ONLINE CRAPS

Craps is a game of chance; sometimes you win sometimes you lose. But casinos are not prepared to rely on chance when it comes to business; they will try to secure a certain edge against the players. The edge is built-in into the game to benefit the casino. Craps is a game where the player has to rely on luck, play for excitement and enjoy a good time. In craps, players place wagers on the roll of the dice. A pair of six sided dice are used in the game. The shooter is the player that tosses the dice. Every player at the table can have the opportunity to roll the dice. The dice are passed counter clockwise after each new round. When a new round of craps begins, the shooter selects two dice to roll. The shooter must make a line bet (either on the pass line or don't pass line). Other players at the table also make bets. The shooter begins the round by rolling the dice off the opposite wall of the table. The shooter's first roll is known as the come-out roll.

The Come-Out Roll

If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, then the pass line bet wins and the don't pass bets lose. This scenario ends the round. If the come-out roll is a 2, 3 or 12 (or craps), then the pass line loses and the don't pass line either wins or ties (a tie happens when the come-out roll is a 12). If the come-out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, then that specific number becomes the player's point. The dealers at the table then place a puck on top of that specific number on the table. The shooter continues to roll the dice until he or she rolls the point number or craps out by rolling a 7. If the point number is rolled, then pass line betters win and don't pass betters lose. If a 7 is rolled before the point number, then pass line bets lose and don't pass bets win. The craps rules basically comes down to knowing which bets that are available and the pay outs for these different bets.

TYPES OF BETS

Pass Line

Pass line bets are the easiest craps bets to make. When you wager on the pass line, you are betting that either a 7 or an 11 will be the result of the come-out roll. If a shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, you double your money. If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 instead, then a point is established. When you bet the pass line, you want that point number to be rolled again, (before the shooter rolls a 7). If the shooter does hit the number before rolling a 7, your pass line bet is doubled. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 (or craps) on the come-out roll, then you lose your pass line bet. If a point is established and a 7 is rolled before that point value, this also results in a lost pass line bet.

Don't Pass Line

Don't Pass bets are the opposite of pass line bets. When you make a don't pass bet you are basically betting against the shooter. You want the shooter to crap out (roll a 2, 3 or 12) on the come-out roll. If a point is established on the come-out roll, then your goal as a don't pass better is to have the shooter roll a 7 before hitting their established number.

Come Bets

A come bet is like a pass line bet. You can make a come bet on any roll of the dice. Come bets are made after a point has been established. If a shooter rolls a 7 or 11 after a come bet is made, the come bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 after a come bet has been made, the come bet loses. If the shooter rolls any other number, all come bets are moved to a smaller numbered box on the table. If that number is rolled before the shooter rolls a 7, then come bet wins. If the 7 is rolled before the number, the come bet loses. Don't come bets are the exact opposite of the come bets.

Don't Come Bets

Don't come bets win, if a shooter rolls a 2 or a 3 after a point has been established (a 12 results in a tie). If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, then a seven must be rolled before that number is repeated again, in order for the don't come bet to win.

All of this might seem a bit complicated, but once you start playing, you'll get the hang of it. Try downloading free craps games online so that you can practice and familiarize yourself with the craps rules and betting procedures.

Sucker Bets

The different bets mentioned above are not all possible wagers that can be made in a game of craps. The other bets, however, are known as sucker bets and should be avoided at all costs. Placing sucker bets when when playing craps is a sure way to shorten your craps session as well as your casino bankroll.

CRAPS STRATEGY

Few people who have spent a fair amount of time studying the wealth of current online gambling opportunities would argue that craps is a game that has made the transition from brick-and-mortar casinos to their online counterparts with tremendous success. A natural result of this is that more people are looking to get a handle on critical aspects of craps strategy.

Laying Odds - No House Edge

Clearly, it pays to look at the one bet within the confines of the game that comes without any kind of house edge. This wager, known as laying odds, can only be made if you've already bet on the pass line first. After a point has been thrown, you have the option of betting up to some multiple of your pass line bet "on the odds." While this multiple can vary, the most common is two times the first wager. By placing this bet, you're hoping that the point will be rolled again before the appearance of a 7. Making this a potentially even more attractive approach is that you stand to win more than your bet if it happens.

The allowed multiple you can bet on the odds is most often two times the pass line bet (for points of 4, 5, 9 and 10). However, in the case of the 6 and 8, the multiple climbs up to two and a half times the pass line bet. A third option is to take full double odds, which indicates you are betting two and a half times odds on a point of 6 or 8, in addition to two times on all other points.

Betting Wrong Is Right

Standing in bold contrast to the pass line wager is the don't pass bet. If the come out roll is a 2 or 3, you will win the bet. If it turns up a 7 or 11, you lose. Furthermore, a 12 results in a push. That aside, the dice will be thrown repeatedly until either the point or a 7 is rolled. You are betting that the 7 will come before the point, which is the only outcome allowing you to win.

A person betting on the don't pass is frequently referred to a "wrong" better (but don't let that discourage you). This moniker derives from the fact that if you wager on the don't pass you will find yourself winning when everyone else is losing and vice versa. Obviously, this can create some awkward moments when gathered around a table in a brick-and-mortar casino with other live players, which is why the don't pass bet often seems more palatable when playing craps online. An additional factor you'll want to bear in mind that house edge on the don't pass bet is a very manageable 1.364 percent. These of course represent only a small fraction of the many betting options you have in craps. However, by learning them in all their intricacies, you will be well prepared to dive deeper.

Craps Strategy

Among all the bets that are available in Craps, some offer worse odds than others, some much worse. On the other hand, some bets give you odds that make you more or less even money against the house. If you can find these bets and stick to them in the midst of chaotic Craps action, your money will last longer, and you may very well leave the casino a winner.