The game of Craps is played with a set of two red dice, each die with six faces numbered 1 through 6. The game is played by tossing both dice from one of the
short ends of the table to the other, making sure that both dice hit the
opposite side wall of the table, payoffs are made based on the number
combination displayed when the dice come to rest. Each throw of the dice is called a “roll”.
Players take turn rolling the dice, clockwise around the table, and the player
rolling at any given time is called the “shooter”. When a new shooter is given
the dice their first roll of the dice is called the “come out” roll. This begins a new
series of rolls by that shooter .The player remains the shooter as long as they continue
to make winning rolls.
A new game in Craps begins with the come out roll. A come out
roll can be made only if the table is empty and a new player, or
players walk up or the previous
shooter fails to make a winning roll (Also known as “not making the
point” or “seven out”).
On the come out roll, a “pass line” bet loses if the shooter
rolls 2, 3 or 12 (Known as “rolling craps”) . The bet wins if a 7 or an 11 is
rolled. If the shooter rolls either 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 then
winning your bet now depends on whether the shooter will roll this same number
again before rolling any 7. Rolling any of these numbers on the come out roll is
referred to “establishing the point”. Any number so rolled is thereafter
referred to as the “point”.
The dealers then identify the point number by moving a black and
white puck to the point number (The puck is white on one side and black on the
other). The white side is face up. The puck stays on this point until the shooter
either rolls the point number again (Wins) or throws a 7 (Loses). Once this happens the puck is
moved to the don’t come bar 12 area, and turned black side up. The puck lets
players know the state of the game –
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White side up over a number indicates the game is in progress.
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Black
side up means there will be a new shooter and a new come out roll.
Winning or losing in Craps depends on a variety of different
possible outcomes on any roll of the two dice. The two dice can produce many different number
combinations; some can be made several ways, others only one way. For example,
the number 6 can be rolled several ways but 2 can only be rolled one way.
However numbers such as 6 don’t pay as much as numbers which can be rolled only
one way, unless you are betting that the number will be rolled in a specific
way, such has a pair of 2s. These are known as Hardways.
Players have a wide variety of bets available. However beginners
should bet that the shooter will make winning rolls, or
that they won’t. Betting with the shooter is also referred to as “betting right”
while betting that the shooter does not make winning rolls is called “betting wrong”. To bet with the shooter, you place your bet in an area marked
“pass line”. To bet against the
shooter, place your bet in an area marked “don’t pass”.
If a point is established by the shooter you also have an option
of placing an additional bet along with your pass line bet. This is referred to “taking odds”.
It is possible to bet up to double the amount of your pass line bet. This is
called “taking full odds”.
Betting the don’t pass line is the exact opposite of betting
the pass line. If you place a “don’t pass” bet on the come out roll, the bet wins if
the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 and loses on 7 and 11. However the game is tied if a
12 is rolled. Your don’t pass bet neither wins nor loses. The fate of the bet is
decided in subsequent rolls. If a point is established then your bet stays
in action. To win the shooter must roll a 7 before the shooter rolls the
point. Like a pass line bet you can also take odds on a don’t
pass bet.