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Source: [kuro5hin] |
Craps is related to a 12th-century game called Hazart, or Hazard. In 19th-century England and France a varient of Hazard similar to the game we play today became popular. The name evolved from Hazard because the Brits called rolling a 2, 3 or 12 "crabs," and various mispronounciations eventually evolved into the modern term, Craps. The game became popular in World War One, as the required equipment (a pair of dice) was easily obtained and portable, after the war the casinos of Las Vegas laid out felts for the entertainment of the returning soldiers, and the game's popularity skyrocketed.
The game is played with two six-sided dice, each side marked with from 1 to 6 pips in such a way that any opposite two sides add up to 7. The shooter is given the dice, and throws them to the opposite end of the table. This is referred to as the "come out" roll. On the come out roll, the shooter automatically wins if the sum of the dice is 7 or 11, referred to as a "natural," or more commonly a "front-line winner." If the shooter produces a 2, 3 or 12, this is "craps," a loser. Any other outcome (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) is referred to as a "point." The point of the "point" is that the shooter is given the dice again, and must roll his "point" (that is, the same number rolled on his initial roll) before he rolls a 7. The shooter continues rolling the dice until he rolls his point, or a 7, in which case he loses. If the shooter has a point to make, the croupier will often announce what the shooter is shooting for, for example if the shooter has a point of 6 the croupier will announce "6 is" before every roll.
The betting action takes place on the table. Before the shooter "comes out," that is, before the first roll, you have the option of making a "pass" or "don't pass" bet. The "pass" bet is that the shooter will roll 7 or 11 on their first roll, or failing that will make their "point." "Don't pass" is the opposite, the bet is that the shooter will roll craps or roll a 7 before making their point. Don't pass bets don't pay on a 12 coming out so the house retains an advantage on the bet. These "come out" bets are generally referred to as "line" bets, although technically only the "pass line" is a line bet.
If the shooter has a point to make, there are several places you can place wagers yourself, simply by putting chips on the appropriate place on the table.
After the come-out roll, most casinos allow a "behind the line" bet. A common practice at casinos is allowing "double odds" bets behind the line. This allows you to increase your wager but be paid at the "correct" odds for the point the shooter is trying to make for that portion of the bet. 10 and 4 generally pay off at 2 to 1 behind the line, 5 and 9 at 3 to 2, and 6 to 5 on 6 and 8. This is important to know, as the house always rounds down, so it's important to put a rational amount behind the line based on what the shooter's going for.
Another option you have are the "come" and "don't come" bets. Even though the shooter is already shooting for a "point" at this point, you can place a bet in the either of these areas, and that bet will be treated as though the shooter was making a "come out" roll. In other words, a 7 or 11 on the next roll will pay your "come" bet, and a 2, 3 or 12 will lose it. If the shooter rolls something other than those 5 outcomes, your "come" wager is placed on the number of your table, and will pay if the shooter makes that "point" for you. You also have the option of buying odds on that point, the same as putting a behind the line wager on a come-out roll. Obviously, you can't make a "come" wager on the come-out roll.
You can also put money on the field. The field pays even money on any roll of 3,4,9,10,11, and 2 to 1 on 2 or 12. Any other outcome forfeits the field bet. Field bets can be made at any time, but are generally only placed after the come-out roll.
The last place you can put money yourself after the come-out is on the "big 6" and "big 8." These pay even for any roll of 6 or 8 respectively, and stay up until the shooter rolls a 7 or the bettor takes the bet down. Not all casinos have "big 6" and "big 8" on the table.
Other bets require the attention of the croupier and/or other dealers at the table. You may make a place bet on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 if the shooter has a point to make. These wagers will stay up until the shooter 7's out or until you ask for them to come down. Any time your number is rolled, you'll be paid based on the odds for that number. There are other bets you can make on the "place" numbers, but most are esoteric and generally of little value. If you're playing with enough money, it can be of value to "buy" place numbers, meaning the house charges you a commission (generally about 5%) to pay you the correct odds for those numbers. A dealer can explain the procedure, as it varies from casino to casino. (Often, the dealer will suggest ways to improve a bet for you, for example if you request $20 on 8 he may suggest you buy the number or make your bet a multiple of 6). Remember, the dealers don't have a vested interest in making you lose, they depend on tips from winners to supplement their regular wages.
The other bets you can make are single-roll bets and the "hard ways". These are located in the middle of the table, and are set by the croupier. These bets are generally not subject to the same minimum as the other bets at the table, for example if the "minimum bet" at the table is $20, there will generally be no objections to $5 bets on the single-roll or hardways.
The single-roll bets are fairly simple, and include 7, 2, 3, 11, and 12. "Any craps" is also available as a single-roll bet. These can generally be combined, for example, a "horn" bet can be placed that includes any craps and 11, sometimes known as a "C&E" (craps and 11) bet. A "world" bet can also be placed which is like the C&E but is made in multiples of 5 and is a push on the 7 in exchange for worse odds on the C&E.
Finally there are the "hard ways" bets. These are generally wagered after the come-out roll, and can be made on the 4, 6, 8, and 10. The wager is that the number(s) you take hardway bets on will be rolled showing the same number of pips on each die. These must come out before the shooter 7's out, or before the number is rolled "the easy way," that is, not by having the same number of pips showing on each die.
Your first time out, you'll probably want to try a low-stakes table with few people playing at it, preferably with a friend who's played before. You'll see a puck either covering up a number at the top of the table or on the "don't come" box. When the puck is in the "don't come" box it means a new shooter is coming up and it's a good time to get some chips. Drop your money on the table and ask the dealer across for you for change. Your money will be boxed, and a stack of chips will be pushed over towards you based on the table minimum and the amount you changed. Take your chips and keep one hand on them at all times; the person next to you may be tempted to snatch a chip or two while you're watching the dice or placing bets if you don't.
If the shooter has a point to make, I generally put the same amount of my place bet behind the line plus whatever else is needed to get the best payout (important if the point is 6 or 8, as multiples of 6 are generally best behind the line). I often cover all the hard ways with half the table minimum ($5 every hardway at a $10 table). I also like come bets, even though place bets are usually a better value.
Most of the people in the "system" school can be spotted by their algorithmic approach to betting. A popular "system" involves doubling your come bets every couple throws after the shooter makes a point to hedge against the shooter 7'ing out and get paid on the place numbers. This system, and any such system, is only guaranteed to make losing money at the table more labor-intensive for you.
The minority of people in the "system" school of craps (including me) are convinced that "setting" the dice in a certain way and throwing them in a certain way increases the odds of getting results favorable to the shooter. I have observed people who appear successful in this endeavor, and have myself noticed that consciously setting the dice has better results for me. Further credence is lent to this theory by the fact that many casinos around the world do not allow the practice. While from a scientific standpoint it's highly unlikely that any setting of the dice can affect the outcome at all, we all have our foibles, and this is one of mine.
Enjoy the game, and remember: quit while you're ahead! The table will be there next time.
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