Craps is a very exciting and fast paced casino table game, and is now enjoyed by millions of players online. In a land based casino you can often hear the craps table before you see it, as players and onlookers alike crowd around and cheer on the shooter. The excitement of craps has made the switch along with the game to the world of online casinos, and although playing in a land based casino may seem a little daunting to the uninitiated, playing online means that you may play at your own pace, and take your time to learn this fascinating game. Contrary to how the game of craps may appear, it is in fact a fairly simple game to play, and although there may be many wagering options available, by sticking to the basic bet types to begin with, the game is quickly picked up.
Craps - Keeping it Simple
Craps players enjoy a very low house edge, a little as 0.3% when optimal strategy is used, however, let’s stick to the basics and get you to that craps table. Think of craps as a rounds based game, and each round begins with the first roll of the dice, which is known as the ‘come out’ roll. Before this roll is made, players can make a few bets, such as the most popular bets of pass, don’t pass, come and don’t come, and these will be explained as you continue reading.
The Come Out Roll
The shooter rolls the dice for the first time, and if they roll a 7,11,2,3 or 12 then the bet types mentioned above are paid, and a new round will begin, with a new shooter. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, then the pass bet wins, a 2,3 or 12 means that the pass bet loses. Don’t pass bets are almost the opposite, with a 1 or 11 resulting in a loss, a 2 or 3 in a win however a 2 will be a push. Come and don’t come bets are exactly the same, but they may be made before or after the come out roll.
After the Come Out Roll
If any other number than the ones mentioned above is rolled, then this number then becomes the ‘point’ number. Let’s say that a 4 is rolled, and 4 becomes the point number. At this stage of the game, there are only two important numbers is this particular game of craps, the point number, 4, and the number 7. The shooter then needs to roll the dice again, and remembering that all other numbers apart from the point (4) and 7 do not matter in the game they roll until they either roll a 7 or a 4. If a 7 is rolled before the point number then don’t pass bets will win, and if the point is rolled before a 7 then pass bets will win. Remember that come and don’t come bets can be made during these extra throws, and these players are simply betting on either the 7 or the point number at the time of making the bet.
These form the basic bets of craps, and there are others, including odds bets which have no house edge and involve making a bet after the come out roll and placing chips behind your original bet once the point has been established. It is strongly recommended that you play with the basic bets types for a while until you fully understand the game of craps, and when you do, you’ll find that the different bet types add to the excitement, and the thrill of playing online craps.