Craps Rules

Craps can be the favourite and the most profitable game in the casino for players, that is, if you know how to take advantage of the smart bets. Many of the bets will look attractive and promising, but it's a well-know fact: looks can be deceiving. And the casino takes advantage of it. That's why it's important to know the difference between the smart bets and the dumb ones. Let me warn you, craps rules can be very confusing, especially when you're new to the game.

The "GOOD" bets:

Pass Line Bet
Often referred to as the "right" bet, it is placed just before the come-out roll. The rules are straight forward: the bet wins if the come-out roll is 7 or 11 and loses if it's 2, 3, or 12. Once a point is established, the point number must be rolled again before a 7 comes up for the bet to win, otherwise, it loses. The house edge for pass line bets is 1.41% making it one of the best bets in the casino. It's a pure luck bet - a rarity in casinos. The real value lies in backing your pass line bet with 'free odds'. The odds bet is placed just behind the pass line once a point is established, and is paid back at true odds, unlike most bets in the casino.

Don't Pass Line Bet
Just to make craps rules more confusing, there's the don't pass line bet. Just like the pass line bet above, this bet is also placed immediately prior to the come-out roll. The rules, however, are opposite. The bet wins if the come-out roll is 2 or 3 and loses if it's 7 or 11. If 12 is rolled, it's a push, which means that no money is won or lost. Once a point is established, 7 must be rolled before a reoccurrence of the point for the bet to win. The house edge for don't pass line bets is 1.36% - just slightly better than the pass line bet - nonetheless, far less popular. The bet is often referred to as the "wrong" bet, or playing 'against the dice', because players as a group like to see points being made rather than craps.

Come Bet
A come bet can be made anytime after a point is established. The same craps rules apply as the pass line bet. After a come bet is placed, the next roll is the come-out roll for that particular bet, and only for the player who placed that bet. The only difference between the come bet and the pass line bet is that with a come bet, you can identify the "virtual" start of the game, and the point is yours alone, it's not the point for the rest of the players. The house edge on the come bet is the same as the pass line bet - 1.41%.

Don't Come Bet
By now, this should be obvious - the rules are exactly the opposite of those for the come bet, and the same as for the don't pass line bet, with the exception of starting your own round of play separate from the original pass line activity of the shooter. By placing the bet, you establish the start of a new round. The house edge on this bet is, of course, 1.36%. Sound familiar? The don't come and don't pass bets are two of the best bets in craps.