Fun, exciting and energetic, Craps is the signature casino game. No place is better to learn, practice and soon master the game of Craps than online casinos. Several of them allow you to play just for fun, without using any real money so you can learn to master the game before you even make your first wager. With multiple betting types available and various strategies, it can be quite the confusing game at first but after reading these quick tips you will be ready to roll the dice with the best of them.
Everyday Craps Terminology
Every craps player needs to know a few key terms and phrases to understand all the action going on at the table. Here are the most important ones for you to get started with:
Shooter: Person rolling the dice
Come Out Roll: First roll of the dice in a hand (round)
Coming Out: Making the come out roll
Right Bettor: Betting on the shooter to win the hand
Wrong Bettor: Betting on the shooter to lose the hand
Craps: Dice coming up 2, 3, or 12
Natural: Rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, resulting in an instant win
Pass: Shooter wins the hand, either with a natural or by matching his point
Don’t Pass: Shooter loses the hand
Point: The result of the come out roll if it isn’t a natural or craps. The shooter must then match this number to win the hand.
Sevening Out: Losing a hand with a roll of 7 on any roll after the come out roll.
Come: Same as Pass except that it cannot be placed until after the come out roll. If the shooter doesn’t pass on the next roll, but also doesn’t lose, then the come bet is moved into the box for the number rolled as if you had bet on that number to show. If the number appears again before a 7 is rolled, you win the bet.
Don’t Come: Same as Don’t Pass except that it cannot be placed until after the come out roll. If the shooter doesn’t seven out or roll craps, then the Don’t Come bet is moved into the box for the number rolled. If the shooter rolls this number again before rolling a 7, you lose.
Field Bet: Betting that the very next roll of the dice will come up 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Craps Betting Systems
The Martingale System
A very easy betting system for beginning players. Players make a bet either on Pass or Don’t Pass for a smaller amount (such as $5). If you win, you make a new bet in the same amount. If you lose, you simply double your bet and play again. The only real downside to this system is that if you hit a losing streak, your wagers will go up quickly. Also the danger of hitting the table’s betting limit can be a problem as well. Barring these 2 things, the Martingale System allows you to stack up winning wagers quickly.
The Paroli System
A progressive betting system built on the ideas of the Martingale System. In the Paroli System, you place a small bet, again $5 for example. If you lose, you make a new $5 bet. If you win, you double your bet to $10 and go again. This continues until you hit a predetermined limit, such as 3 consecutive wins, at which point you go back down to your original bet of $5 and start over. The philosophy of the Paroli System lies in the fact that some people have streaks of good or bad luck, and they aim to capitalize on it with the proper betting system.
The Iron Cross System
A well-known betting system for Craps, also known as the No Seven System. Most Iron Crossers wait for the point number to be established after the Come Out Roll and then place a Field Bet and also place bets on 5, 6, and 8 to cover every number but 7. The only downfall is when a 7 does pop up, you will lose all your bets on the table.
The Colonel’s System
A variation of the Martingale System, the Colonel’s System consists of waiting for 3 rolls to go by without hitting one of the Field numbers, then place a $5 field bet. Like in the Martingale System if it loses, you double your Field Bet and go again. If you’re really lucky, a roll of 2 or 12 will double your payout, netting you a big win.
Free Odds Betting
Another way for beginners to maximize their potential winnings is to play Free Odds. This is the only wager in Craps that the house doesn’t have an edge against you in. The Free Odds pays at much closer to true odds. Payout is 6-5 on a 6 or 8, 3-2 on 5 or 9, or 2-1 on 4 or 10. After the Come Out Roll when the Point has been set, you place either a Come or a Pass bet, then wager on the Odds for this hand. Some casinos allow you to bet double, triple, or even more all the way up to 100 times the original Pass bet!
The Fibonacci Craps System
Another Martingale System variation, the Fibonacci System involves increasing your bet after every lose by the amount you wagered before that. The Fibonacci System takes its name from the Fibonacci sequence which is created by adding the last two numbers to get the next in the series. For example:
$5 wager on Round 1
$5 wager on Round 2 ($5+0)
$10 wager on Round 3 ($5+$5)
$15 wager on Round 4 ($10+$5)
$25 wager on Round 5 ($15+$10)
And it continues from there. This system is meant to minimize losses by assuring the next time you win, you hit it big enough to recoup anything you might have lost. It allows you to stay in the game longer to score that big win.
Tips and Tricks for Craps Betting
- To truly win at craps, you will need to learn the odds of any given number coming up and where the best bet for your money is at any given time.
Odds of any given number being rolled in a single throw:- 2 comes up 1 in 36 rolls
- 3 comes up 2 in 36 rolls (1 in 18)
- 4 comes up 3 in 36 rolls (1 in 12)
- 5 comes up 4 in 36 rolls (1 in 9)
- 6 comes up 5 in 36 rolls
- 7 comes up 6 in 36 rolls (1 in 6!! Best odds!)
- 8 comes up 5 in 36 rolls
- 9 comes up 4 in 36 rolls (1 in 9)
- 10 comes up 3 in 36 rolls (1 in 12)
- 11 comes up 2 in 36 rolls (1 in 18)
- 12 comes up 1 in 36 rolls
- Remember any combination of 7 has the greatest chance of showing, at 1 in 6, making it a safer bet most of the time.
- For beginners the best bets are the Pass and Don’t Pass bets. Quick, simple, and the casino has the smallest advantage here.
- Proposition bets, bets on what the very next roll will be, are the least likely for you to win. Even though they offer seemingly high payouts, the likelihood that you will hit is too low to chance. Avoid making them at all costs.
- Any 7 sounds like a great bet, considering the odds of a 7 is 1 in 6, but being a proposition bet, is still better avoided.
- Set a loss limit for the amount of money you’re gambling with and stick with it. If that limit is 50% of the money you’re using, then don’t go below it. Sometimes you just have an unlucky day.
