Do do you play Craps?

Question

Going to Vegas and would like to play Craps, does anyone know how to play? any websites that provide a good explanation would be appreciated.

Answer 1

If you want to look like you know what you're doing the first time out. Make sure you check the table minimum before you place a bet, you don't want to place a $5 bet on the pass line on a $25 table. There will be a card near the stacks of chips, near the "box">floor critter who directs the game. With the table minimum/maximum/odds, it will look something like this
$5 minimum
$1000 maximum
2x odds

Look the dealer in the eye, show him your money, ask for "change please" and lay the money on the table not on the betting layout. If you sit your money on the pass line they are going to assume it's a bet. You do the routine all in one smooth motion, >walk up, dealer sees you, show money, ask for change, lay money on table..

There are only 4 good bets in craps, avoid the rest they go from very bad to really awful. 1-play the pass/come line 2-take the odds 3-place the 6 or 8 - This is a game where the KISS method really does work, "keep it simple stupid" stay within those 4 bets, you will be playing a better game that the guys who "look" like they know what they are doing "betting the hard ways - hop bets etc" and you will have a good time. Craps is probably the most "fun" game in the house...

Most people play the "do's" and not the "don'ts" this is playing "with" the table rather than against, it's just more fun is all.
even though the odds slightly favor the don't 1.36% house advantage on the don't 1.41% ad on the pass line. > lets say you bet $5 on the pass line...if the come out roll is 7 or 11 you win, 2,3,12 you lose - if the # 4-5-6-8-9-10 a "point" has been established. The dealers will mark the point, that is now where your pass line bet is, if that # comes up before 7 you win if 7 comes up first you lose.

This is where craps gets fun, after the come out roll you can now take "full odds" if you wish, lets say the table "only" has 2x odds, you can now place a $10 bet, place it down just behind the pass line, this is the best bet, it has no house advantage whatsoever. If the "point" was other than 6 or 8 you can then "place" those bets(if you wish), sit $6 where the dealer can reach your checks and tell him you wish to place the 6 or 8($12 to cover both). The place bets on 6 and 8 pay 7-6 and have a house advantage of 1.52%..

Stick with the 4 good bets and you will be playing one of the best games in the casino. Blackjack(perfect basic strategy) Baccarat(bank/player bet) and Pai Gow Poker(1.4%) house advantage are very good games for the player. I add Pai Gow to the "big three" because it has a fairly low house advantage, and it's a "slow" game>less money at risk for the player

the shooter will keep rolling until he 7's out, you can win over and over again, that's what makes craps fun.

I know this is a simplistic, hopefull not to confusing explanation, but it should get you started

this is a good web site
http://www.wizardofodds.com >click on game info>craps Mike gives a great explanation of the entire game.

another good site for LV info
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com

If you would like to play some very low limit craps in LV to get your feet wet. The Westin Casuarina on Flamingo has happy hour from 5-10pm and during happy hour you can play $1 craps. The Westin is a very nice casino and it's only about a 5 min walk from the Barbary Coast...

Answer 2

If you can find a good website or book, read it to learn all the rules. Then as others have said, play the pass/come with odds on point and place the 6 or 8. Those are very simple bets (once you learn them) and pay out the best. The other bets are 'sucker' bets, though you will see someone get lucky and win big on them from to time.

The dealers will also generally be friendly and help you. They will tell you how much you can bet on odds and how much to place the 6/8, etc. If the dealer is unfriendly or unresponsive, go to the other side of the table or another table. No need to tolerate that.

As also said, Craps is a very social and fun game, if the table is hot. Walk around the floor, see which tables are full and which are stagnant. If there are people there, are they quiet or loud?

Learn the basic rules for pass line and odds if you can't find more extensive rules and take advantage of the casinos free lessons. You dont have to be staying at that casino either, they want to teach you so you will play. I tried and tried to explain the game to my fiancé, and she just wasnt getting it. Then we happened upon lessons at the Imperial Palace, and she now loves the game.

Good luck!

Answer 3

not enuff to know for a website. Play the pass line & take full odds behind. No space for the odds - just put $10 behind your $5 if 2x odds. If Point (1st non-2,3,7,11,12 rolled; Large marker will show you what it is) for the sequence is 4 or 10 your odds bet will get pd at 2-1. If 5 or 9 make your odds $12 as will get pd at 3-2 so $18 + the $5 (pass line even money) . If 6 or 8 the odds bet paid at 6-5. If you place money directly on the numbers the odds are lower. 9-5,7-5,7-6 following same pattern above. Sounds complicated but no mensa candidates around a craps table so you know it is easy. Forget the numbers. Pass line & take odds - just do that & ahead of the fools betting in the center & elsewhere.

Answer 4

Most of the casinos have free lessons, usually in the morning. I bet the pass line, take full odds and take the bet and odds on the next 3 numbers that come out. Put out a bet for the table once in awhile and they will make sure that you have your odds bets correct.

It's lots of fun but can get expensive depending on the table minimums. It can be intimidating initially for a beginner as there are some rules (as there are for all table games)....like when you are the shooter, don't take your hand with the dice in it outside the table.

I am sure that if you do a web search, you can find plenty of how to sites or there are many books on the subject.

Answer 5

Most of the casinos offer free lessons, usually in the morning or early afternoon. Here's a list to start with, be sure to call for details:

http://www.ildado.com/gambling_classes.html

Answer 6

Jack gave you a very good answer. The other question is, where to play. I recommend the low minimums downtown. The Golden Gate is a blast, and they still have .99 shrimp cocktail.