craps

Next time you visit a casino, play a game of craps. It may be the most exciting,
action packed game you ever play. But make sure you know what you’re doing, because it is also the fastest way
to win or lose money. Remember, there is no skill in shooting craps, it is purely a game of chance. However, money
management is the key to walking away from the table with several hundred dollars in your pocket, even when you
only started with about $50.

There are several parts to this tutorial. Jump to the category you want, or just start from the
beginning.

Intro / Betting / Money Management

Introduction to Playing

1. Players stand around the craps table. The game starts when the players place their bets (we’ll
get to placing bets later) and the stickman pushes the dice to a shooter. The shooter rolls the dice across the
table so they hit the wall on the opposite end of the table.

2. This first roll of the dice is called a “come out” roll. There are three things
that can happen:

a) If on the first roll, the dice come up as 7 or 11, you win. The same shooter continues to
roll the dice.

b) If on the first roll, the dice come up as 2, 3, or 12, you lose. This is called craps, and
for good reason. The same shooter still rolls the dice.

c) If on the first roll, the dice come up as anything else, 4,5,6,8,9, or 10, that is called
your box point.

3. Now, the whole object of the game is to continue shooting the dice until you roll your box
point again. But if you roll a 7 before you roll your box point, you lose. The game is over, a new shooter is picked
(the next person around the table) and you start a new game. See, pretty simple.

Betting

1. Before the come out roll, all the players must place their first bet. You have two basic choices;
placing your bet on the “pass line” or the “don’t pass line.” Pass line bets mean you are betting
with the shooter. Don’t pass line bets means you are betting with the house. The fun in craps (and the best way
to win) is betting with the shooter. On the table, directly in front of you, place your bets on the pass line.

2. The shooter will roll when all bets are placed. If on the first roll a 7 or 11 comes up, you
win “even” money on the pass line bet you just made. If a 2,3, or 12 comes up, you lose that bet. Play
continues in this fashion until a box point number is rolled (4,5,6,8,9, or 10).

3. Once the box point number is established, you now can make additional bets.

a) First, take the “odds” on the pass line bet. You do this by placing the same amount
as your pass line bet, or more, on the table. If the shooter rolls the point number before a 7 is rolled, you win
“even” money on your pass line bet, plus 2:1 if the point number is 4 or 10; 3:2 if the point is 5 or
9; and 6:5 if the point is 6 or 8. You get the best odds on your money by placing these “odds” bets,
so do it.

b) In addition to the pass line and odds bets, you can now also place bets on the “numbers.”
At the top of the craps table are the numbers 4,5,6,8,9, and 10. You can bet (place) these individual numbers (any
or all of them). You win if the numbers you place come out before a 7 is rolled. You win different odds depending
on the numbers you bet. The 4 and 10 pay 9:5. The 5 and 9 pay 7:5. The 6 and 8 pay 7:6. These odds are based on
the probability of those numbers coming out. Take a look at the probability of numbers coming up.

c) There are many other bets you can make, but the odds are heavily favored for the casino. For
example, you can bet the “hard way.” This is when you bet the dice will display a certain way. Say you
bet the 8 the hard way. The dice must come out 4 and 4. If they come out as a 5 and 3 or a 6 and 2, you lose. A
hard 10 must come out as a 5 and 5, etc., etc. So just stick to playing the pass line, backing the bet with odds,
and playing the numbers.

Money Management

The beauty of craps is that you can win lots of money, quickly. Here’s how:

1. Increase your bets only if you win. Keep your bets at the starting level you determined after
a lose.

2. The amount of your starting bet is called a “unit.” It can be $5 or $5000. Each
time you win, increase your bets in the following progression:

Pass Line Progression

When you win your first pass line bet, you get paid one unit. Let those ride. Your second win
will get you 4 units. Take 1 unit off, and let the other 3 ride. You just got back your original bet, so now you’re
playing with free money.

A third win will give you 6 units, let these ride. A fourth win gives you 12 units. Now take
8 units off and let the 4 remaining ride. You now have an 8 unit profit with 4 units still on the table. If you
win again, let all 8 units ride. Then take back another 8 and let the 4 ride.

Continue in this fashion until you lose. Just remember this progression of units to bet: 1-2-3-6-4-8-4-8-repeat
4-8. Craps is a game of cycles, when you’re in on a winning cycle, you need money on the table to win. But eventually,
all good things come to an end, so take some profits down whenever you have more than 8 units on the table.

Numbers Progression

This same strategy applies to bets placed on the “numbers.” This is called “pressing”
your bet. To press means to add the previous win to your bet. For example, you say to the dealer “place the
number 9 for $5.” Now the shooter rolls a 9 (before a 7), you win $7 in profit. Now say to the dealer, “Press
it up.” The dealer will put another $5 on the number 9, and gives you $2 in profit. So you now have $10 on
the number 9. If the shooter rolls another 9, you’ll win $14 in profit.

So what do you do now? Press it up again. Another $5 will go on the number 9, and you’ll receive
$9 in your pocket. Let’s recap; after the number 9 was rolled twice (before a 7), you have $15 still on the table
riding on the number 9, plus you have $11 in your pocket. Not bad for an initial $5 bet. You can, and should, place
money on all the numbers if you want to win, or at least on the 6 and 8 (you have the best odds on winning with
6’s and 8’s). You can see how quickly it will add up, if you get a hot shooter. Or how quickly you can lose, if
the table is cold.

3. An alternate to progression bets is called “flat” bets. Every time you win, you
simply take the profit and let the initial bet ride. So if you place $5 on the number 9, and you win, you take
the $7 profit and just keep $5 on the table. This may be safer, but if you encounter a hot shooter, you’ll be missing
out on some SERIOUS money.