Craps Lingo And Basics
What is "craps"?
"Craps" is a dice game, which originated in England. When it arrived in the United States, it was often played along the Mississippi River by slaves. The game was originally called "crabs", but the heavy Southern accent twisted it from that to "craps". "Craps" is one of the most popular casino games played today.
What are the overall "odds" in craps?
Craps is a very interesting game because it has dozens upon dozens of bets. Some of the bets in craps are terrific, the house edge very low, somewhere around a half percent. Sometimes it's even less. Some of the bets in craps are horrendous, the house edge could be upwards of sixteen and two thirds percent. So you have a whole gammot of edges in the game of craps. If you bet the low house edge bets, craps is terrific. If you bet the high house edge bets, craps stinks.
Do certain bets on the craps table have better odds than others?
In the game of craps, you have "excellent bets" and "horrible bets". One of the best bets at the table is called the "pass line". The house edge is 1.4%, and that means, for every $100 you bet on the "pass line," you're only going to lose $1.40. However, a bet called the anti-7 or big red, sees the house edge rise to 16.67%. That means for every $100 you bet on big red, you're going to lose $16.67. So there's a reason why it's called big red. Your bankroll is going to be in the red.
Who is the "shooter"?
In craps, you have people who are merely betting, and one of the players is actually "shooting" the dice. Every player gets the opportunity to "shoot", but the person with the dice is called the "shooter".
What is the "point"?
The shooter establishes the "point" by rolling the dice on what's called the "come-out" roll. The "point" numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. The object of the game is to re-hit that "point" before a 7 shows. If the "point" is re-hit, the shooter continues to roll the dice, but if a seven is rolled, the dice are passed to the next shooter.
What are the "pass" and "don't pass" lines?
When a shooter gets the dice, he has a choice of betting the pass line or don't pass line, as do all the other players at the game. At the pass line, you're betting with the dice. If a point is established, four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten, that shooter or anyone else betting the pass line wants the point to be hit before a seven. However, if the gambler is betting the don't pass line, he wants to see the seven hit before the number. Then he wins. So on the pass line, you're betting with the dice. At the don't pass line you're betting against the dice.
What is the "come line"?
In the game of Craps there are a multitude of bets. A very good bet is called a "come bet". This bet acts just like a pass line bet. You put the come bet up; if seven or eleven is rolled you win. If a two, three, or twelve is rolled you lose. If it goes up on a number four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten, you now have to hit that number again, before a 7 shows, in order to win the come bet.
What is the "don't come" line?
The “don't come” bet functions very much like a “don't pass” bet; you're betting against the numbers. When you put your “don't come” up in the box, you're hoping to get up on a number, and that a seven is rolled and that number loses. That's a "don't come" bet.
What is the "come out roll"?
In the game of craps, when you first get the dice, you are on a "come out" roll. That means that you're rolling the dice in order to determine what the "point" is. On a "come out" roll, if you roll a seven or an eleven, you win; a two, three, or twelve you lose; and if you roll a four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten, then that becomes your "point" number. if you're a "don't pass" better, you're hoping a two or three rolls, but not a seven or eleven. When the number is established, you want that seven to hit, so the number loses, and you win
Once the shooter has his "point", how long does he roll?
In craps there's no time limit. When a shooter establishes his point, he can roll for as long as he wants to, as long he doesn't roll a seven. The world record was 14 rolls, before the player "sevened out". There is no time limit in craps, as long as you don't roll a seven.
What is the most basic betting strategy in craps?
The basic betting strategy in craps is very simple; you can either bet the "pass line", or bet the "don't pass" line. They have the lowest "house edges" of any bet in the game. If you're feeling more confident following these bets, then you place a bet called "the odds". "The odds" is a bet used behind the "pass-line", or on top of the "don't pass-line", and can help to lower the "house edge."
What is the "odds bet" or "backing up" my pass line bet?
The best bet at the game of craps is the bet that follows a previous bet. For example, if you're on the "pass-line", and "point" has been established, then you can take what are called "odds" on that number. After you've put you chips behind the "pass-line", the casino will pay you the exact odds of that bet, without a house edge. That bet has to be made after the "pass-line" bet is established though, and the casino has a slight edge on that aspect of it.
Is there a limit to how much I can "back up" my pass line bet?
In craps, every casino has its own rules on how much you can put behind a "pass-line" bet. Some casinos allow you to take "one times" odds, so if you have a $10 bet on the pass line, you can take $10 behind. Other casinos allow "two times", so you can take $20 behind. Up from that, other casinos move up to "twenty" or even "one hundred times" odds, it really depends on where you are. So, the amount that you can place behind your pass line bet will vary from casino to casino.
What are "true odds" in craps?
In craps, the "odds bet" is what's called a "true odds" bet; the casino is paying you the exact amount that it should pay you, and not taking any edge for itself. When you receive the exact amount you are owed, then that is "true odds."
Should I always back up my pass line bet to get true odds?
When you're betting on the pass line, you have to consider two things: "how much money do you have to play with?" and "how much money should you put on the pass line, and how much should you put behind it?" If you're going to be betting $25, for example, it's much safer to bet $5 on the "pass-line" and $20 behind. In that case, the $5 will lose you 7 cents, where the £25 would've lost you 35 cents; you're always better taking the odds. However, it has to fit into your bankroll. If you only have $15, you're not going to want to put it all on the line at once.
Can I take my odds bet off the table at any time?
In craps there are certain bets that, once they are made, have to stay on the table. Those are called "contract bets", and a "pass-line" bet is an example of one. However, the "odds bet", that you put behind it, is your discretion. The reason that the casino allow you to have this freedom is because they have no edge on it, so it doesn't interest them.
What are the "place bets", and how do they win me money?
There is another type of betting at craps aside from the pass and the don't pass, and the come and the don't come. These are called place bets. You get to tell the dealer, I want to bet on the 4, 5, 6, 9 or 1. These place bets are given to the dealer and he will place them directly on the number. Now, if that place bet number hits before a 7 is rolled you win your bet. If the 7 hits before the place bet number is rolled you lose the bet.
What does the number 7 have to do with the game of craps?
The game of craps revolves around a single number: 7. If you're betting with the shooter and hoping he hits his point, then you don't want to see the 7, but if you're betting against the shooter, you want that 7 to show. If you're a don't-pass better, on the comeout roll, the 7 loses you the money and if you're not, then the 7 makes you money. Seven is the most powerful number in the game of craps.
Can I move my "place bets" on and off the table?
In craps, the "place bets" are allowed to be put on the table, and taken off the table. They are not considered "contract bets", and you have the right to place a 4, place a 5, place a 9, place a 6, place an 8, and then, on the next roll, tell the dealer "take them down" or "turn them off;" you are in complete control of the place bets. Casinos allow you to "put them on" and "take them off" because they make a higher "house edge" on them.
Should I "cover" all of the "place bets"?
In the game of craps, you have what are called "action players"; they can't get enough action. They will place bet all the numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 1. They'll even bet crazy numbers like 2, 3, 11, and 12. My advice to you is don't go crazy and cover all place bets. You don't want to be a crazy craps player, because you're going to lose your money. I recommend you bet three numbers. Pass line and maybe two comebacks. But don't go crazy and cover all the place bets, at least until you've won some money.
What are the odds on each of the place bets?
Analyzing bets is interesting. For example, it's two-to-one for the four to show and it's two-to-one for the ten to show, but the casino does not pay those odds when you place those bets; It pays you nine to five. So, the odds on the place bets are correct, but the payouts do not reflect the odds.
What are "hard" and "soft" way bets?
In the game of craps there are certain bets called "proposition bets", with four of them being called "hard way bets". "Hardaway bets" are very simple, and refer to the number being rolled with a pair; two twos making a four, four fours making an eight and so on. All other numbers are considering "soft."
What are the "prop" bets, and what are the odds?
In the game of craps, you have some of the worst bets imaginable; these are called "proposition bets". You'll see a whole bunch of rotten numbers in the center of the table, these are those bets. Or, as my mentor the Captain, the greatest craps player who ever lived said, "These are crazy crapper bets because you'd have to be crazy to make them. The "house edges" on these bets, which include "any seven" or "big red", range from nine percent to sixteen and two-thirds percent. You're throwing your money away if you bet the "proposition" or "crazy crapper" bets.
What is a "Yo" bet?
A "yo bet" is an 11. The reason they say, “yo 11,” is so that you're not confused with a seven. The 11 is the "yo," and strangely enough, it has 11.11 percent "house edge".