What Is Craps?
Craps is a casino dice game played with two dice. One player, called the shooter, rolls the dice while everyone at the table can bet on the result. You do not have to be the shooter to play. You can simply place your chips on the layout and bet along with or against the shooter.
Craps can look intimidating the first time you walk up to the table. There are dice flying, chips spread across the layout, dealers calling out bets, and players cheering every roll. But underneath all that noise, craps is actually one of the easier casino games to understand once you learn the basic flow.
The Basic Craps Table Layout
A craps table may look complicated because it contains many betting areas. However, beginners only need to understand a few important sections:
- Pass Line: The most common beginner bet.
- Don’t Pass Bar: A bet against the shooter.
- Come: Similar to a Pass Line bet, but made after a point is established.
- Field: A one-roll bet on certain numbers.
- Place Bets: Bets that specific numbers will roll before a 7.
- Proposition Bets: Center-table bets, usually with higher house edges.
For your first few sessions, you can ignore most of the table and focus on the Pass Line and odds bets.
How the Come-Out Roll Works
Every new round begins with a come-out roll. This is the shooter’s first roll of the dice.
If you bet the Pass Line:
- If the come-out roll is 7 or 11, you win.
- If the come-out roll is 2, 3, or 12, you lose.
- If the roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point.
Once a point is established, the shooter continues rolling. The goal is to roll the point number again before rolling a 7.
Example of a Craps Round
Let’s say you put $10 on the Pass Line. The shooter rolls a 6 on the come-out roll. The 6 becomes the point.
Now the shooter keeps rolling. If a 6 appears before a 7, you win even money on your Pass Line bet. If a 7 appears first, you lose.
That is the core of craps. Everything else is built around this same basic idea.
The Best Beginner Bet: Pass Line
The Pass Line is the best place for most beginners to start. It is easy to understand, keeps you involved in the main action, and has one of the lower house edges at the craps table.
A Pass Line bet usually pays even money. If you bet $10, you win $10 when your bet wins.
Most players at the table are usually betting the Pass Line, which means you are cheering with the crowd instead of against it. That makes the game more fun and less confusing for a new player.
The Pass Line bet carries a low house edge of just 1.41%, making it one of the best bets in the casino for beginners.
Taking Odds Behind the Pass Line
After a point is established, most casinos allow you to place an additional bet behind your Pass Line wager. This is called taking odds.
The odds bet is one of the best bets in the casino because it has no built-in house edge. It pays based on the true odds of rolling the point before a 7.
Common odds payouts are:
| Point | Odds Bet Pays |
|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 |
For beginners, a simple strategy is to make a Pass Line bet and then take single odds if your budget allows.
What Is a Don’t Pass Bet?
The Don’t Pass bet is basically the opposite of the Pass Line. You are betting that the shooter will fail to make the point.
On the come-out roll:
- 2 or 3 wins.
- 7 or 11 loses.
- 12 (on some craps tables it is 2) is a “push: – neither a loss or a win
After a point is established, Don’t Pass bettors want a 7 to roll before the point repeats.
The Don’t Pass bet is one of the strongest bets on the craps table from a mathematical standpoint. It carries a house edge of approximately 1.36%, which is slightly lower than the 1.41% house edge on the Pass Line bet. However, some beginners avoid it because it means betting against most of the table. That can feel awkward when everyone else is cheering for the shooter.
Place Bets Explained
Place bets allow you to bet that a specific number will roll before a 7. The most common place bets are on 6 and 8 because those numbers appear more often than 4, 5, 9, or 10.
For example, if you place the 6, you win if a 6 rolls before a 7. If a 7 comes first, you lose. The house edge on place bets varies by number:
| Place Bet | Typical Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Place 4 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| Place 5 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 6 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
As you can see, the 6 and 8 are the best place bets, with a house edge of just 1.52%, which is only slightly higher than the 1.41% house edge on the Pass Line bet. The 5 and 9 are reasonable alternatives at 4.00%, while the 4 and 10 are considerably worse at 6.67%. For that reason, experienced craps players who make place bets often focus on the 6 and 8 while avoiding the 4 and 10 unless they have a specific strategy in mind.
Bets Beginners Should Be Careful With
The middle of the craps table contains many proposition bets. These are usually one-roll bets, such as betting that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 11, 12, or a specific dice combination.
These bets can be exciting because they often offer large payouts, but they usually carry a much higher house edge. Beginners should be careful with bets like:
| Bet | Typical Payout | Casino Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.67% |
| Hardways | 7 to 1 or 9 to 1 | 9.09% to 11.11% |
| Horn Bet | Varies by number | 12.50% to 13.89% |
| Yo / Eleven | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
By comparison, the Pass Line bet has a much lower house edge of about 1.41%, and taking odds behind the Pass Line has no house edge at all. That is why most beginners are better off learning the main game first and treating these center-table bets as occasional entertainment rather than a serious strategy.
There is nothing wrong with making a small fun bet once in a while, but these should not be the foundation of your craps strategy.
Simple Beginner Craps Strategy
If you are new to craps, keep your strategy simple:
- Start with the table minimum on the Pass Line.
- After a point is set, take single odds if your bankroll allows.
- Avoid most center-table proposition bets.
- Do not chase losses by increasing your bets too quickly.
- Set a win goal and loss limit before you start playing.
This approach will not guarantee a win, but it gives you a sensible way to learn the game while avoiding many of the worst bets on the table.
Craps Etiquette for Beginners
Craps has a few simple table rules that beginners should know:
- Do not hand chips directly to the dealer. Put them on the table and state your bet.
- Keep your hands away from the dice while they are in motion.
- When shooting, use only one hand to handle the dice.
- Make sure the dice hit the back wall.
- Do not place late bets after the dice have been sent out.
Dealers are used to helping beginners, so do not be afraid to ask a question when the dice are in the middle of the table and no roll is in progress.
How Much Money Do You Need to Play Craps?
Your bankroll depends on the table minimum. If the minimum bet is $10, a beginner should ideally have at least $100 to $200 for a casual session. That gives you enough room to make Pass Line bets and take odds without going broke after only a few rolls.
If you are learning, look for the lowest minimum table available. Some casinos offer $5, $10, or electronic craps games, which can be better for practice.
Common Craps Mistakes
Many new players make the same mistakes. They bet too many numbers, make too many proposition bets, or fail to understand how quickly several small wagers can add up.
For example, a player may think they are only betting $10, but after adding place bets, hardways, and one-roll bets, they may actually have $50 or more at risk on a single roll.
The best way to avoid this is to start slowly. Learn one bet at a time.
Is Craps a Good Game for Beginners?
Yes, craps can be a good game for beginners if you stick to the simpler bets. The Pass Line with odds is one of the better casino wagers, and the game can be very entertaining because everyone at the table shares the excitement of each roll.
The danger is that craps also offers many tempting high-edge bets. A smart beginner learns the basic game first and treats the riskier bets as occasional entertainment, not a serious strategy.
Final Thoughts
Craps may look complicated, but the basic game is easy once you understand the come-out roll, the point, and the Pass Line bet. Start small, avoid the center-table bets, take odds when possible, and give yourself time to learn.
Once you understand the rhythm of the game, craps becomes one of the most exciting experiences in the casino.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craps
What is the easiest craps bet for beginners?
The easiest craps bet for beginners is the Pass Line bet. You win on a come-out roll of 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12, and then try to roll the point before a 7.
What is the best bet in craps?
The best overall approach for many players is the Pass Line bet combined with taking odds after a point is established. The odds bet has no built-in house edge.
Is craps hard to learn?
Craps looks harder than it really is. Beginners only need to learn the Pass Line, the come-out roll, the point, and the 7-out rule to start playing.
What does it mean to seven out?
To seven out means the shooter rolls a 7 after a point has been established but before rolling the point again. This ends the shooter’s turn and causes Pass Line bets to lose.
Should beginners make proposition bets?
Beginners should be careful with proposition bets because they usually have higher house edges. They can be fun in small amounts, but they should not be your main strategy.
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