If you walk onto a casino floor, it is usually incredibly easy to locate the Craps pit; just follow the noise.
However, for a beginner, this massive, raucous table can be the most intimidating place in the entire building.
Furthermore, you do not need to understand 90% of the confusing bets on the table to play the game perfectly.
Let's learn how to throw the dice, understand the "Pass Line," and experience the most thrilling game on the casino floor.
How a Round of Craps Actually Works
To play Craps flawlessly, you only need to understand one single bet: The Pass Line.
On this initial Come-Out Roll, there are only three possible outcomes that immediately affect your Pass Line bet.
Outcome 2 (The Instant Loss): If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 (these numbers are called "Craps"), the table groans.
Rolling Craps on the Come-Out roll is an instant loser for the Pass Line. The dealer will sweep your chips away, and you must place a new bet for the next roll.
For example, if the shooter rolls an 8, the puck goes on the 8. The Come-Out phase is over, and the game enters the second phase.
What Happens After the Point is Established
The entire goal of the table is for the shooter to roll the Point number (an 8) again BEFORE they roll a 7.
If the shooter successfully rolls an 8, the table erupts in cheers! They "Hit the Point."
If the shooter rolls a 7 before they roll the Point (an 8), it is called "Sevening Out."
The dealer sweeps all the chips off the table, the shooter passes the dice to the next player in line, and the game resets.
The House Edge on the Pass Line bet is an incredibly low 1.41%, making it one of the absolute best bets in the entire casino.
The Best Bet in the Casino: The Free Odds Bet
Once a Point is established, the casino allows you to place an additional wager directly behind your original Pass Line bet (outside the printed line).
The Odds bet is the ONLY bet in the entire casino that carries a 0.00% House Edge.
If the Point is 5 or 9, the true odds are 3 to 2. The Odds bet pays exactly 3 to 2.
By backing your minimum Pass Line bet with massive Odds bets, you effectively dilute the casino's overall house edge down to a microscopic fraction of a percent.
Never play Craps without taking Odds. It is the smartest, most mathematically sound decision you can make in any casino on earth.
The Core Rules of Craps (A Quick Summary)
Phase 1: The Puck is "OFF". You are hoping the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11 to win instantly. The Danger Zone: During this phase, if the shooter rolls a 7, everybody loses (Sevening Out). The Payouts: The Odds bet pays true mathematical odds (2:1 for 4/10, 3:2 for 5/9, 6:5 for 6/8). The Sucker Bets: Ignore the center of the table completely. These bets carry massive house edges (often 10% to 16%).
The Dice Combinations Explained
Dice Total (The Roll)Number of Ways to Roll ItThe Probability (Out of 36) 4 or 10Only 3 ways eachHard points to hit, which is why the Odds bet pays a lucrative 2:1. 7 (The Most Important Number)6 ways (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1)The most mathematically probable roll with two six-sided dice. The True OddsThe payouts are based perfectly on these specific combinations.Understanding this table reveals the absolute genius behind the design of the Craps layout.
You only need to memorize two simple steps: Bet the Pass Line, and Take Odds behind it when the Point is established.
If you stick rigidly to this simple strategy, you will be playing with better odds than 95% of the other people in the casino.
Welcome to the most exciting, chaotic, and profitable fraternity in the casino world.