Craps is a casino table game, so called because in a land based casino, it is played on a specially marked, felt covered table. This game of chance can be played by up to approximately 20 players. Craps involves having each player in turn roll a pair of dice while everyone makes bets on the outcome. There is quite a variety of bet types to choose from, but all involve the player against the house. Craps is perhaps the liveliest game you’ll find in a land based casino; players at a craps table may shout and yell during the game. Although the table layout can seem complicated at first, craps rules are fairly simple and the game is not difficult to learn.
How to Play Craps
The dice are rolled by one of the players, known as the “Shooter.” The sum of the two dice will be a number between 2 and 12. Before rolling, the Shooter places either a “Pass Line” or a “Don’t Pass” bet. This initial roll by the Shooter is called the “Come Out Roll,” which has three possible results. Craps means a sum of 2, 3 or 12; Pass Line bets lose and the roll passes to a new Shooter. A Natural is a sum of 7 or 11; Pass Line bets win and the Shooter takes another turn to roll. A sum of 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 means that the Shooter has “set the Point”; no bets win or lose yet, and the Shooter takes another turn.
Hitting the Point
Once the Point has been set, the Shooter continues to roll the dice. Finally one of two outcomes will take place – either the Shooter will “hit the Point” (total the Point number of 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) or he will roll a sum of 7 before hitting the Point. If the Shooter succeeds in hitting the Point, all Pass Line bets win, and the Shooter begins a new round. However, if he rolls 7 before he achieves the Point, the Pass Line bets lose, and his turn is finished; the dice are then offered to the person to his left.
Rules
Although the dice are offered to each player in turn in a clockwise direction, any one who wishes may decline and the dice will be passed on to the next player. Any player at the craps table may bet on the result of a roll, not only the Shooter. The other players have the option of betting either for or against the Shooter. They are not required to place Pass Line or Don’t Pass wagers, but can choose from among the many betting options available.