Learning the rules of craps is partially learning how the sessions (or rounds)
work, part learning the good bets from the bad bets, and then knowing how and
when to place them. Combine this with an intelligent method of managing your
bankroll, and you'll be at a great advantage over the under-informed that share
the table with you.
Many searching for craps rules on the Internet are intent on finding a page
that lists which bets they can make, how to make them, and when to make them.
To learn this read the pages on Basic Bets and More Bets. The page your reading
now will simply overview some of the things craps rules allow for and do not
allow for.
Craps rules allow you to place bets against one another if you choose. Altering
bets partway through play though is usually not allowed, though many can be
'taken down' and removed from play part way through a session, before they win
or lose. Fortunately the dealers at the casino will likely be more helpful than
hurtful if you learn from your mistakes. Playing online of course you can't
make a mistake, the software ensures that you don't misplace your bets. Basically
the rules of craps come down to each individual bet and how and when you are
allowed to place it.
If you’re just learning about craps, and want to understand how the game
works, the simplest thing to do first is look at the rules governing the 'come-out
roll'. The flow of the game revolves around the come out roll, which is the
start of a session or round. It is the obligation of the shooter to place a
pass line bet before he throws the dice.
If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11 (which craps rules label a natural) the pass
line wins and the don't pass loses. The shooter has another chance to set a
point and rolls another come out roll immediately. If the come-out roll is a
2, 3, or 12 (called 'craps') the pass line loses and the don't pass line wins,
or ties. The don't pass bet is a tie when the come-out roll is a 12. The shooter
again gets another chance to set a point. In order to pass the dice along the
shooter must first set a point, and then ‘seven out’ by hitting
a seven before they hit the point number again.
You might know all of this from reading our ‘flow of the game’
page. It’s important to understand that the entire game revolves around
‘the dice’. The shooter is by default playing ‘with the dice’,
as he is obligated to place a pass line bet before throwing the dice. Many bets
on the board are either designed to win when the shooter wins or to win when
the shooter looses.
This fact dictates a great deal of what is considered socially acceptable behaviour
around the craps table. The social rules of the craps tables can contribute
to your good time almost as much as the hard and fast rules. You’ll quickly
find that playing ‘against the dice’ at the craps table will earn
you rather rude stares from a good number of your fellow players. They may be
too polite to say anything, but you betting on their bad luck often puts a damper
on things when they lose, and you win. The casino knows this of course, and
in fact offers a lower house edge on some of the bets that go against the dice.
