some info on craps

[vegas40]

Craps is played with two dice, so possible numbers rolled are 2 through 12.

Table layout are confusing because there are many different bets that can be made and because the layout on both ends of the table are exact mirrors of each other.

Only one bet is played in basic craps play, and it is placed on only one area of the layout, the rest of the layout can be ignored.

Craps can look confusing and fast-moving because players can place multiple bets on different areas of the layout at the same time. However, craps play can actually be slower than blackjack due to the fact that the dice often have to be rolled multiple times before the outcome is determined.

When you place a basic craps bet, all you are doing is placing a wager that the person who is rolling the dice will roll the number he needs to win.

[Sam B.]

Craps is played with two dice, so possible numbers rolled are 2 through 12.

The two dice create 36 possible outcomes, but since you add the two numbers together, you get only eleven possible sums, 2 through 12, distributed like this
2, 12 can be only rolled one way each
3, 11 can be rolled two ways each
4, 10 can be rolled three ways each
5, 9 can be rolled four ways each
6, 8 can be rolled five ways each
7 can be rolled six ways each
We can see that the 7 is what would roll the most if the math of the game was on 100% of the time! So after the come-out roll if you are playing the right side of the table you never want to see a 7! With this said you can see that the house has an edge over you with the fact that the 7 can be rolled more ways then the other numbers. The other edge the house has on you is they do not pay you true odds when you win on your bets, they take a vig out of every bet you make!

The true odds would be:

4 or 10 2 to1
5 or 9 3 to 2
6 or 8 6 to 5

The house does not pay you true odds so on the:

4 or 10 on a place bet pay’s 9-5
5 or 9 on a place bet pay’s 7-5
6 or 8 on a place bet pay’s 7-6

This just covers the place bets and if you are just stating out playing craps these are the only bets that you should be making as all the bets that the stickman controls have to high of a house edge, and should not be made!

Even though you are giving away a small % by betting the place bets I think you are better off. As you can take them down at any time or call them off at any time! You are not locked into a bet that has to stay up till you win it or lose it. When you read any book on craps they will tell you that the pass line bet is the best bet you can make in craps, but the bet pays even money and once made you are locked into the bet it can not be called off or taking down! This is the old way of thinking about you bets, don’t buy into it, the casinos have been selling the pass line bet for years buy saying they are giving you free odds behind the line on your pass line bet. The only way you can get their so call free odds is with a pass line bet and that should tell you something. You have to buy that bet by making the pass line bet!

Their way of selling a bad bet with the free odds is to conceal the fact it’s a bad bet by saying they are giving the free odds, but you are paying for them!

Don’t make a pass line bet unless the dice are in your hands, and don’t worry about all the play outs you missed on the come out rolls you also missed out on all the losers if the shooter was making crap numbers.

sam B.