Craps is one of the more complex casino table games and to the beginner, it can be very intimidating – but with a little effort, Craps can be rewarding and great fun to play.
Although there are other, more simple casino games to choose from, like Blackjack or Roulette, the main appeal of Craps lies in the fact that it offers some of the lowest “house edge” bets in the casino. The majority of bets on the Craps table should be avoided and basic Craps strategy is really just about filtering out the poor value bets. “Any 7” for example, offers the casino a whopping 16.7% edge and should be avoided like the plague.
The best place to start for a Craps novice is the “Pass Line” bet. Most players at the Craps table will be betting on it and if you only learn one bet, make it this one. Once you’re actually at the table making this bet, you can watch and learn more about the other types of bet and brush up on your Craps knowledge.
To bet on the “Pass Line”, place your chips in the section clearly marked “Pass Line”. You can place a “Pass Line” bet at any time, but statistically, the best time to place it is on the “come out” roll. You will easily be able to identify a “come out” roll as there will be a black marker on the Craps table, which says “Off”. If the dice shooter rolls 7 or 11, then you win (even money) and if they roll 2, 3 or 12, then your bet loses.
If the shooter rolls any other number, this becomes “point” and the dealer will cover the appropriate number on the Craps table with a marker, as a reminder to the players. At this point in the game, your “Pass Line” bet isn’t lost, but the shooter must now roll the “Point” number before rolling a seven. If that happens, the bet wins (again, even money) but if the shooter rolls a seven first, then the bet is lost.
This bet offers a 1.41% house edge – much lower than the likes of Blackjack (unless you play a perfect game) or Roulette (2.7% – 5.26) – and is your way into the complicated world of the Craps table. You don’t need to worry about any other bet until you feel more comfortable with the layout of the table and the way the game plays out.
Enjoy your first Craps experience!