Craps

Gambler's fallacy is the belief, and the strategy based upon the belief that past dice rolls have any influence over later rolls. Dice, like goldfish were believed to have until science taught us otherwise, have no memory. With this in mind, go ahead and read the following rules, terms and Craps-related trivia to avoid such misconceptions and learn how to play the game.

The basics

Craps is an increasingly popular game at online casinos, with considerably fair odds compared to other standard casino games that are also based on luck; the house advantage is a reasonable 5.72%. If this has already drawn you to the game before or is the reason you are interested in learning the game today, read along and learn the basics of playing Craps.
Just as there are two dice in the game, there are two rounds to every game; the "Point Round" and the "Come Out Round." At least one player is required per game. With this in mind, we are ready to roll.

The shooter is the person who rolls the dice in his turn. The players are required to make a pass line bet or a don't pass bet. The former is won if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 and loses if the result is 2, 3 or 12. The latter, meanwhile, loses with a 7 or 11 and wins with a 2 or 3, while 12 is a guaranteed win. Craps is the term for a losing roll, while Win is a winning roll, sometimes also called a Natural.

The shooter must first put up a stake; the other players bet against the shooter up to the amount of the stake he has placed. In some games, bettors may also bet against each other or against the house. A shooter who wins may continue to roll. In Craps, players wager money against the casino on the outcome of one roll, or on a series of rolls of two dice. Betting options are several, most of them on the outcome of the round, meaning the points or a seven out, as will be explained in the following. Additional betting options can be over the sum or a specific roll or a total before a 7 is rolled.

Rules and Terms

Craps includes two dice and basic rules:
A first throw - any combination of the two dice outcomes - of 7 or 11 is a winning roll. If the throw's outcome is 2, 3 or 12, you lose.

Any other possible outcome in the first throw - 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 - will win only if the next throw is of the same value, before the next throw of 7, which will be a losing throw and an end of a round.

As for the basic terms of Craps, they are likely already known to you. The popularity of the game has had the terms incorporated in the English language: on a roll (a lucky streak), Crap out (a roll of Craps on a come out roll), Snake Eyes (the number 2) and a high roller (a high stakes, large sum bettor at the Craps table) are such terms.

The most important terms in Craps and their meanings are:

• Come out roll: the initial or first roll of the dice before a point has been established. Can be won if a 7 or 11 come out. Otherwise, the sum becomes the shooter's point.
• Point: any total on the first roll that is not a win or a lose, i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10.
• Natural: another term for a win, a 7 or 11 rolled on the initial, come out roll.

Other terms are the possible betting options:

• Pass Line Bet: a bet placed before the come out roll, stating the dice will win or pass.
• Don't Pass Bet: the alternative bet to the pass line bet, placed before the come out roll, stating the dice will not pass. In other words, it is betting against the dice.
• One Roll Bet: a wager on the next throw of the dice only.
• Hi-Lo: an example of the many optional betting options. This one is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be a 2 or 12, the lowest or highest possible outcomes.
• Insurance Bet - Two or more wagers made to partially cover one another.

Keep your eyes open for...

Little skill is involved with playing Craps. The emphasis is entirely on the types of bets placed by the player. The guide section will expand on the various betting options. Following are a few things to keep in mind.
All bets have a house advantage in the game of Craps. The lowest house edge is on the pass/don't line, come/don't line, place 6, place 8, buy 4 and buy 10. (Visit the Craps guide for a clear description of each betting option.)

History

Craps originates with the crusades, sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries. It was influenced by the French in the following centuries, then becoming the Old English game known as Hazard, before arriving in New Orleans, Louisiana and spreading through the African American community at large.

Trivia

• The simple nature of Craps made it a popular game among many communities in the United States, and an all-time favorite of GIs.
• Craps was previously known as Crabs and Crapaud.
• The name of the Creole-American person who brought the game to the United States is Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. He was a gambler, a wealthy local nobleman and the President of the Louisiana Senate in the 1820s.
• Mellenberg Rolls are dice throws that fail to hit the far wall at the opposite end of the Craps table.
• Instead of referring to the seven by its name to avoid bad luck, it is commonly referred to as Big Red.
• Frank Sinatra sings in the song Luck Be a Lady Tonight the following line: A lady doesn't wander all over the room / and blow on some other guys dice. It is both a reference to Craps etiquette and a sexual euphemism.