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- C R A P S
-
-
- BASICS
-
-
- The game of craps is played on a large rectangular shaped table
- and offers a great variety of betting options. Bets are
- dependent upon the point value of two dice thrown by a player or
- "Shooter." All players may bet on the shooter to win or lose as
- well as make other independent bets. Most bet on the shooter to
- win and cheer for the dice to cooperate. This is the unique
- attraction the game of craps has to casino players.
-
-
- The dice used in craps have six sides representing numbers 1
- through 6 by the number of dots. The two dice together can add
- up to number values 2 through 12 in a total of 36 possible
- combinations.
-
-
-
- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
- | | | . | | . | | . . | | . . | | . . |
- | . | | | | . | | | | . | | . . |
- | | | . | | . | | . . | | . . | | . . |
- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
-
-
- The chart below shows the number values and the dice combinations
- that can make them.
-
- 2 (1-1)
- 3 (1-2) (2-1)
- 4 (2-2) (1-3) (3-1)
- 5 (1-4) (4-1) (2-3) (3-2)
- 6 (3-3) (1-5) (5-1) (2-4) (4-2)
- 7 (1-6) (6-1) (2-5) (5-2) (3-4) (4-3)
- 8 (4-4) (2-6) (6-2) (3-5) (5-3)
- 9 (3-6) (6-3) (4-5) (5-4)
- 10 (5-5) (4-6) (6-4)
- 11 (5-6) (6-5)
- 12 (6-6)
-
-
- There is only one way a 2 can be made or a 12 can be made but six
- different ways a 7 can be made. Therefore a 7 is six times more
- likely to be rolled than a 2 or 12. The probabilities or odds of
- the different combinations and the bet payoff establishes the
- casino's percentage advantage or "PC."
-
-
- A partial craps table layout is shown below.
-
-
- +---+---+-----------------+ ANY SEVEN
- | | |--|--|--|--|--|--| _____ _____ _____ _____
- | | D | | | | | | | | . || . | | . . || . . |
- | P | O | 4| 5| 6| 8| 9|10| | . || . | | . || . |
- | A | N | | | | | | | | . || . | | . . || . . |
- | S | ' |-----------------+ ----- ----- ----- -----
- | S | T | | _____ _____ _____ _____
- | | | COME | E | . . || . . | | . || . |
- | L | P | | C| . . || . . | | . || . |
- | I | A |-----------------+ ----- ----- ----- -----
- | N | S |2-3-4-9-10-11-12 | --- --- --- --- --- ---
- | E | S | | E | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 1 | | 6 | 6 |
- | | | FIELD | C --- --- --- --- --- ---
- | +---+-----------------+ _____ _____ _____ _____
- | |BIG|BIG| DON'T PASS | | . . || . . | | . . || . . |
- | | 6 | 8 | BAR 12 | E | . . || . | | . . || . |
- | +-------------------- | C| . . || . . | | . . || . . |
- | P A S S L I N E | ----- ----- ----- -----
- +-------------------------+ ANY CRAPS
-
- BETS and PAYOFFS
-
- Pass Line: The first roll of the dice is known as the "come out
- roll." If a bet is placed on the Pass Line then and a 7 or 11
- rolls, the bet wins. This is called a "natural." If a 2, 3 or
- 12 rolls, the bet loses. These numbers are called "craps."
-
- If any other number comes up, that number becomes the Pass Line
- "point." In this situation, the Pass Line wins if the Shooter
- rolls or "makes" the point before rolling a 7. If a 7 rolls
- before the point rolls, the Shooter "sevens out" and Pass Line
- Bets lose.
-
- The Shooter continues to roll the dice until they seven out where
- upon the dice pass to the next player. All players may bet on
- the Pass Line. They do not need to be shooting the dice. When
- the "Stickman" dealer offers the player the dice, they may pass
- them to the next player and never shoot. Pass Line bets that win
- pay even money or 1 to 1. They cannot be removed or reduced once
- a point is established as the casino has the advantage after a
- point is established.
-
- Don't Pass Line: The Don't Pass Line bet is the reverse of the
- Pass Line. It wins on the come out roll if a 2 or 3 rolls and
- loses if a 7 or 11 rolls. The number 12 is a "stand-off" with
- neither the player nor the casino winning. In some casinos, 2 is
- the stand-off number instead of 12. Any other number thrown
- becomes the point. To win the Don't Pass Line bet, a 7 must be
- rolled before the point rolls. If the point rolls before a 7,
- the bet loses. As before, the player does not have to be the
- Shooter to make this bet. The Don't Pass Line bet pays even
- money. They may be decreased or removed once a point is
- established but never increased. This is because the player
- has the advantage after a point is established.
-
-
- Come: A player also can bet the "Come" any time after a point has
- been established on the Pass Line. The Come bet is a Pass Line
- type bet made after the Pass Line come out roll. The win-lose
- rules for the Come bet are the same as for the Pass Line. The
- next roll of the dice decides whether the player wins or loses,
- or establishes a point that must be rolled before a 7 rolls. The
- Come bet and its point are independent of the Pass Line point.
- It pays even money and cannot be removed or reduced after a point
- has been established.
-
-
- Don't Come: The Don't Come bet is the reverse of the Come bet.
- The Don't Come bet is a Don't Pass Line type bet made after the
- Pass Line come out roll. If there is not a specific location on
- the layout for this bet, place it in the Don't Pass area. The
- win-lose rules are the same as for the Don't Pass Line. The next
- roll of the dice decides whether the player wins or loses or
- establishes a point. The point if established cannot roll before
- a 7 for the player to win. The Don't Come bet pays even money.
- It may be decreased or removed after a point is established but
- never increased.
-
-
- Come and Don't Come bets allow more action for players between
- Pass or Don't Pass cycles. The casino PC on them is the same as
- the Pass and Don't Pass bets.
-
-
- Odds: A Player may elect to make a bet in addition to the
- original or "flat" bet after the point is established. A Player
- may "take" odds on any Pass Line or Come bet. Pass Line odds
- bets are placed just outside the Pass Line bet location. Come
- odds are given to the dealer. Odds bets on Pass Line and Come
- bets pay the true or fair odds. There is no casino PC on them.
-
-
- Odds bets should be made in the correct increments related to the
- point. If the point is a 4 or 10, an odds bet will be the same
- amount as the regular bet. The payoff will be 2 to 1, which is
- the true or fair odds of winning. There are three ways that
- either of these points can be rolled and win versus six ways a 7
- can be rolled and lose. Therefore it is twice as likely that a 7
- will roll as the point will roll and the fair odds payoff should
- be 2 to 1.
-
-
- If the point is a 5 or 9 and the player has a bet such as $3, the
- casino usually will allow an odds bet of $4. This is done for
- convenience to keep the winning payoff an even amount. The
- payoff will be true odds of 3 to 2 or $6 for $4 bet. This is
- because there are four ways that one of these points can roll and
- win versus six ways a 7 can roll and lose.
-
-
- If the point is a 6 or 8 and the player has a bet such as $3, the
- casino usually will allow an odds bet of $5. The payoff will be
- true odds of 6 to 5 or $6 for $5. This is because there are five
- ways that one of these points can roll and win versus six ways
- for a 7 can roll and lose. All Pass Line or Come Line odds bets
- may be removed or reduced by the player after a point is
- established.
-
- A Player also may "lay" odds on any Don't Pass Line or Don't Come
- bet. The player is giving odds in this bet. The player bets
- more than they would win but there is a corresponding greater
- chance they will win. Don't Pass odds are placed next to the
- Don't bet typically with one chip flat on the table surface and
- the balance staggered. Don't Come odds bets are given to the
- dealer. Don't Pass and Don't Come bets also pay true or fair
- odds. There is no casino PC.
-
- The sizing of odds bets on Don't Pass or Don't Come bets is based
- on the possible winning amount. If the point is 4 or 10, the
- player may make a Don't odds bet twice the size of their flat
- bet. The payoff will be 1 to 2, one-half of the odds bet or the
- same as the flat bet. This is true or fair odds of winning
- because there are six ways to roll a 7 and win versus 3 ways to
- roll the point and lose. It is half as likely that the point
- will roll as a 7 will be roll and the fair odds payoff should be
- 1 to 2.
-
- If the point is 5 or 9, the player would usually be permitted
- make an odds bet to pay an even amount in relation to their flat
- bet. If their flat bet is $3, they would lay odds of $6 and the
- payoff will be 2 to 3 or $4 if a 7 rolls.
-
- If the point is 6 or 8, the player would usually be permitted
- make an odds bet to pay an even amount in relation to their flat
- bet. If their regular bet is $3, they would lay odds of $6 and
- the payoff would be 5 to 6 or $5 if a 7 rolls. Don't Pass and
- Don't Come odds bets may be removed or reduced after the point is
- established but never increased.
-
- The examples above are for casinos allowing "Single Odds." Some
- casinos offer "Double Odds" or better. This increases the size
- of the odds bets that have no PC in relation to the flat bets
- that have a small PC. This is desirable providing the player has
- an adequate bankroll to support the increased bets. Ask the
- dealer for assistance in sizing the odds bets if required.
-
- Place Bets: Place bets may be made directly on numbers 4, 5, 6,
- 8, 9 and 10 without requiring a flat bet. They may be made at
- anytime by giving the bet to a dealer. All place bets may be at
- anytime increased, decreased, taken back by the Player and called
- "off" or not working. They are usually off on the come out roll
- unless designated otherwise by the Player. Place bets are paid
- as follows. Points of 4 or 10 pay 9 to 5, points of 5 or 9 pay 7
- to 5 and points of 6 or 8 pay 7 to 6. These are not true odds.
-
-
- Buy and Lay bets: Buy and Lay may be made directly on numbers 4,
- 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 without requiring a flat bet. The Buy bet is a
- bet on that number rolling before a 7. A Lay Bet is a bet that a
- 7 will roll before the number bet. Buy and Lay bets may be made
- at anytime. All Buy and Lay bets may be at anytime increased,
- decreased, taken back by the Player and called "off" or not
- working. They are usually off on the come out roll unless
- designated otherwise by the Player. Buy and Lay bets are paid at
- true odds however a commission or "virgorish" is charged. On Buy
- bets it is usually 5 percent of the amount bet. On Lay bets it
- is usually 5 percent on the amount that can be won.
-
- Hardways: Hardway Bets are located in the center of the layout
- and may be bet on any roll. There are four possible Hardway
- Bets. They are the Hard Four (two 2s), Hard Six (two 3s), Hard
- Eight (two 4s) and Hard Ten (two 5s). The player wins if the
- Hardway number they are betting on rolls before a 7 is rolled or
- before a non-hardway combination rolls. For example, a Hard Six
- wins only if two 3's are thrown before a 7 or an easy 5-1 or 4-2
- combination rolls. Hardways usual work unless the player
- designates the bet to be off or down. Hardways are paid as
- follows. Hard Six and Hard Eight usually pay 9 to 1. Hard Fours
- and Hard Tens usually pay 7 to 1.
-
- Big 6 and Big 8: Big 6 and Big 8 bets may be made any time and
- withdrawn any time by the player without dealer intervention.
- They pay even money when a 6 or 8 rolls respectively and lose
- when a 7 rolls.
-
- One Roll Bets: The following bets may be made on any roll and
- win or lose depending upon the outcome of that roll alone. They
- win if the number or numbers rolls and lose if any other number
- rolls. The player places the Field Bet. All other bets are
- given to the dealer to be placed in the center of the layout.
-
- Field Bets pay if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 rolls. If a 2 or 12
- rolls normally the payoff is 2 to 1. In some casinos one of
- these numbers may pay 3 to 1.
-
- Any 7 Bets pay 4 to 1 if any 7 rolls.
-
- Any Craps pay 7 to 1 if 2, 3 or 12 rolls.
-
- Two Craps or "Aces" pay 30 to 1 if two aces (1s) roll.
-
- Twelve Craps or "Box Cars" pay 30 to 1 if two sixes roll.
-
- Three Craps or "Ace-Deuce" pay 15 to 1 if an Ace and two roll.
-
- Eleven pays 15 to 1 if a five and 6 six rolls.
-
- Horn Bets pay even money if a 2, 3, 11 or 12 rolls.
-
-
- These are usual payoffs but they may vary. If the player is not
- sure, ask the dealer before placing a bet.
-
-
-
- CASINO PERCENT ADVANTAGE
-
-
- The large variety of bets in craps have a wide range of casino
- percent advantages or "PCs." The PCs are calculated based on the
- probabilities or odds of the various dice combinations rolling
- verses the bet's payoff. The usual casino percent advantages on
- different bets are:
-
-
- Pass Line - 1.4%
- Don't Pass Line - 1.4%
-
- With Single Odds - 0.8% (Resultant PC factoring flat
- With Double Odds - 0.6% and odds bet combined)
-
- Place Bets (6 or 8) - 1.5%
- Place Bets (5 or 9) - 4.0%
- Place Bets (4 or 10) - 6.7%
-
- Buy or Lay Bets - 5.0% (Paid when making bet)
-
- Hardway (6 or 8) - 9.1%
- Hardway (4 or 10) -11.1%
-
- Big 6 or Big 8 - 9.1%
-
- Field (2 to 1 on 12) - 5.6%
- Field (3 to 1 on 12) - 2.8%
-
- Any 7 -11.1%
-
- Any Craps -11.1%
- 2 Craps (Aces) -13.9%
- 3 Craps (Ace-deuce) -11.1%
- 12 Craps (Sixes) -13.9%
- Eleven -16.7%
- Horn -16.7%
-
-
-
- SMART GAMBLER STRATEGY
-
-
- Craps can be one of the most exciting and enjoyable casino games
- to play. $mart Gamblers who play it take approaches such as
- recommended below. These steps limit their entertainment cost to
- an absolute minimum and ensure that their playing time is
- maximized.
-
-
-
- First it must be accepted that there is no system that can turn
- craps into a long term winning proposition. Do not believe any
- advertisements for "systems" that claim otherwise. The
- mathematics of the game is against the player in the long run.
- The chances of the dice rolling one combination or another is not
- dependent on any previous roll or other event. They are just
- random occurances. There is no betting system that can overcome
- the casino's PC.
-
- The most important thing when playing craps is only to make Pass
- Line or Don't Pass Line bets and then take the maximum odds
- possible. This will reduce the casino's PC to less than -0.8% on
- the resultant bet that is attractive. If there are choices
- between casinos offering different maximum odds, select those
- ones that offer the highest odds. This will further reduce the
- casino's PC. The craps table layout does not specifically show a
- location to put odds bets. They are the only bet in craps
- without a PC and the casino hopes the players don't understand or
- make them.
-
- If the $mart Gamblers wants more action between the Pass and
- Don't Pass cycles, they can make Come or Don't Come bets taking
- the maximum odds possible. There is one major caution on these
- recommendations. If odds are taken they must be planned for in
- the player's money management. Single odds double the bankroll
- requirement. Double odds increase it even more. If multiple
- Come and Don't Come bets are made, they also must be planned.
-
- A good strategy is find the lowest minimum bet game offering the
- highest odds bet that matches a player's bankroll. See the $mart
- Gambler tutorial on Money Management and the Planning-Money
- Management feature for more information on planning the bankroll
- and bet sizing.
-
- There is one additional point a player may wish to consider
- regarding choosing either the Pass or Don't Pass Line bet. If
- the Pass Line bet is made and subsequent Come bets are made, it
- is possible to have a total of six bets and odds in action. All
- six can be lost at once if a 7 rolls. If the Don't Pass Line bet
- and subsequent Don't Come bets are made, they can only be lost
- one at a time as that number rolls. There is no significant
- difference in the odds or casino PC with either approach. It is
- just up to how the player feels about their gambling.
-
-
- Except placing the points 6 or 8, which have a casino PC of -
- 1.5%, all other craps bets have excessive casino advantages.
- $mart Gamblers avoid them at all times. Why does the casino
- offer so many different bets? Why do the dealers chant "The
- Hardway is due, bet the Hardway?" Look at the casino's PC on
- hardway bets and the other proposition bets.
-
-
- The $mart Gambler may see other players make these high PC bets
- and even win, sometimes. However they know that the players
- making these bad bets are paying a significant price for their
- entertainment and will not succeed in the long run. The $mart
- Gambler resists the urge and limits their bets to the ones with
- the lowest possible casino advantage.
-
- What is the difference of limiting bets to the Pass or Don't Pass
- line with odds for a casino PC of -0.8%? Situation: Three day
- gambling trip, 15 hours of craps play, average of 60 decisions
- per hour, average bet of $10. By limiting bets, the
- entertainment cost will average $72 for the trip. Often the
- player will come out a winner but over the long run they will
- lose an average of $72 per trip.
-
- Not taking the odds, betting the Field, Hardways or other high PC
- bets, could change the average PC to -5.0%. At this average PC,
- the player will lose an average of $450 per trip. They will
- experience fewer winning trips and more losing trips. Multiple
- this by four trips a year for ten years and the difference is
- $15,120.
-
- If the $mart Gambler chooses to play craps, there is another
- approach they may wish to follow. While there is no statistical
- validity for it, it is a means to control play and get more
- enjoyment playing. The idea is to play for a planned period
- until hopefully one good streak occurs. That is when the dice
- run "hot" and the shooter makes many points in a row. When the
- shooter finally sevens out, many players will leave the table.
- That is a good time also to leave and take a break to savor the
- win.
-
- $mart Gamblers follow these guidelines and their experiences at
- the craps table last longer and are more enjoyable.
-
- Copyright 1992 PC Information Systems All Rights Reserved
-