Craps Rules

The game of craps has always been confusing for new players. The myriad of bets, the layout of the table, and the lingo, can make a newcomer feel quite intimidated. However, if we take the game apart, and analyze the object of the game, and then discuss each bet one at a time, you'll find it's not that difficult of a game after all.

We'll start with the table layout. It's loaded with numbers and strange words and will appear in online casinos and tradtional casino floors as:

For now, let's avoid the right hand side of the table (besides, those bets pay "poorly") and start with the basics. Before an initial roll of the craps dice, a "Pass Line" bet is made by the player. Then, the craps game begins with the "Come Out" roll of the dice.  The "Pass Line" bet wins when the "Come Out" role is a 7 or 11 and loses when the roll is a 2,3, or 12.  If a 4,5,6,8,9,or 10 is rolled, the number rolled becomes the "Point" (usually marked by a white marker puck labeled "On" to remind the players).  The "Point" that has been established must be rolled again before a 7 is rolled in order to win the "Pass Line" bet. Otherwise, the "Pass Line" bet is lost. 

A "Come Out" roll takes place under the following situations:

At the beginning of a new game

After a "Point" is rolled

After a 7 is rolled when the "Point" has been established

After a 7 or 11 has been rolled on a "Come Out" roll

After a 2, 3 or 12 has been rolled on a "Come Out" roll

Example: 

You make a "Pass Line" bet.  The "Come Out" roll is a 7 -- you win your "Pass Line" bet and a new roll begins. 

The next "Come Out" roll is a 3 -- you lose your "Pass Line" bet. 

You make a new "Pass Line" bet and the next "Come Out" roll is a 5 -- the "Point" becomes a 5 and you now must roll a 5 before rolling a 7 in order to win your "Pass Line" bet. 

The next roll is a 9 -- nothing happens to your "Pass Line" bet. 

The next roll is 4 -- again, nothing happens to your "Pass Line" bet. 

The next roll is a 5 - -you win your "Pass Line" bet.  You now make a new "Pass Line" bet and the next roll is a "Come Out" roll

The "Pass Line" bet is the standard Craps bet.  In addition or in place of the "Pass Line" bet, you can bet on any combination of the dice you desire.

Now that you know and understand the basics of the "Pass Line" bet, we'll go through each of the different bets that can be made in the game of craps. Here's where it gets a little confusing, so stay with us...

Craps Bets

"Pass Line" Bet - As disussed, you win if the "Come Out" roll is a 7 or 11 (“natural 7 or 11“) and lose if it is a 2, 3, 12 (“Craps”). If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 is rolled, that number rolled becomes the "Point," and the "Point" number must be rolled again before a 7 to win. If 7 is rolled before the "Point" is rolled, you lose.  A "Pass Line" bet pays 1:1 odds.

"Taking Odds" on a "Pass Line" Bet - After a "Point" has been established, the player can make an additional bet associated with their "Pass Line" bet.  This bet wins, along with the "Pass Line" bet if the "Point" is rolled before a 7.  The payoff for "Taking Odds" varies based on the "Point", as follows:

"Point" is 4 or 10 = pays 2:1 odds

"Point" is 5 or 9 = pays 3:2 odds

"Point" is 6 or 8 = pays 6:5 odds 

"Come" Bet - The identical rules as the "Pass Line" bet, however you can only make this bet after a "Point" has been established on the "Pass Line."  When you make a "Come" Bet, you win if the next roll is a 7 or 11, lose if the next roll is a 2, 3, or 12, and set a "Come Point" if the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.  If the "Come Point" is rolled again before a 7 is rolled, you win your "Come" bet.  If a 7 is rolled before the "Come Point" is rolled, you lose your "Come" bet.

"Taking Odds" on "Come" Bet - Identical rules as "Taking Odds" on the "Pass Line" except you take odds on the "Come" bet not the "Pass Line" bet.

"Don't Pass Line" Bet - The opposite of the "Pass Line" bet.  You lose if the "Come Out" roll is a 7 or 11 and win if the "Come Out" roll is a 2 or 3.  The only item that's not exactly opposite the "Pass Line" bet is that you push or tie the casino if a 12 is rolled.  If the "Come Out" roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number establishes the "Point" and a 7 must be rolled before the "Point" is rolled to win.  If the "Point" is rolled before the 7, you lose.

"Don't Come" Bet - The opposite of the "Come" bet.  You lose if the "Come Out" roll is a 7 or 11 and win if the "Come Out" roll is a 2 or 3.  The only item that's not exactly opposite the "Come" bet is that you push (tie) the casino if a 12 is rolled.  If the "Come Out" roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number establishes the "Point" and a 7 must be rolled before the "Point" is rolled to win.  If the "Point" is rolled before the 7, you lose.  

"Place" Bets to "Win" - You are betting that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before a 7.  Place bets only work after a "Point" has been established.  "Place" bets to win stay on the table until you take them down or a 7 is rolled.  "Place" bets to win have different payoffs as follows:

"Place" Bet on 4 or 10 = pays 9:5 odds

'Place" Bet on 5 or 9 = pays 7:5 odds

"Place" Bet on 6 or 8 = pays 7:6 odds 

"Place" Bets to "Lose" - You are betting that a 7 will be rolled before a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled.  Place bets to lose only work after a "Point" has been established.  Place bets to lose stay on the table until you take them down or a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled.  Place bets to lose have different payoffs as follows:

"Place" Bet to Lose on 4 or 10 = pays 5:11 odds

"Place" Bet to Lose on 5 or 9 = pays 5:8 odds

"Place" Bet to Lose on 6 or 8 = pays 4:5 odds 

"Buy" Bets - Essentially the same as "Place" bets, but with different payoffs.  You can 'Buy" a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 betting that the number you bought will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.  A 5% commission must be paid to the casino and the payout is fair odds (you are essentially paying a commission to get better odds), as follows:

"Buy" Bet on 4 or 10 = pays 2:1 odds

"Buy" Bet on 5 or 9 = pays 3:2 odds

"Buy" Bet on 6 or 8 = pays 6:5 odds 

"Lay" Bets - The opposite of "Buy" bets where you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before the number you are laying (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10).  A 5% commission must be paid to the casino and the payout is fair odds (you are essentially paying a commission to get better odds), as follows:

"Lay" Bet on 4 or 10 = pays 1:2 odds

"Lay" Bet on 5 or 9 = pays 2:3 odds

"Lay" Bet on 6 or 8 = pays 5:6 odds 

"Field" Bets - One roll bets only.  On the next roll you win if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 is rolled and you lose if any other number is rolled (5, 6, 7, 8).  Field bets have different payouts, as follows:

The next roll is a 2 = pays 2:1 or 3:1 odds

The next roll is a 12 = pays 2:1 or 3:1 odds

The next roll is a 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 = pays 1:1 odds 

"Big Six," and "Big Eight" Bets - Bet can be made at any time.  You win the "Big Six" if a 6 is rolled before a 7 is rolled.  You win the "Big Eight" if an 8 is rolled before a 7 is rolled.  Big Six and Big Eight bets pay 1:1 odds (or even odds).

"Proposition" Bets - One roll bets only (except for the "Hardways") which can be made at any time.  You either win or lose on the roll following the bet (except for the "Hardways").  The following are the various "Proposition" bets and their payoffs:

"Any Craps:" Wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. Payoff = 8:1

"Any Seven:" Wins if a 7 is rolled. Payoff = 5:1

"Eleven" ( or “Yo”): Wins if a 11 is rolled. Payoff = 16:1

"Three" ( or “Ace-Deuce”): Wins if a 3 is rolled. Payoff = 16:1

"Two" (or “Aces” or “Boxcars”): Wins if a 2 or 12 is rolled. Payoff = 31:1

"Horn" Bet: One bet that covers any 2, 3, 11, or 12.  The bet acts as if one-fourth of the bet was placed on each number.  The payout is based on the number rolled as follows: Roll is a 2 or 12 = pays 31:1 odds; Roll is a 3 or 11 = pays 16:1 odds

"Hardways": Betting that a pair of 2s (“Hard 4”), pair of 3s (“Hard 6”), pair of 4s (“Hard 8”), or a pair of 5s (“Hard 10”) will be rolled.  "Hardway" bets win if the pair is rolled before a 7 or before the number bet on is rolled easy (ex. Easy 8 = 3+5 or 2+6).  These are not one roll bets and the bet stays on the table until a 7 or the easy way is rolled.  Payoffs: Hard 4 and 10 = 8:1; Hard 6 and 8 = 10:1

"C&E": “C” is identical to Any Craps and “E” is identical to Eleven.

You do not need to have a "Pass Line" bet to make any of the bets above, except when "Taking Odds."

That should get you well on your way to playing and enjoying the game of craps. For more information on strategy, visit our Craps Strategy section.