not make it right.
Some special terms are used when certain numbers come up. You might hear the term “big red” used in place of 7, as there used to be a common superstition about not saying “seven” at the table, although this is more infrequent now. A roll of 12 might be called “midnight” or a “boxcar.” “Box numbers” refer to all those that establish a point. A pair of 2s is a “little Joe.” And when a 7 or 11 is thrown on the shooter’s initial roll, that’s referred to as a “natural.”
There are other special terms that serve as shorthand for certain types of bets. “Any craps” is a bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12. “Aces” means the bettor thinks the next roll will be “snake eyes,” or a pair of 1s. A “hi-lo” pays the bettor if the dice total either 2 or 12, and a “hi-lo-yo” adds 11 to the mix. And if you’re referred to as a “wrong bettor” don’t take offense; this is just shorthand to indicate that you’ve bet against whatever wager the current shooter has made.
In terms of etiquette, there are just a few common-sense things to keep in mind. While betting “don’t pass” is the statistically smartest play, it’s also not very popular and not seen as much fun. People won’t mind if you do it, unless you start celebrating when you’re winning and everyone else is losing. So don’t do that. Also, don’t put your drink or chips on the side of the table. You’re provided with a rack for chips, and a small shelf under the rack to place drinks, phones or whatever else.
Casinos also have strict rules about how the dice are handled. A lot of stuff commonly seen in movies, like blowing on or kissing the dice, in reality is prohibited. Don’t do anything with the dice but roll them, and don’t put them out of sight while you’re handling them.
As far as the roll goes when you’re the shooter, all you need to do is hit the back of the table with the dice. It doesn’t matter how they get there. Many people prefer an artful lob, but simply rolling them all the way back is fine too. When someone else is shooting, don’t touch the table.
A Final Note About Comps
Craps offers some tantalizing bets if you’re looking to put money in your pocket, and it’s also one of the most fun and social games in the house if you’re just looking to have a good time. The one area where it’s not so good is for comps, however, at least not if you’re making the smartest bets possible. Since the odds offer no house advantage, many casinos also offer no comps for betting them.
