Typical Craps Playing

Hi all,

Just wanted to get a simple Craps understanding before I head to Vegas in August, so that I do not hold anyone up.

In a standard game, I bet the pass line for $10, a seven is rolled and my pass line bet wins @ 1:1. Correct?

Next, a 6 is rolled: Can I now place 6 or should I have done this before I rolled? In addition to this say I wanted to place 8 also would this be done before or after the six is rolled?

For a novice that does not want to lose his whole bank roll in ten minutes, can anyone recommend where I should place my chips (Say $35 laid out from a $500 per day bank roll) before the dice are rolled on a fresh shooter.

E.g. before dice are rolled $10 on pass, $12 on 6, $12 on 8 (close to $35).

I would just like to experience at least having one win.

If this makes no sense at all sorry, but if anyone could post what they weould do as soon as reaching the table (what bets they would place and where these chips go).

Thanks,

Scott,

You are probably going to get a lot of replies...some helpful and friendly - some maybe not so much. You would do well to try the Bovada Craps game that you can play for free to see how the game works. It will answer a lot of your questions.

However, here are a few basics;

1. Pass Line (7 or 11 on the come out [1st roll] is a winner paid at 1:1 NOT 2:1 - 2, 3 & 12 = instant loser)
2. Once a point has been established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) place an Odds bet behind your pass line bet...Try 2x your pass line bet.

Now you get to personal variations....

Some people like to make a Come bet (basically a new Pass line bet [different part of the table layout])
Some people like to place numbers like 6 & 8
And so on and so on.....

To have some fun I would suggest a Pass line bet with 2x odds - if you want more "action" than that a simple bet is to place the 6 or 8 at $6 increments.

There are some casinos that offer lower table limts than $5 - you may want to seek them out.

One further note....MANY craps players are very superstitious. Be a little reserved at the table until you get a feel for it...hands hung over the rail, throwing money on the table during a point, etc. are all ways to get people steamed up. If in doubt ask the dealer across from you...

I like to play several shorter sessions per day, perhaps an hour or two at a time. With $500 per day you may find that hard at a $10 table.

I hope you break the casino and remember your friends who gave you advice!

There are two ways to represent payoffs:

"Two for one" = "One to one" or more commonly just "Even Money"

"10 for 1" = "9 to 1"

"30 for 1" = "29 to 1"

In other words "for" means your total payoff including your original bet and "to" means in addition to your original bet. When represented in writing, unless otherwise mentioned, ":" in the form of "1:1" means "1 to 1".

This comes into play with hop bets. Casino A will say "30 to 1" and casino B will say "30 for 1" occasionally. Casino A is a better payoff.

Play the Don't Pass! Just kidding, wait until you've been playing a while to do that.

$10 on Pass line. If the point is a 4, 5, 9, 10, play $12 on the 6, $12 on the 8, 1x odds. That's $44 a point.

If the point is 6 or 8, play 2x odds and $12 on the one that isn't the point. That's $42 a point.

Those are all bets with lower than a 2% house edge, and you'll get 2-3 numbers that give you wins every roll.

$500 should last you awhile.

If you want to experiment, you can play Come, Don't Come or Don't Pass.

Any other bet you make will have a higher than 4% house edge.

I really recommend playing a craps simulator online, or downloading one like Wincraps, so you can see exactly what's going on at your leisure. Most even put the virtual chips in the same spot as real chips go on a real table.

Also, find a spot right next to the dealer so you can ask questions if you need to. Most dealers will be helpful, so remember to tip them.

Quote: ScottJD

where I should place my chips (Say $35 laid out from a $500 per day bank roll) before the dice are rolled on a fresh shooter.
E.g. before dice are rolled $10 on pass, $12 on 6, $12 on 8 (close to $35).

I'm not sure just what you are asking.

You put your chips in the rail directly in front of where you are standing.

You put your 10.00 passline bet on the pass line directly in front of you.
Later, you put your odds bet about two inches behind it.

You put your $24.00 in the Come area directly in front of where you are standing and
say to the Dealer "Place the Six and Eight", the dealer will take your chips from the Come Area
and properly position them on the Six and Eight, giving you change if needed. WATCH where
he positions your bets to make sure that it corresponds to where you are standing at the table.

Thanks for the help guys. Really appreciate it, sorry for the 2:1 error stupid of me.

I have a few iPhone apps for craps, although there is one thig that puzzles me. None seem to restrict me betting.

E.g if a table offers 3x4x5x odds, if I bet $10 on the pass line I shouldn't be allowed to bet $100 placing a number (for example) right? Or am I limiting the wrong bet?

Thanks

Odds bets and Place bets are totally separate and distinct bets.

At a ten dollar minimum table ... your minimum bet is ten dollars and if you try to make a ten dollar Place Bet on the six or Eight, the dealer will say to you "Throw me another two dollars"

If you want to make a Place bet for 100 that would be fine too.

The "odds bet" is simply an allowed bet that can be made at some table-dictated multiple such as 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, 100x.
You do not have to go as high as you can but it is wise to put as much of your money on the odds bet as possible.

3x4x5x is simply a unique odds multiplier that you will get the hang off in no time.

If you bet $10 on the pass line and a point number is established, you are then limited to $30, $40, or $50 as the free odds bet, depending upon which number is the point.

You can also bet the $100, if you like, as a place bet on any of the numbers. On that bet, you are only limited by the table maximum.

There are three kinds of limits that I can think of: specified table limits for maximum and minimum bets (usually on a placard on the table), unspecified limits for max and minimum bets (typically on proposition bets, where the limits may be different than those posted), and limits on the free odds bets. The first two kinds of limits are to keep people from betting too low or too high for the way the casino wants to operate their game. The free odds limit is different because that bet is the only bet on the table in which the casino doesn't have an advantage over the player. They limit the maximum free odds bet to a multiple of the pass line bet in order to make sure that you are giving them an advantage on a reasonable portion of the money that is in play.


Edit: Slow typing once again -- FleaStiff already covered it.

Ok so x3,x4&x5 would be in relation to the odds bet... Thanks.

Last question, promise, when placing the odds bet where do your chips go. E.g. I want to place an odds bet of 5x my pass bet = $50. Would I put $50 behind my original pass bet?

Thanks guys

Quote: ScottJD

Would I put $50 behind my original pass bet?

Yes, about two inches behind it, but still directly in front of you.

Perfect response - thanks

Quote: ScottJD

Perfect response - thanks

I really recommend this game by the Wizard himself, it explains all of the payoffs and shows in blue and red when you can and can't make certain bets. As others have said, with a 500 dollar bankroll per day you might want to try to find a 5 dollar table. I know it seems fine to play a 10 dollar table, but once you make a passline bet (10), odds (30-50), place the 6 and 8 (24), all of a sudden you have 64-84 dollars going on one roll. Craps is a lot of fun, but it can be a rollercoaster and I would hate to see you hit a cold streak and lose your daily money really quickly. Best of luck, give that game by the Wizard a shot.

https://wizardofvegas.com/games/craps/

Quote: winmonkeyspit3

I really recommend this game by the Wizard himself...https://wizardofvegas.com/games/craps/

also if you have never played Craps at a real table, the Wizard videos have a lot of tips for just that.

https://wizardofodds.com/video/

Quote: odiousgambit

also if you have never played Craps at a real table, the Wizard videos have a lot of tips for just that.

https://wizardofodds.com/video/

Not only are the videos perfect for the beginning player, watching the shooter really helps keep your attention. I guess Dan is too much of a gentleman to short stick her though. :-)

Thanks everyone I'll be sure to check them out.

My bankroll is about $5000 dollars for 6 nights, so ive budgeted $500 betting limit per night knowing that I'll get drunk and lose $1k on a couple of nights.

Betting limit used loosely.

Quote: ScottJD

For a novice that does not want to lose his whole bank roll in ten minutes, can anyone recommend where I should place my chips (Say $35 laid out from a $500 per day bank roll) before the dice are rolled on a fresh shooter.

E.g. before dice are rolled $10 on pass, $12 on 6, $12 on 8 (close to $35).

I would just like to experience at least having one win.

If this makes no sense at all sorry, but if anyone could post what they weould do as soon as reaching the table (what bets they would place and where these chips go).

Thanks,

That's a great method and you should get some good action with a $500 bankroll.

I would take $10 odds if the point is six or eight. Press on the odds if you get ahead.

Scott,

You've got some good responses on good strategies to play, and Fleastiff touched on procedural things. I'm a dealer myself, so let me give you the dealer prospective.

Craps is kinda like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. You gotta do things in the proper order or "NO BETS FOR YOU!" haha. So here's my recommendation. On your first session try to find one of the tables with the fewest players. Try to pick a side that has just one or two players. If the table is empty than you can just put your cash on the felt and buy-in (dealers cannot take things directly out of your hand). If there are players, patiently wait for the current shooter to "SEVEN-OUT" before putting your cash down. Like others have said, superstitious players could grumble at you. If the puck is "ON" and shooter rolls a seven then he just sevened out, the dealer will pick up all line bets and place bets.

When they hand off chips, put them in the rail in front of you. What others have said sound like a good move. $10 on pass line with 2x odds. Remember, the odds do not work on come-outs, so pick em up if the shooter made his point, (but leave the line bet there). DON"T stack a come out winner. What I mean is, you just won $10 on a comeout 11 (called a YO), and decide to bet twenty for the next roll. I see this all the time, but what you should do instead, is bet $10 more than you have been for odds.

If you want to place the 6 and 8, NEATLY stack your chips in the "come" area and tell the dealer what you want. Don't put money directly on numbers yourself. This is akin to grabbing cards right out of the shoe yourself, and dealing yourself your cards on blackjack. Everyone has a specific place on the bet, this is how the dealer keeps track of everybody. If you look at the box around the number, the top inside corner is where you'd be placed if you're standing right next to the stick person (dealer that sends the dice and calls the number), each player as they go around the table is placed along that top edge, moving outward, somewhere in the middle the next player would be on the lower edge, closest outside, with bets now moving inward, with the guy standing next to the base dealer (the dealer thats giving you your payouts) as the last bet on the lower inside corner. Does this make sense? Just remember payouts have a specific order. A passline winner the dealer pays "base to stick". Place bets are paid "stick to base". I hope that makes sense. If a guy has a come bet, he's paid first regardless of his position before all the place bets.

I would recommend just place bets to start. Come bets can be tricky. While they're better bets mathematically, they probably have a better chance of wiping out your bankroll in a short time. If you're placing the 6 and 8, remember these phrases: "Full press", "Press it", "Press one unit" "Same bet" "15 for 1". Full press and press it, technically mean the same thing. When the shooter rolls a 6, instead of paying you $14, the dealer gives you $2 and increases the 6 to $24. Press one unit, the bet would go from $12 to $18 getting $8 back or $18 to $24 getting $15 back. Same bet means you just want to collect the payout. If you start getting a lot of white, and you have a $14 payout from your six or eight you can drop a dollar and get $15, this is known as converting. These commands you want to say just a moment before the dealer gives you your payout.

When you're shooting, they'll slide you five dice, pick up two and keep them in ONE hand and OVER the table. Set your drink on the shelf under the rail before you begin. For some reason new players simply don't remember these rules. If you want to shoot with the other hand, set the dice down on the table, then pick up with the other hand. And the dice must hit the back wall. If the dice go off the table (which happens all the time) a lot of players will say "SAME DICE". This always slows down the game, and other players may tell you to take the same dice, I recommend letting them send the remaining four so you can select new dice. It'll keep the game going. If there are a lot of chips in play on the other side, try to avoid them as best you can. If you continually smash right into chips, spreading them everywhere, that other dealer gets a little ticked. Obviously they can't say anything, but the box person (the guy sitting down) may tell you "right down the middle" saying that he doesn't want you hitting the chips too much.



And most importantly TIP YOUR DEALERS. In my mind the best way for you and for them, is to put $1 on top of your line bet and make sure to say "Dealers on top" that way they know your going to tip. If the shooter makes his point, throw that extra $1 towards the box, leaving the original on top. You may decide to do this for come-out winners as well. Whether it's just for points, or all line winners is up to you. Hope this helps and isn't too long winded

Quote: ewjones080

If you look at the box around the number, the top inside corner is where you'd be placed if you're standing right next to the stick person (dealer that sends the dice and calls the number)

top inside corner is where your bets are placed if you are standing next to the base dealer, not the stick.
if you are standing next to the stick your bets are placed in the lower inside corner.

Scott, don't sweat it if that seems a bit overwhelming. Mr. Jones has some good stuff there, and I guess he knows you know a bit about Craps from your phone app, but IMO he has steered over into some things you don't need to know at first.

The etiquette stuff: don't skip over that from that post or from any video, etc., you will really be glad if you don't stick out as a newbie just because of that... bad thing for a male.

Quote: ewjones080

the odds do not work on come-outs, so pick em up if the shooter made his point

Jones, I think you mean "don't leave your odds winnings there"

I do not recommend picking up your odds once you place them there. It's the best bet you can make, and you can get into the habit of grabbing them when you get a hunch it is going to be 7-out; a bad habit that will have you grabbing them at the wrong time.

If it was a Come bet that went to making a point, the dealer is the only one who can touch the chips. There is no need to worry that the odds aren't working on a come-out that comes when your number is still up.... everybody knows that and the chips can just stay there. You can call them "on" but that is a pain at a busy, noisy table.

WongBo

You're right, I was stating from the dealers perspective, but to the player it would be upside down. But even when I'm playing, I think of my bet as the "top inside" standing next to stick, even though it's actually bottom inside.

Odious

You make a good point that you might get into the habit of picking up odds bets when you really shouldn't. But that is one thing that'll make you look like a newbie, leaving the odds bet when it's on a come-out. The dealers will probably state "You don't need that bet right now." It's kinda silly, because bets placed in that area aren't in action on the come-out anyway.

And yes, if I didn't mention enough about not touching money that is ON those numbers, DON"T touch that money, it's not yours to touch until you tell the dealer to take it down and he hands it off to you.


To the OP if you've been reading this, remember that place bets and come odds are OFF on the come-out, so you don't need to ask the dealer to take em down. I think new players catch on quickly that a seven winner on passline but losing place bets would be a bad thing, so they want to take em down. We always have to tell new players that their bets are off.

Quote: ScottJD

Just wanted to get a simple Craps understanding before I head to Vegas in August, so that I do not hold anyone up.

If you show up on a Friday or Saturday night things may be fast moving but even then the dealers will try to accommodate a newbie, but if you show up early in the day they will have plenty of time to slow things down for you and let you ask a zillion questions.

MOST casinos have lessons: some are on closed circuit TV in your room, most are on the casino floor around 11:00am, Noon or even in the early afternoon around 4:00 or 5:00pm. If you attend those lectures you get a brief intro, often a brochure and perhaps some special chips that let the dealers know you've just come from the lecture and will need a bit of extra help and extra patience. Often you can just stay at the same table as the lecture was held at and start playing there with the instructor (now your dealer) already knowing everyone is a newbie.

You can also just get up early in the morning and find a nearly empty table or one that seems fairly slow and tell the dealer you are in need of assistance. You do this with just one or two words: Newbie, Novice, "First Timer", "I'm not sure how to play" etc. The dealer and Box will hear you and understand to keep the pace slow and let you learn.

Do NOT be afraid of holding everyone else up... it happens. Its the dealers job to accommodate ALL players at the table and remember, that is YOUR money they are trying to take, so don't be afraid to ask questions about it. Don't try to delay things but also don't let them rush you. If you have a question ask the dealer. He will try to answer it when he can. He does things in a certain fixed order so give him some time.

The main thing is to keep track of your bets and don't get so caught up in the frenzy that you feel you have to be betting your money. You can slow down and make fewer bets, its okay.

You should have some idea about Pass, Come, Odds, Place Bets and Field Bets. Stay away from the Center Bets that the Stick Man keeps trying to get people to make: hardways, proposition bets, hop bets, etc.

Quote: ewjones080

If you're placing the 6 and 8, remember these phrases: "Full press", "Press it", "Press one unit" "Same bet" "15 for 1".

The most powerful words that a place better can say after a couple of hits is "take me down".

It's also the most difficult to say.

ScottJD, take it from me in YOUR situation I would stick to the slots or try Roulette and bet the column or dozens. craps is a fast game and YOU are going to be very confused with out help ESPECIALLY if it is a crowded table. I would get up early in the morning about 4 or 5 am and try and find a quite table if you can. Not that craps is that hard to learn but take the advice of another here and do a little practice BEFORE you hit the tables....remember this... the first time at this game in a brick and mortar casino is WILD & willy if it is prime time crowded!!.

if you really must go at it as a novice I would skip the pass line and place bet the inside #'s 5,6,8,9 AFTER the come out roll and after a few hits take the bets down by calling out to the dealer to Take down your place bets. ie once the come out # is made bet for example-- $10 -5; $12 (or $24) 6&8 and $10-9 . Put the chips down on the table in front of you while calling out to the dealer your place bets. HE will place them on the appropriate spot on the table for you....good Luck!!!

if you do play ---don't write back to me blaming me for your loss!!!! You really have a lot to learn and most folks today don't want to practice and read up before they hit this game. Even if you know what your doing in any casino game YOUR MOST LIKELY GOING TO LOSE without dicipline in your play! Sorry thats the way it is. Your going to get caught up in the glitz.....a crowded table is YOUR worst enemy cause once you get "slotted in" you won't want to leave for fear of not being able to get back into the game... but that just might be the time you should leave!!!.

Have fun anyway!! {READ, PRACTICE then learn read study more then practice more.... till you have "YOUR GAME" down pat and then you can perhaps get a slight edge so as to enjoy yourself}. REALLY.

If you can find a $5 table, play there first.

Look for the black/white button. White = On... that means the shooter has already established a point. Black = Off, the shooter has not rolled a point... its the 1st roll.

On the 1st roll 7 or 11 wins... 2-3-12 loses. If 4-5-6-8-9-10 is rolled, thats the point to make before a 7 is rolled The button will be White "On" and placed on the point. Your Pass line bet can have 5x such bet placed behind it as Free Odds.
If the shooter makes point before 7 you win. If the shooter rolls a 7 before the point, you lose all the odds and the pass line bet. Its important to remember that if you play the pass line, the odds of winning are against you, and all the other pass line players. Thats why you get more than even money on your "Free Odds"

As for playing numbers, I agree that 6 and 8 are your best choices, as the House has the smallest advantage. Every time a 6 or 8 is rolled before a 7, you win 7 for every 6 you bet. When the shooter rolls 7 these number bets lose.

The only other bet worth considering is a "Field" bet upon the numbers 2-3-4-9-10-11-12. This bet wins or loses (rolling 5-6-7-8) every roll. There is a bonus if a 2 or 12 is rolled. If the bonus is 3 to 1 on the 12 and 2 to 1 on the 2, the Field bet is a reletively good bet. DO NOT make a field bet if both the 2 and 12 pay 2 to 1.

If a point is rolled on the first roll, you can make a 2nd pass line bet upon the 2nd roll of the dice called a "Come" bet. It works exactly like a Pass Line bet, and you can make a Free Odds bet upon this come bet. Again, if the 2nd roll is a point, you can make another come bet upon the 3rd roll of the dice. Since the Come bet is exactly like a pass line bet, a come bet (only) will win if the roll is 7 or 11, and lose if the roll is 2-3-12. Your original pass line bet is NOT AFFECTED by the 2nd roll, UNLESS the shooter rolls a 7 or makes the original point.

IMHO a useful newcomer strategy is to make a pass line bet, if a point is rolled, make a come bet. DO NOT put odds on either wager until the 2nd roll is determined to be a 2nd point.
According to this strategy, if the second roll is 2-3-12, just put the Odds on the original pass line.
If the second roll is an 11, take the win from the come bet and let both bets stand as is.
If the 2nd roll is a 7, you have a push... the come bet wins: the Pass line bet loses.
As above, if the 2nd roll is a different point, then take full odds on both points.
Should the shooter roll the same point on the 2nd roll, your pass-line wins, and now your Come bet needs Free Odds. Also, make another Pass line bet.

GL&GG