Craps Rules

Craps is a casino games with origins that are difficult to trace, but which date back to the Crusades and have been influenced by French players. Although the most popular version in casinos is the one that pits players against ‘the house’ or ‘the dealer’, there are other variants, such as Street Craps, where players bet against each other.

Aim of the game

The aim is to predict the results of the dice thrown.In each round, players must choose a bet type before the shooter makes the first shot. The winner of the round is decided by the sum of the dice, according to the stakes placed.

Elements of the game

Dice: It is played with two six-sided dice. The role of the shooter passes from one player to the next at the end of each round, going in an anticlockwise direction.

Table: A rectangular table is used, on which all the available play options are outlined on its surface, separated by roll phases.

Buttons: They are used to indicate in which phase of the roll the game is in. One side of the button shows the word ‘ON’ and the other ‘OFF’. Before the point is determined on the first roll, the button will display ‘OFF’. Once the point has been established, the button will rotate to show ‘ON’, signalling that the game has moved to the next phase.

Table staff

If the game takes place in a real casino, several people gather around the table in addition to the players:

• The Boxman: Supervises the financial part.
• The Stickman: Delivers the dice, announces the results and accepts and places the bets.
• Base dealers: They exchange money for chips, assist players in placing chips in hard-to-reach areas, mark the point, pay winning bets and remove losing chips from the table.
• The (floor) supervisor: Responsible for monitoring the game as a whole.

Gameplay

The game is divided into two roll phases:

1. Starting Roll

During the Starting Roll phase, players can choose the Pass Line bet, which predicts that the dice total will be a 7 or 11, or the Don't Pass bet, which is based on the expectation that the total will be 2, 3 or 12.

If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the Pass Line bet wins (known as a ‘natural’); on the other hand, if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, the Don't Pass bet wins (known as a Craps roll). If the result is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the ‘Point’, and the dealer places a disc on the corresponding number on the table to mark it, starting the next phase.

1. Point shot

Bets placed on the Pass Line when the Point is established will remain on the table until that number is re-rolled. The shooter must try to get it again before throwing a 7; if successful, Pass Line bets win. However, if they roll a 7 before reaching the point, they lose and the turn passes to the next shooter.

Odds bets can also be placed alongside Pass Line bets, which offer different payouts depending on the point number. An odds bet will win if the point number is rolled before a 7 is rolled; otherwise, the bet loses.

Types of bets

Line Bets

• Pass Line: This is the main bet. You win with a 7 or 11 on the tee shot and lose with a 2, 3 or 12. Once the ‘point’ is established, you win by repeating that number before a 7, with a one-to-one payout.
• Don’t Pass: Contrary to the pass line, you win with a 2 or 3 and lose with a 7 or 11 on the starting shot (tie with a 12). Once the point is established, you lose if the number is repeated and win if a 7 comes first. This bet pays one to one.
• Come: It functions as a second Pass Line, only playable once the point has been established. Win with 7 or 11 and lose with 2, 3 and 12. If none of these numbers appear, the bet remains on the number obtained, which must be repeated before a 7 to win.
• Don’t Come: Similar to the Don't Pass bet; lose with 7 or 11 and win with 2 or 3. If these numbers don’t appear, the bet stays on the number obtained and loses if it is repeated before a 7.
• Pass odds: Additional bet on the Pass Line or Come that can be made after the point has been established. It wins if the number is rolled before a 7, and the payouts are according to the real odds (two to one if it is 4 or 10, three to two if it is 5 or 9, and six to five if it is 6 or 8).
• Don’t pass odds: Complimentary bet for those placing a Don't Pass or Don't Come and wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number. The payout depends on real probability (one to two on 4 and 10, two to three on 5 and 9 and five to six on 6 and 8).

Single roll bets

• Two: Win if you get a pair of 1s.
• Three: Win with a total of 3 between both dice.
• Eleven: Win with a total of 11 between both dice.
• Twelve: Win with a total of 12 between both dice.
• Two or twelve: Known as “High and low”, wins if you get 2 or 12 on the dice.
• Any Craps: Win with 2, 3 or 12 between both dice.
• C&E: You bet half on one of the craps and half on 11.
• Any Seven: Win with a total of 7 between both dice.
• Horn: This bet is placed by putting at least one chip on the numbers 2, 3, 11 and 12. The payout is determined by the outcome of the next roll, and the stake on the other numbers is deducted to keep the bet active.
• World: It consists of placing a chip on an Any Seven bet and a Horn Bet. In this case, the Any Seven chip acts as an insurance; if this number comes up, the payout is used to reset the Horn Bet.
• Hop: This bet is made on a specific combination of the dice on the next roll. For example, in a 5-1 Hop you bet that the exact combination will be a 5 on one die and a 1 on the other. This bet pays fifteen to one for simple combinations and thirty to one for difficult or ‘hard’ combinations.
• Field: The bet is that in the next roll there will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. Generally, this bet pays two to one on a 2 or 12 (although some casinos may pay three to one) and one to one on any of the other numbers. However, if you obtain a 5,6,7 or 8, you lose the bet.

Multi-roll Bets

• Hard or Difficult: Bet on getting 4, 6, 8 or 10 in its ‘hard’ form before a 7, or the ‘simple’ combination of the same number. The hard way is when both dice show the same result, called ‘pairs’ or ‘doubles’. For example, a 2-2 represents the ‘difficult’ way to obtain a 4 while a 3-1 is considered the ‘simple’ way.
• Big 6 and Big 8: The bet is on a 6 or 8 before a 7. This bet is often avoided by experienced players because it pays even money.
• Place Bet: Bet on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 (where the ‘point’ can be established), and it pays slightly less than the actual odds: nine to five on 4 and 10, seven to five on 5 and 9 and seven to six on 6 and 8.
• Buy Bet: Bet on a specific number with the payout of the actual odds, minus a 5% commission. You win every time the number you bet on comes up, but lose on 7.
• Lay Bet: Opposite bet to the buy bet, which pays at the actual odds minus a 5% commission. You win on the 7 and lose on the number you bet on.

This exciting dice game offers you the chance to try your luck. Dare to throw the dice and discover how your fortune can change in an instant!