Craps can seem like a difficult game. To answer the question how do you win at craps, you first need to understand how the game is played. In Craps, the value of the two dice you roll is key. You need to roll specific numbers before other numbers. Doing so is the key to winning.
Basic Game Rules
Before the dice are rolled, the person rolling the dice places a bet. This person is called the shooter. To be a shooter, you must bet on the Pass Line or Don't Pass Bar. Dice then get passed clockwise around the table to those who want to roll the dice.
The shooter makes that first roll, which is called the Come Out Roll. The Come Out Roll is meant to set the point. To set that point value, the two dice cannot be worth 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, anyone betting on the Pass Line wins. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, the person betting on the Pass Line loses. It's the opposite for a Don't Pass wager.
Pay close attention to the Point. On the next roll, the shooter wants to roll that point value again before rolling a 7. If the 7 comes first, anyone with a Don't Pass bet wins. If the Point is rolled again before a 7 is rolled, bets on the Pass Line win.
Those are the bets you'll make starting out. There are several others, however. To understand these, you first need to understand the structure of the Craps table.
The Standard Craps Table Layout
The shape of a craps table is rectangular. On that rectangle are several betting options. Start from the let. There is an L-shaped box called the pass line. Above that are the Don't Pass Bar, the Big 6-8, Field, Come, Don't Come, and numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. To the right of those are C-E and then the Seven bets and Any Craps. Here's the breakdown of the bets you can make.
We've talked about the Pass and Don't Pass bets. There are also Come and Don't Come bets. They can only be placed after the Point has been determined. They work just like the Pass and Don't Pass bets. On a Come bet, a 7 and 11 wins. On a Don't Come bet, a 2 or 3 rolled in the first round wins while a 12 is a push. All four of those bets don't tend to pay much. Check the payouts on the table where you're playing craps. Most stick to the standard 1 to 1 payout ratio.
Big 6-8 bets require a 6 or 8 to be rolled before the shooter rolls a 7. This bet pays 1 to 1, so it's not a bet that will win you a lot of money.
Field bets can be better. You'll win 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 if you correctly predict the number that will be rolled next. Options are 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. A 2 or 12 gives you the 2 to 1 odds.
Specific numbers also are options when it comes to betting. You can bet on a 3 and potentially win 15 to 1. Craps (2, 3, or 12), pay 7 to 1. A roll of 2 (a pair of aces) pays 30 to 1. A 12 pays 30 to 1. Hardways are rolls where the dice rolled are doubles. Hardways include 4, 6, 8, and 10. In each case, you want the number you bet on to appear before you roll a 7. You can bet on the 7, too, and qualify or a payout of 4 to 1.
C&E bets are a mix of betting strategies. You're betting half that a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled and the other half on an 11. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, you win 3 to 1. If an 11 is rolled, you win 7 to 1.
Your Pass/Don't Pass and Come/Don't Come are the basic bets that lead to the most frequent wins. They're the safe bet when you're starting out. Play online for fun while you get used to the rules and betting options. As you increase your understanding of the game, switch and play for cash prizes.
Many online casinos allow you to play for fun. If you need suggestions, try casinos like Ignition Casino, Liberty Slots Casino, or Lincoln Casino to start. They all allow players to practice before they switch to play craps for real money.
