Craps - A Game Guide From GameSense

Goal

Blowing on dice is a great way to spread germs, not so much for changing the odds.

With so many types of wagers, knowing the odds provides a healthy perspective. A round begins when you place a bet on a roll of the dice. Each roll is random and independent from any previous roll.

Rules

The odds of the next roll are the same, no matter how hot or cold your game has been.

Each round consists of two phases: Come-Out and Point.

The Come-Out phase:

Place a bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. Dice move around the table clockwise.
Rolls of 7 or 11 mean Pass Line Bets win and Don’t Pass Line Bets lose.
On rolls of 2 or 3, Pass Line Bets lose and Don’t Pass Line bets win.
Rolls of 12 mean Pass Line Bets lose, but Don’t Pass Line Bets push (your bet stays on the table).
Hardways and Place Bets are off on the come-out roll, unless you request them on.
Rolls of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 establish the Point, and the round proceeds to the Point phase.

The Point phase:

Once a point has been established you may take odds, an additional bet placed directly behind your line bet. This is a bet that the shooter will make the Point beforea 7. Odds are the only bet in the casino which pay true odds. There is no house advantage on this bet.
This is when you may bet on the other numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10). The Hard Ways are open for betting.
If the Point is made, the shooter keeps the dice and begins a new round with a come-out roll.
If a 7 is rolled before the Point, the dice are passed to the next shooter and the game starts over with a come-out roll.

Etiquette

You can be the life of the party without spending your life savings.

Always throw the dice with one hand, never two, and be sure to hit the back wall
Always keep the dice where the dealer can see them
Feel free to ask your dealer for help or instruction if you’d like to learn about the different bets
When buying in or asking for change, place your money on the table instead of giving it to the dealer

Odds

If you've rolled ten 6s in a row, you're no more or less likely than usual to roll another 6.

1	Pass Line	1 to 1
2	Don’t Pass Line	1 to 1
3	Field	3, 4, 9, 10, 11: 1 to 1 2 or 12: 2 to 1
4	Horn	3 to 11: 15 to 1 2 or 12: 30 to 1
5	Come	1 to 1
6	Don’t Come	1 to 1
7	Any 7	4 to 1
8	Any Craps	7 to 1
9	Hard Way	4 or 10: 7 to 1 6 or 8: 9 to 1
10	Place Bet	4 or 10: 9 to 5 5 or 9: 7 to 5 6 or 8: 7 to 6

Terminology

Know the game. Play on your terms.

Pass Line You win even money if 7 or 11 come up on the first roll (known as the come-out roll), and you lose on 2, 3 or 12. If another number comes up, it becomes the “point,” and the round continues. If the point comes up again, you win even money each time. If a 7 comes up, the round is over, and you lose. If any other number comes up, you continue the round, but you don’t win or lose. Once a Pass Line bet is made, it can’t be picked up until a win or lose decision is reached. This bet pays 1 to 1.

Odds The odds that you place behind your line bet are the only bet in the casino which pay true odds. This is an optional wager.

Don’t Pass Line The opposite of a Pass Line Bet. On the come-out roll, you win on 2 or 3, and you lose on 7 or 11. If 12 comes up, it’s a push (a tie)—you don’t win or lose, but the round is over. Any other number that comes up establishes the point. On subsequent rolls, you win even money if 7 comes up. If the point comes up, you lose. A Don’t Pass Line bet can be picked up before a win or lose decision is reached. This bet pays 1 to 1.

Field A one-roll bet you can make anytime. If 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 are rolled, this pays 1 to 1. If 2 or 12 are rolled, this pays 2 to 1.

Horn Bet A one-roll bet you can make anytime. You’re betting that 2, 3, 11 or 12 will come up on the next roll. If 3 or 11 come up, you are paid 15 to 1; 2 or 12 pay 30 to 1. If none of those numbers come up, you lose.

Come You can make a Come bet after a point has been established. It’s a 1 to 1 bet with the same rules as a Pass Line bet.

Don’t Come You can make a Don’t Come bet anytime after a point has been established. It’s an 1 to 1 bet with the same rules as Don’t Pass Line betting.

Any 7 A one-roll bet that can be made anytime. When a 7 comes up on that roll, you’re paid 4 to 1.

Any Craps A one-roll bet paying 7 to 1 you can make any time. You win on 2, 3 or 12.

Hardway A bet placed on 4, 6, 8 or 10. To win, the number must come up the “Hardway,” as doubles. For example, if you bet on Hard Six, you win if a pair of 3s comes up before a 7 or an Easy Six (5 and 1 or 4 and 2).

Place Bet A bet that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will be rolled before a 7, after the come-out roll. A roll of 4 or 10 pays 9 to 5; a roll of 5 or 9 pays 7 to 5; a roll of 6 or 8 pays 7 to 6.