How to Play Craps: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
If you’ve ever walked through a casino, you’ve probably seen the bustling, high-energy game of craps. But if you’re a beginner, you might be intimidated by the seemingly complicated rules and fast-paced gameplay. Fear not, for we’re here to guide you through the basics of how to play craps.
Understanding the Basics: Craps Terminology
Before we dive into the gameplay itself, it’s important to understand some basic terminology that you’ll hear at the craps table. Here are a few key terms to know:
Shooter: The player who is rolling the dice.
Pass Line: The area on the table where players can place bets on the shooter to win.
Don’t Pass Line: The area on the table where players can place bets against the shooter.
Come Bet: A bet placed after the come-out roll that the shooter will make the point before rolling a seven.
Don’t Come Bet: A bet placed after the come-out roll that the shooter will roll a seven before making the point.
Point: The number that the shooter needs to roll to win on the pass line bet.
How to Play Craps: The Gameplay
The objective of craps is to correctly predict the outcome of the shooter’s roll. The game begins with a come-out roll, where the shooter rolls the dice for the first time. Here’s how the rest of the gameplay works:
Place your bets: Before the come-out roll, players can place their bets on the pass line or don’t pass line. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, pass line bets win. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, don’t pass line bets win.
Come-out roll: The shooter rolls the dice. If they roll a 7 or 11, pass line bets win. If they roll a 2, 3, or 12, don’t pass line bets win. If the shooter rolls any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the point.
Point phase: The shooter continues to roll the dice until they either roll the point again (which results in a pass line win) or a 7 (which results in a don’t pass line win).
Betting on the point: After the point is established, players can place bets on the come or don’t come area of the table. If the shooter rolls the point before a 7, come bets win. If the shooter rolls a 7 before making the point, don’t come bets win.
Repeat: The game continues with the shooter rolling the dice and players placing bets on the pass line, don’t pass line, come, and don’t come areas of the table.
Tips for Playing Craps
Stick to the basic bets: While there are many different bets you can place in craps, it’s best to start with the pass line or don’t pass line bets until you become more familiar with the game.
Watch the other players: Craps is a social game, so it’s always a good idea to watch what the other players are doing and follow their lead.
Know when to stop: It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of craps, but it’s important to know when to walk away and come back another day.
