Craps

Objective

Craps is a game with a simple objective. All you have to do is bet on the outcome of a pair of dice rolled on the Craps table. If this sounds easy, think again! The game is made interesting by the betting structures in operation. Don't worry if these seem complex at first. You will soon get the hang of things...

Some Basic Terminology

The 'Come-out Roll'

The first roll of a round is known as the 'come-out roll' and is rolled by the 'shooter'. This roll is crucial as it may result in an instant win, loss, or the establishment of the 'point'.

The 'Point'

If the dice totals 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, then the 'point' is established. Once this has happened, an 'ON' puck is positioned on that 'point'. The dice then continues to be rolled until the dice either matches the 'point' value or totals 7.

'Craps'

If the dice totals 2, 3, or 12, then no 'point' can be established. This is known as 'craps' and means that the player instantly loses a pass line bet (see below).

Bets

Below are the details of the most basic bets you can wager on an online Craps game together with their respective pay-offs.

Pass Line Bets: Pays even money (1:1)

This is placed before the 'come-out roll' and is positioned on the 'PASS LINE'. The round is instantly won if the 'shooter' rolls a 7 or an 11. If 'craps' is rolled (i.e. 2, 3 or 12) the player instantly loses. On the other hand, if the 'come-out roll' manages to establish a point (i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) then you will win only if the 'point' is rolled before a 7. If a 7 is rolled before the 'point' you lose the pass line bet.

Don't Pass Line Bets: Pays even money (1:1)

This is the reverse of a 'pass-line bet' and is placed before the 'come-out roll' on the 'DON'T PASS BAR'. Once the point is established, the bet is won if a 7 is rolled before the 'point'. If, however, the 'point' is rolled before a 7, then you lose. This bet is also won if the 'come-out roll' is 'craps' (i.e. 2 or 3) but is automatically lost if the 'come-out roll' is a 7 or an 11. If the come out roll is a 12, the bet is restored to the player in a push.

Come Bets: Pays even money (1:1)

This starts out looking like a pass-line bet but chips are placed in the box marked 'COME'. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, you win. If the next roll is 'craps' (2, 3 or 12) you lose. If, on the other hand, a 4, 5,6, 8, 9 or 19 is rolled, then the 'come point' is established and an actual 'come bet' can be placed. The bet is moved from the 'COME' bar to the box which corresponds to the 'come point' value. You win if the 'come point' is rolled before a 7. You lose if a 7 is rolled before the 'come point'.

Don't Come Bets: Pays even money (1:1)

This bet is also placed after the 'come-out roll' and is the reverse of a 'come bet'. Chips are placed on the 'DON'T COME BAR' on the table. If a 2 or 3 is rolled, you win. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, you lose. If a 12 is rolled, the bet is restored to the player in a push. If, on the other hand, a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled, the 'don't come point' is established. This means that the bet is moved from the 'DON'T COME BAR' to the box which corresponds to the 'don't come point'. (This new bet is usually placed in the upper–left corner of the box to distinguish it). You win if a 7 is rolled and you lose if the 'don't come point' is rolled.

How to Play Online

In order to play online Craps, simply click on the chip with the value you desire. You then need to click on the appropriate area of the table where you wish to place your bet. Each click on that area will add a further chip to the bet. If you require a different value then you may click on another chip. A right click deducts a single chip from the table whilst the CLEAR BETS button will remove all chips from the table. It is also possible to place multiple chips in several areas at the same time. Click the ROLL button to roll the dice and see the game result. To play again, place your bet as outlined above and then click the ROLL button again.

Some interesting facts...

• One of the biggest manufacturers of dice for Vegas casinos produces more than 25,000 pairs of dice per month ...a total of more than 800 pairs each day! Manufacturers must meet a set of gruelling specifications for their dice with most Craps dice allowed a deviation of only 0.0003 inches! In fact, most casinos change their dice at the beginning of each shift.
• One simple way Boxmen check for crooked dice is by totalling the value of opposite faces. These should always add up to 7 so that the 1 is always opposite the 6, the 2 opposite the 5, the 3 opposite the 4.
• The most mathematically probable total for a pair of dice is 7 with 6 out of a possible 36 results giving you this outcome. The second most probable result is a 6 with 8. 5 ways out of a possible 36 giving you this result. Together, you have an almost 50% chance of rolling a total of 6, 7 or 8 with 2 dice. That's 16 out of 36 possible results...
• And finally...
  It is considered bad luck to use the word 'seven' at a Craps table. The mathematicians among you may choose to put your faith in standard deviation rather than superstition but you will have to be pretty brave to confront a table of angry Craps players!