-----History-----
While Craps is thought to date back to the Roman times (where it is believed that soldiers used carved pig knuckles to play with), it is more commonly accepted that the modern game of Craps evolved from the English game “Hazard” which was very popular during the 17th & 18th Century, but whose origins date back to at least the 14th Century.
“Kick Up at a Hazard Table” by Thomas Rownlandson 1787:
The modern day Game of Craps (whose name started out as “Creps” or “Crebs”) developed in the middle of the 18th Century.
It was in the early 19th Century that a Dice maker named John H. Winn made significant changes by introducing a new layout to the game.
Craps being played at a Military Camp in 1918:
-----Gameplay-----
Craps is played in 2 rounds, the “Come Out” and the “Point”.
Players take it in turns on each round to roll a set of 2 Dice. The player rolling is known as the “Shooter”.
When the Shooter rolls the Dice there are 3 possible outcomes:
-----The Natural-----
This is when either a 7 or 11 are rolled. This is a “Pass Bet”, and the Shooter starts the round again.
-----Craps or Crapping Out-----
This is when the Shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12. This is a “Don’t Pass Bet”, and the Shooter gets to roll again.
-----Point-----
Point is when the Shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
When Point is rolled the number would be marked on the table by the Croupier.
The Shooter will then continue to roll until he hits “Point” again, or a 7.
.-----The Table Layout-----
-----Wagering-----
-----Pass or Don’t Pass Bets-----
These are made before Point is established.
A Pass Line wager is betting on the Shooter gets a Natural or by winning the Point before rolling a 7.
A 'Don’t Pass Line" wager is betting on the Shooter not to pass the line.
This will happen if the Shooter rolls a 2 or a 3, or rolls a 7 before he rolls Point again.
If a 12 is rolled then this will be a “Push”.
-----Come or Don’t Come Bets-----
These are made after Point is established, and work in exactly the same was as the Pass and Don’t Pass bets.
-----Some of the other possible Bets-----
With a couple of exceptions, these are one roll bets, valid only for the next roll of the Dice.
They often have some very interesting names, and although not all of these can be seen on the table display, they are common in most Casinos.
“Any Seven” also known as “Big Red”
This is betting on a total of 7 to be rolled in any combination, for a payout of 4:1
“Any Craps” also known as “Three-Way”
This is betting on a total of either 2, 3, or 12 being rolled, for a payout of 7:1
“Aces” also known as “Snake Eyes”
This is betting on Double 1 to be rolled, for a payout of 30:1
“Ace-Deuce” also known as “Three Craps”
This is betting on a 1 and a 2 to be rolled, for a payout of 15:1
“The Yo” also known as “Yo-Leven”
This is betting on 6 and 5 to be rolled, for a payout of 15:1
“Boxcars”
This is betting on Double 6 to be rolled, for a payout of 30:1
“Square Pair”
This is betting on Double 4 to be rolled, for a payout of 9:1
“Brooklyn Forest”
This is betting on Double 3 to be rolled, for a payout of 9:1
“Ballerina”
This is betting on Double 2 to be rolled, for a payout of 7:1
“Field Bet”
This is betting on either a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 being rolled. 2 will payout at 2:1, 12 will payout at 3:1, and any of the others will payout at 1:1.
“Horn Bet”
This is betting on 2, 3, 11, or 12 to be rolled. The wager amount would need to be divisable by 4, so if you were going to wager $20 for example, then $5 would be placed on each of the numbers.
The payout would depend on the number rolled.
A 12 would pay at 30:1
An 11 would pay at 15:1
A 3 would pay at 15:1
A 2 would pay at 30:1
If any of the other numbers were to be rolled you would walk away with nothing.
“Big 6 or Big 8”
This is betting that a 6 or an 8 is rolled before a 7 is rolled. The payout is 1:1
“Hardways”
This is betting on either a 4, 6, 8, or 10 to be rolled, however this must be a double, and not a combination roll.
For example, 4 and 4 would be a “Hard 8” and the player would win, but a 5 and 3 would be called an “Easy 8” and the player would lose.
Once point is established you can make this wager, and you are looking to hit your double before an “Easy” 4, 6, 8, or 10 is rolled, or a 7 is rolled.
The payout for this wager is 7:1 for a Hard 4 or Hard 10, and 9:1 for a Hard 6 or Hard 8.
-----Odds & House Edge-----
Pass Line or Come Bet
Odds - 251/244
House Edge - 1.41%
Don’t Pass Line or Don’t Come Bet
Odds - 976/949
House Edge - 1.36%
Pass Line Bets
Numbers 4 or 10
Odds - 2/1
House Edge - 4.76%
Number 5 or 9
Odds - 3/2
House Edge - 4.76%
Numbers 6 or 8
Odds - 5/6
House Edge - 4.76%
Don’t Pass Line Bets
Numbers 4 or 10
Odds - 1/2
House Edge - 2.44%
Number 5 or 9
Odds - 2/3
House Edge - 3.23%
Numbers 6 or 8
Odds - 5/6
House Edge - 4.00%
Field Bet
Odds - 5/4
House Edge - 5.5%
Hardways
6 or 8
Odds - 10/1
House Edge - 9.09%
4 or 10
Odds - 8/1
House Edge - 11.10%
Any 7
Odds - 5/1
House Edge - 16.90%
Any Craps
Odds - 8/1
House Edge - 11.10%
Big 6 or Big 8
Odds - 5/6
House Edge - 9.09%
Horn Bet
Odds - 5/1
3 or 11
House Edge - 11.11%
2 or 12
House Edge - 13.89%
-----Link to the Game-----
-----The Final Word-----
Due to the complicated look of the table, Craps can be somewhat off putting to newer casino players.
It is however as simple as betting on the outcome of two Dice being rolled, there is really no skill involved, and as the saying goes, it’s the “luck of the dice”.
Craps can be a very fun game to play, and the atmosphere at a Craps table in the casino is usually one to be savored.
Once you learn a few of the different bets you can make it can be highly entertaining especially when played with friends.
Don’t be shy! Give it a go! Roll those Dice!
And for the final word… “Only gamble what you can afford to lose!”