New to Craps

Hi all,

Any help would be really appreciated. I have never played craps before and am heading to Vegas in November. I usually play BJ and slots. I have always wanted to play craps, with the help of numerous hours watching YouTube have picked up the basics to get me started.

My question is about minimum bets. Say I play a $10 table and make a $10 pass line bet and want to place the 6 and 8 after the point has been established do I have to bet a minimum of $12 dollars each or could I place $6 dollars on each. As I have already made a $10 minimum on the pass line. Also what would be the minimum for ATS bet and other prop bets

I hope that makes sense

Quote: Chris051183

Hi all,

Any help would be really appreciated. I have never played craps before and am heading to Vegas in November. I usually play BJ and slots. I have always wanted to play craps, with the help of numerous hours watching YouTube have picked up the basics to get me started.

My question is about minimum bets. Say I play a $10 table and make a $10 pass line bet and want to place the 6 and 8 after the point has been established do I have to bet a minimum of $12 dollars each or could I place $6 dollars on each. As I have already made a $10 minimum on the pass line. Also what would be the minimum for ATS bet and other prop bets

I hope that makes sense

Hi, Chris, and welcome.

I have been playing craps for a few years, but am not an expert compared to others here, so I welcome any corrections.

Pass/Don't Pass, Come/Don't Come, Place (ie your 6/8 question) Buy and Field bets are all table minimum at every place I've played. Note that 6/8 Place should be bet at $12 each on a $10 minimum or your wins will get short-paid.

Bets in front of the Stick that are one-roll bets, are a minimum of $1 on every table I've seen. That's C&E, Horn, Hardways, etc.

ATS, you'll have to ask or look at what's up there. Some places allow $1, some require $5 min, some want table min spread among the 3, (like $10 = 4-2-4 or 3-4-3). Firebet is $5 every place I've seen. Repeater (newly popular sidebet) varies as well. So ask if it's not obvious from other people's bets.

Beach said all the right stuff... but to simplify the answer: If the table has a $10 minimum bet EACH place that you lay your chips down has that as the minimum. So the numbers will each be $10 minimum. The 6 and 8 will be $12, btu the dealers will always correct you and ask for some $1 chips to make it right.

But as Beach said there are several other bets that are slightly different and don't require the $10 minimum bet. I personally never bet those.

In the end the dealers will always correct you and compared to other table games Craps is pretty friendly and there is time to get your bets set between throws. Have fun and good luck.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Hi, Chris, and welcome.

I have been playing craps for a few years, but am not an expert compared to others here, so I welcome any corrections.

Pass/Don't Pass, Come/Don't Come, Place (ie your 6/8 question) Buy and Field bets are all table minimum at every place I've played. Note that 6/8 Place should be bet at $12 each on a $10 minimum or your wins will get short-paid.

Bets in front of the Stick that are one-roll bets, are a minimum of $1 on every table I've seen. That's C&E, Horn, Hardways, etc.

ATS, you'll have to ask or look at what's up there. Some places allow $1, some require $5 min, some want table min spread among the 3, (like $10 = 4-2-4 or 3-4-3). Firebet is $5 every place I've seen. Repeater (newly popular sidebet) varies as well. So ask if it's not obvious from other people's bets.

Everything Babs said.

Plus the odds bets for your Pass & come bets must be at least the table minimum. However, if you are going to play the Don'ts, the odds bet minimums are typically the amount that would win the table minimum. So, if you place a $10 Don't Pass bet, your minimum odds bet would be $12 for a 6/8, $15 for a 5/9, and $20 for a 4/10.

Welcome to the forum. As has been said the main bets have table minimums, let's assume it a $5 table. That means you can put $5 on Pass, Don't Pass etc. However for placing 6 and 8's, the bet has to be a multiple of $6 (assuming they're not using 25c).

It sounds as if you understand Craps a little so later on might be happy to mix Pass with place bets. However it's best to stick to one or the other until you're happy how they work.

Some people would prefer only making Pass (possibly with some Come) bets. They might also make Odds bets (which are $5 min on 4/6/8/10 or $6 on 5/9). Some people prefer placing the 6 and 8. I think the latter are easier to handle on your first session; you can follow the play and gradually see how the Pass bet works while still having a game. If you're offered the dice just make a Pass line bet and hopefully enjoy a long roll!

At later sessions, for more action you can combine both. Even later on some brave souls even press their place bets, so they win a lot on a hot roll but don't tend to win very often. There are a few who prefer to play Don't Pass (or Don't Come); mathematically they are better bets, but it isn't fun if there's a hot shooter.

The key advice most people here would give is to avoid the "sucker" bets, those with a higher house edge.

It has never come up for me so I do not want to answer for the pass/dp. But any place I have been the prop bets are $1 minimum no matter the table minimum. Of course ask if you are not sure.

One piece of advice is if you have never played before play at off-hours your first few sessions. Craps dealers tend to like to show what they know, but if it is busy they simply cannot give you curb service. OTOH, if you go at say 11:00 AM and you are the only one at the table they can explain things and do not have a Boxman and Pit Boss breaking their chops to get 60-80 rolls an hour.

One thing, though, don't be a total novice. You said you have watched YT, great! Play some online simulations as well, at least 2-3 hours worth.

One other thing I can say as someone who has taught many, many people. Do not try to make every bet the first session. Get comfortable with just a few. In hundreds of hours of teaching people I can count on my hands the people who know all the bets. I have never seen someone learn more than 2-3 bets their first session no matter how smart they are, and I have worked parties where I taught some near geniuses. I'm talking top-tier colleges and tech-type companies. So I'd say learn your free odds and place bets first time. Build from there. This will also stretch your bankroll.

Babs pretty much hit the nail on the head.

In regard to your $6 6/8 question: nope. They have to be $12 each ona $10 table.

The crap in the middle is high house edge which is why they allow them at $1.



You can SOMETIMES bet the 6/8 for $24 each at a $25 table, but only if you’re making other bets as well. If you also make toke bets, that’ll increase the odds that they’ll allow it. YMMV.

All advice good so far which, in spite of this site's general reliability when it comes to advice, when it comes to Craps that sometimes breaks down

Everybody forgets the etiquette things as it has become second nature to them, but maybe because I really hate making the mistakes more than most I do remember to say: learn the etiquette too

you can google 'craps etiquette' and I might take the time to add some particular advice later - have to sign out now

You could probably get away with betting $6 on the 4, 10 and $8 on the 5, 9 and $10 on the 6, 8 all of which pay $12 as odds bets on a $10 table. Dealer might say "betting odds for less."

Quote: odiousgambit

All advice good so far which, in spite of this site's general reliability when it comes to advice, when it comes to Craps that sometimes breaks down

Everybody forgets the etiquette things as it has become second nature to them, but maybe because I really hate making the mistakes more than most I do remember to say: learn the etiquette too

you can google 'craps etiquette' and I might take the time to add some particular advice later - have to sign out now

Great point about the etiquette, OG! Mission wrote a whole article about it a few years back.

Quote: AZDuffman

. . . if you have never played before play at off-hours your first few sessions. Craps dealers tend to like to show what they know, but if it is busy they simply cannot give you curb service.

And don't be timid about admitting you are a neophyte. Watch the Wizards videos on how to buy chips, where to keep your chips. The crew positions your bet based on which section of the rail your chips are in, so as things get more hectic you may have to double check the payouts.

And don't forget that MINIMUM BET relates to bets made by and for various players; toke bets for the dealers can be as low as one dollar, even if on the pass line. Dealers like toke bets and although it may not help you, it will never hurt you.

good advice

Quote: FleaStiff

And don't be timid about admitting you are a neophyte. Watch the Wizards videos on how to buy chips, where to keep your chips.

your min bet on the 6 or 8 would be $12 so it pays $14. (every $6 wagered pays $7 on a win)
IF you have only $20 left to your name, tell and the dealers will allow a $10 min bet on Place 6 or Place 8. It will only pay $11 on a win at most casinos (suffers breakage), but then use that to get to $12 on each.

ALWAYS know where the dice are at. ESPECIALLY when you are GREEN!
never place your hands down into the table area without knowing where the dice are.
that will make you 'look like an expert' real fast.
good luck

My two cents,

Definitely don't show up not knowing the middle table bets are sucker bets. If you accomplish this you are head and shoulders above most everybody else there, including most all the old veterans

Here are some of the etiquette things that are important but don't get mentioned a lot:

*the first thing you do walking up to the table is see if the puck is On or Off, and know what that means. You can really embarrass yourself if you make a Don't Pass bet when the puck is On. Other bets also are, or are not, made depending on On or Off. 

*to roll you use only one hand, never two, and you don't bring the dice back to the rail; the dealers need to see the dice, that no dice switch was possible

*you need to place a pass or don't pass bet to roll the dice; your turn can come quickly as sometimes players don't want to roll. Whose turn it is goes clockwise around the table. you will be offered 5 dice, pick two and throw... or say you don't want to roll 

*you have to throw the dice all the way to the other end, hitting the wall; try to miss other's chips

*the best time for a newbie is to buy in is when the puck is Off and the dice are in the middle of the table. Definitely don't buy in while someone is shooting, and if you note the dice have been returned to the middle of the table you can be sure of this

*to buy in, put the money in the big area that says 'Come' . I like to say "chips please, no action" if I buy in while the puck is On. I only do this when my side of the table is all settled but the other side is still settling bets. If the puck is On , some dealers are uptight about what bet you want and will ask, being used to the players who call bets out at the same time they buy in. So you can see why I think a newbie should really just wait for the puck to be Off with dice in the middle. 

*Don't talk to the other players about how they are betting, or take advice what to bet. You will see a lot of dumb betting, just say nothing. 

*Do everything the dealers say to do except do not follow their advice as to what to bet

PS: one more, if you decide you want to quit and you still have a lot of chips, wait till the puck is Off with dice in the middle, and put your chips in the Come area, saying "Color up please". They want your low denomination chips anyway, but if you have too many and you try to carry them off without coloring up [exchanging for fewer chips] you may be the guy who drops them all over the place heading for the cashier. Classic rookie mistake!

Of course there's a lot of good info on this site, but I'd also recommend the book by Richard Orlyn... Short, easy-reading, and you can be playing in a smart way with confidence pretty quickly with his guidance.

Quote: FleaStiff

And don't be timid about admitting you are a neophyte. Watch the Wizards videos on how to buy chips, where to keep your chips. The crew positions your bet based on which section of the rail your chips are in, so as things get more hectic you may have to double check the payouts.

If I may add to that.....

1. Chips go on the rail and only on the rail. I worked next to a girl who lost like $50 because she left them on the felt. She was complaining that the dealer said, "IF IT LAYS IT PLAYS!" I had to tell her while he was a tad jerkey he was right. When I deal the parties it amazes me when people do not grasp that the rail holds cheques. See the shape? People do all kinds of things.

2. That being said, put your cheques together tight, preferably one side touching the little divider if you can, and your hand should gently lay on top of them. Do this at crowded tables, thieves are everywhere and they look for new, weak players like lions look for weak antelope. Oh, and higher denominations go in the middle, whites on the end. The rail is no place for integration. Again, makes them harder to steal.

3. Don't buy in during a roll and do not get upset if you are told to wait to buy in. Dealers have procedure to follow, they will get to you.

4. If I did not say earlier, a craps table is like the floor of the NYSE. Things follow procedure and there is a ton of verbal shorthand. Why I very strongly suggest go when the table is empty. It takes good dealers 1-200 hours or more to get this down, as a new player you can and will get run over if you go to a crowded table. I have seen Pit Bosses tell newbies maybe they should try something else.

Quote: ECoaster

Of course there's a lot of good info on this site, but I'd also recommend the book by Richard Orlyn... Short, easy-reading, and you can be playing in a smart way with confidence pretty quickly with his guidance.

I strongly 2nd that motion! Orlyn's "No Nonsense Craps," (avail. @ Amazon) is the 1st book I read, knowing nothing about craps. It at least made me confident to walk up to a table for the 1st time. The advice on the Internet & in forums is good, but it's piecemeal.

The book that I recommend to newbies is "Craps: Take the Money and Run" by Tamburin.

The dealers should correct you if you do not make the 6/8 place bets a multiple of 6, but they do not always do that. Just like they should correct you if you makes the odds bet on 5/9 an odd amount. But there is no requirement that they have to. And, if you find a table with a Big 6 or Big 8 bet, avoid this bet like the plague!

Quote: Duane

The dealers should correct you if you do . . . . .

Yes. Dealers should correct you if you do anything wrong, but crews can get lazy or distracted or the table can simply get busy. Sometimes crews have signed up for the Early Out list, which means they want to go home after six hours rather than eight hours, if things are rather slow. That is one reason I advocate some early toke bets. It keeps the dealers interested in your welfare even if each and every one of your toke bets loses.


>>>>> And, if you find a table with a Big 6 or Big 8 bet, avoid this bet like the plague!
Definitely.

Quote: FleaStiff

>>>>> And, if you find a table with a Big 6 or Big 8 bet, avoid this bet like the plague!
Definitely.

When I teach people I tell them this is the stupidest (not "worst") bet in the casino. The party table has this bet, and people always want to play it. Now, the scary part is how few people understand basic odds in the first place. I ask, "which would you rather get, 1:1 or 7:6?"

I do not expect people to be able to explain point spreads and juice on a sports bet. But this is fairly basic stuff. It tells me we are failing in how we teach math in the USA. All these problems of "if A left at 12:00 and B left at 1:00.........*" but odds are important to understand.


*---If I was back in school I would answer "if B had been ready to leave when her husband said they had to be ready it would not matter."