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How To Play Craps

RULES
Craps at a land-based casino can be lightning fast, crowded and confusing. Playing online can be a great way to learn the game and make wise bets that will improve your chances at winning. Good news -- there are only a few really good bets, and many bad bets, so the game becomes much easier than at first glance.
First off, the Players around the table bet on the results of the dice-rolls by the Shooter (who is simply the Player rolling the dice). Players can bet on anything they choose, but the Shooter must win to keep shooting, otherwise he or she has to pass the dice on to the next Player.

The Shooter rolls 2 dice in what is called the "come-out roll." If the come-out roll comes up 7 or 11, the Shooter wins and keeps shooting. If it comes out 2, 3 or 12, the Shooter loses and must pass the dice. If it comes up 4-6 or 8-10, the Shooter continues to roll, and whatever number came up is called "the point", since "a point has been established."

The Shooter continues to roll after a come-out roll that establishes a point, until:
he or she matches the come-out roll, OR
he or she rolls a 7
Meanwhile, other Players can place bets on the come-out roll and subsequent rolls. They can bet "with the Shooter", or "against the Shooter." (Betting against the Shooter is not looked upon as well in land-based casinos, so gambling online is a good way to make the better-odds bets against the Shooter. No risk of upsetting fellow Players!)

BETS

Pass Line
Bet with the Shooter on the come-out roll. If the roll totals 7 or 11, the Player wins. If the roll totals 2, 3 or 12, the Player loses. If the roll totals 4-6 or 8-10, a point has been established, and the Player waits for follow-on rolls. If the Shooter rolls a number that matches the established point, the Player wins. If the Shooter rolls a 7, the Player loses. The Shooter continues to roll until one of these outcomes occurs.

Don't Pass Line
The opposite of the Pass Line. Bet against the shooter on the come-out roll. If the roll totals 7 or 11, the Player loses. If the roll totals 2, 3 or 12, the Player wins. If the roll totals 4-6 or 8-10, a point has been established, and the Player waits for follow-on rolls. If the Shooter rolls a number that matches the established point, the Player loses. If the Shooter rolls a 7, the Player wins. The Shooter continues to roll until one of these outcomes occurs.

Come
After a point has been established, the Player wins if the next roll of the dice totals 7 or 11. The Player loses if the next roll of the dice totals 2, 3 or 12. Otherwise, the bet stands while the Shooter continues to roll. Then, if the come-out roll is matched before a 7 is thrown, the Player wins. If a 7 comes up first, the Player loses.

Don't Come
The opposite of the Come bet. After a point has been established, the Player loses if the next roll of the dice totals 7 or 11. The Player wins if the next roll of the dice totals 2, 3 or 12. Otherwise, the bet stands while the Shooter continues to roll. Then, if the come-out roll is matched before a 7 is thrown, the Player loses. If a 7 comes up first, the Player wins.

TAKING ODDS
A bet placed in conjunction with a Pass Line or Come bet. If one of those bets has been placed and a point is established on the next roll, an Odds bet can be placed. Placing an Odds bet is the best bet on the Craps table because the House Advantage is 0%.

The maximum amount of an Odds bet is a multiple of the original bet placed. “1x odds” means the maximum is equal to your original bet, “2x odds” means the maximum is equal to double your original bet , and so on. Since this bet has no House Advantage, the Player should make the maximum Odds bet, bankroll permitting.
 

Place (to Win or Lose)
After a point is established, a Place bet can be put on any of these numbers (4-6 or 8-10) to win or lose. Multiple place bets can be placed, and a place bet can be taken off the table after a roll. On a Place bet for a number to win, the Player wins if that number is rolled before a 7. On a Place bet for a number to lose, the Player will win if a 7 is rolled before that number.

Buy/Lay
Similar to a Place bet. The player pays a 5% commission to get true odds on a number. A Buy Bet is a bet placed on a number to win. A Lay Bet is a bet placed on a number to lose.
 

Field
A one-roll bet. This type of bet applies only to the next roll of the dice. House advantage: 5.56%

Big 6 and Big 8
A Big 6 is a bet that a 6 will be rolled before a 7 is rolled. A Big 8 is a bet that an 8 will be rolled before a 7 is rolled. The House Advantage for each of these bets is 9.09%. Don't make these bets, make a Place 6 or Place 8 bet instead, with much better odds.

Center Propositions
The center of the table shows a number of bets that can be made, grouped into Hardways and One-Rolls.

Hardways
A bet that a certain "hard" combination will be rolled before a 7 or the same "soft" combination is rolled. For example, a Hard 8 occurs when two 4’s are rolled, a Soft 8 occurs when a 2 and 6 or a 3 and 5 are rolled.
 

One-Rolls
A bet on the next roll of the dice.

Note: "Crapless" Craps
In this version of the game, a come-out roll of 2, 3, 11 or 12 becomes a point number instead of a win (11) or a loss (2, 3 or 12) on a Pass Line bet. Avoid this game since the House Advantage on a Pass Line bet is 5.4% compared to 1.41% at a regular craps table.

TIPS
The easiest way to play is to avoid the more complex bets -- and the easier bets have higher odds anyway!

Bets to make - Basic
Don't Pass Line (on the come-out roll)
Don't Come (after a point has been established)
Pass Line (on the come-out roll)
Come (after a point has been established)
Place 6 to Win or Place 8 to Win (after a point has been established)

Bets to make - Advanced
Odds - Taking or Laying (after a point has been established) -- go as high as your bankroll will allow! Best odds of just about any game in the casino.