The rules of craps

Craps is a very popular dice game in land-based casinos. The object of the game is to anticipate the score that the player will achieve by rolling the two dice. The betting possibilities are varied, and you can choose to play against other players or against the bank.

The course of a Craps game

A craps game consists of two steps: the initial roll of the dice called the "come out roll" and the second roll (made according to the score of the first roll) called the "point". Here's how a craps game is played:

All the players around the table place their bets and the shooter (one of the players at the table) throws them once for the "come out roll", there are 3 possible cases:

• If the result is "natural" (7 or 11), Pass Line bets win and Don't Pass Bar bets lose. The game round is over and a new round starts with the same shooter.

• If the result is craps (2, 3 or 12), Pass Line bets lose, and Don't Pass Bar bets win. The game round is over and a new round begins with the next shooter. If the shooter rolls a 12, then the shooter keeps the hand and will be the shooter for the next round.

• If the result is another score (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), the "point" is established and the game continues with new throws.

This first throw is considered the "OFF" phase.

If the "point" is established, the player throws the dice again to try to redo the point, there are 3 possible cases:

• If the player manages to re-establish the "point" (the same score as on the first roll) before the 7 falls, Pass Line bets win and Don't Pass Bar bets lose. A new game can then start with the same shooter.

• If the player makes the "natural" (7) before making the "point", Don't Pass Bar bets win and Pass Line bets lose. A new game can then start with the next shooter.

• If the player does not make either the "point" or the "natural" (7) then the shooter starts over and rolls the dice until he rolls either the "natural" (7) or the "point".

This second roll is considered the "ON" phase.

The different types of craps bets

In the previous point, we saw the classic bets available in craps, but there are plenty of others. It is even possible to make a bet after the first roll.

• Pass : - Bet placed before the first roll (phase "OFF") on the "PASS LINE" area -You cannot bet on "Pass Line" if you have already bet on "Don't Pass Bar" - You win if the shooter makes a "natural" (7) or a "pass" (11) in the "OFF" phase or the "point" in the "ON" phase - You lose if the shooter makes a "craps" (2, 3 or 12) in the "OFF" phase or "natural" (7) in the "ON" phase - When you win, the winnings are one time your bet

• Don't Pass : - Bet placed before the first throw (phase "OFF") on the zone "DON'T PASS BAR". - You cannot bet on "Don't Pass" if you have already bet on "Pass" - You win if the shooter rolls craps (2, 3 or 12) in the OFF phase or natural (7) in the ON phase - You lose if the shooter makes a "natural" (7) or a "pass" (11) in the "OFF" phase or the "point" in the "ON" phase - When you win, the winnings are one your the bet

• Come : - Bet placed on the "COME" zone before each additional throw ("ON" phase) - You win if the shooter makes a natural (7) or a pass (11) - You lose if the shooter throws craps (2, 3 or 12) - When you win, the winnings are one time your bet - If the shooter makes a "point" (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) then the bet on the "COME" area is moved to the "BUY BET" area of the "point" that fell. This bet can no longer be removed

• Don't Come : - Bet placed before each additional throw (phase "ON") on the "DON'T COME BAR" area - You win if the shooter rolls craps (2, 3 or 12) - You lose if the shooter makes a natural (7) or a pass (11) - When you win, the winnings are one time your bet - If the shooter makes a "point" (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) then the bet on the "DON'T COME BAR" area is moved to the "LAY BET" area of the "point" that fell. This bet can no longer be removed

• Buy Bet : - Bet placed in the center of the square of one of the "points" (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) at any time during the game - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player unless the bet has been transferred from the "COME" area - You win if the chosen "point" comes out before the "natural" (7) - You lose if the "natural" (7) comes out before the chosen "point" - When you win, the winnings are calculated based on the point selected minus 5% casino commission (varies by the casino)

• Lay Bet : - Bet placed on one of the "points" (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) at the top of the square at any time during the game. - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player unless the bet has been transferred from the "DON'T COME BAR" area - You win if the "natural" (7) comes out before the chosen "point" - You lose if the chosen "point" comes out before the "natural" (7) - When you win, the winnings are calculated based on the point selected minus 5% casino commission (varies by the casino)

• Place Win : - Bet placed one of the "points" on the lower strip of the square at any time during the game - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player - You win if the chosen "point" comes out before the "natural" (7) - You lose if the "natural" (7) comes out before the chosen "point" - When you win, the winnings are calculated according to the chosen point (varies by the casino)

• Place Lose : - Bet placed one of the "dots" on the upper strip of the square at any time during the game - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player - You win if the "natural" (7) comes out before the chosen "point" - You lose if the chosen "point" comes out before the "natural" (7) - When you win, the winnings are calculated according to the chosen point (varies by the casino)

• Hardway 4 (2+2) : - Bet placed on the double 2 (2+2) square at any time during the game - This bet is valid only for the next throw - You win if the double 2 (2+2) comes out - You lose if the double 2 (2+2) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 7 times your bet

• Hardway 6 (3+3) : - Bet placed on the double 3 (3+3) square at any time during the game - This bet is valid only for the next throw - You win if the double 3 (3+3) comes out - You lose if the double 3 (3+3) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 9 times your bet

• Hardway 8 (4+4) : - Bet placed on the double 4 (4+4) square at any time during the game - This bet is valid only for the next throw - You win if the double 4 (4+4) comes out - You lose if the double 4 (4+4) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 9 times your bet

• Hardway 10 (5+5) : - Bet placed on the double 5 (5+5) square at any time during the game - This bet is valid only for the next throw - You win if the double 5 (5+5) comes out - You lose if the double 5 (5+5) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 7 times your bet

• Field : - Bet placed on the "FIELD" zone at any time during the game - You win if the shooter shoots 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 - You lose if the shooter shoots 5, 6, 7 or 8 - When you win, winnings are 1x your bet except when the shooter shoots 2 or 12, then winnings are 2 times your bet

• Big 6 : - Bet placed on the 6 on the left of the inscription "BIG" at any time during the game - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player. - You win if the 6 spells before the "natural" (7) - You lose if the "natural" (7) comes out before the 6 - When you win, the winnings are one time your bet

• Big 8 : - Bet placed on the 8 to the right of the inscription "BIG" at any time during the game - The bet can be withdrawn at any time by the player - You win if the 8 comes out before the "natural" (7) - You lose if the "natural" (7) comes out before the 8 - When you win, the winnings are one time your bet

• Any seven : - Bet placed on the "SEVEN" zone at any time of the game - You win if the "natural" (7) comes out - You lose if the "natural" (7) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 4 times your bet

• Horn 2 : - Bet placed on the "HORN 2" square (1+1) at any time during the game - You win if the "HORN 2" (1+1) comes out - You lose if the "HORN 2" (1+1) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 30 times your bet

• Horn 3 : - Bet placed on the "HORN 3" square (2+1) at any time during the game - You win if the "HORN 3" (2+1) comes out - You lose if the "HORN 3" (2+1) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 15 times your bet

• Horn 11 : - Bet placed on the "HORN 11" square (6+5) at any time during the game - You win if the "HORN 11" (6+5) comes out - You lose if the "HORN 11" (6+5) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 15 times your bet

• Horn 12 : - Bet placed on the "HORN 12" square (6+6) at any time during the game - You win if the "HORN 12" (6+6) comes out - You lose if the "HORN 12" (6+6) does not come out - When you win, the winnings are 30 times your bet

• Any Craps : - Bet placed on the "ANY CRAPS" box at any time during the game - You win if craps comes out (2, 3 or 12) - You lose if no craps comes out (2, 3 or 12) - When you win, the winnings are 7 times your bet

Why should you know the rules before you play craps?

A game of craps is pretty easy to follow in the basics. But as you've probably seen, you need to understand all the tricks of the game to take advantage of it. Indeed, there are different bets that give you a better advantage over the casino than others. Some of them are simple to understand, but others are quite subtle and require a little time of study before you assimilate them. In addition, the latter are often the bets that will allow you to reduce the casino's advantage in a non-negligible way. We, therefore, advise you not to abandon the study of the most complicated bets to understand (Pass Line, Don't Pass Bar, Come, Don't Come Bar, ...).

FAQ: Questions about craps

Is it possible to play craps online?

The land-based version of craps is very well known and popular among casino players. There are craps video games that allow you to play it. Unfortunately, there is no "live" version of this game.

What is the best online casino to play craps at?

Currently, the best online casino available to play craps is our partner Cbet. If you wish to play craps, we recommend that you go there. At the moment the craps providers at Cbet are Microgaming and BetSoft.

How do I maximize my chances of winning at craps?

Some of the bets we explained above are more advantageous for the player, however, they are the most complicated to understand. They can considerably reduce the casino's advantage over the player (Pass Line, Don't Pass Bar, Come, Don't Come Bar, ...).