Dice is one of the oldest gambling games in existence. Roman soldiers rolled clay dice; their Northern Barbarian bretheren tossed goat knuckles. Both no doubt enjoyed cheap buffets following their gambling sessions, where heroic rolls were re-lived over goblets of vino.
Craps, in its present form, is probably the most exciting Casino game offered. As a bonus, it offers players some of the best odds of any game. Possibly the only other games of chance which offer similar odds are Baccarat and EXPERTLY played Blackjack. Don’t fool yourself by concluding you are a Blackjack expert… It requires a thorough knowledge of procedures based on the Dealer’s exposed card, while in Craps, gaining reasonable odds requires only the knowledge of which bets to avoid. A disadvantage of Craps (or an advantage, based on your point of view!) is that it is a fast game. Large sums can be won or lost quickly, especially compared to any card game. This can be moderated by your style of play.
OK, how is it done?
Simple! When a game begins and the dice are Coming Out, you are hoping (with a Passline bet) that the shooter will roll either a 7 or an 11. If he succeeds, your Passline bet is doubled and returned to you. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, (“Craps”), you lose your Passline bet, and another game begins. Any other roll becomes that shooter’s Point, and Passline bets are frozen. The shooter continues to roll. If he succeeds in rolling his Point BEFORE he rolls another 7, all Passline bets are winners, and the dice are once again coming out. If he rolls a 7 before he again rolls his Point, all Passline bets are losers. This is the dreaded “Seven Out”.
It can’t be that simple!
Watch. Carol approaches the Craps table and notices that the dice are coming out. She places a Passline bet, and rolls the dice. The outcome of the roll is a “5”. This is now her point. Carol rolls several more times, and manages to roll another 5 before a 7 appears. Carol wins, as do all players who played the Passline. Notice that the only possible Points are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Which bets are “good” bets?
The Pass bet with odds and the Come bet with odds (as well as the “don’t” bets) are the best bets in Craps. Other bets are offered, and if played in moderation are a lot of fun. Typical Proposition bets (hardways, Craps-Eleven, etc) are losers by a 10% to 15% margin. Passline bets with odds and Come bets with odds, by contrast, favor the house by only 0.8%! In a nutshell… Proposition bets are fun, but do not rely on them for the bulk of your betting. The next time you are playing in a real casino, listen to the barking of the Stick Man as he aggressively peddles the proposition bets. He does this for a reason!
Another thing that really makes Craps enjoyable for me is how it manages to stay interesting even after playing it multiple times. Many games feel repetitive after a while, but here, the experience still feels fresh because of the small details and different ways you can approach the gameplay. As you continue playing, you naturally start improving and understanding the mechanics better, which makes everything feel more rewarding. I also appreciate the balance the game maintains—it’s not too difficult, but it’s not too easy either. You can play it casually for a short break or spend longer sessions without getting bored. That flexibility is one of the biggest reasons why I keep coming back to Craps. Overall, it’s the kind of game that doesn’t just entertain you for a moment, but actually gives you a consistently enjoyable experience every time you play.
