Craps is the fastest - and certainly the loudest - game in the
casino. With the big, colorful table, chips flying everywhere
and players yelling, it's exiting to watch and exciting to play.

Craps also has the one of the lowest house edges against you of
any casino game, but only if you make the right bets. In fact,
with one type of bet (which you will soon learn) you play even
with the house, meaning that the house has a zero edge. This is
the only casino game where this is true.

THE TABLE LAYOUT

The craps table is slightly larger than a standard pool table,
with a wood railing that goes around the outside edge. This
railing acts as a backboard for the dice to be thrown against
and is sponge-lined on the inside with random patterns so that
the dice bounce randomly. Most table rails also have grooves on
top where you can place your chips.

The table surface is a tight fitting green felt with designs to
indicate all the various bets that can be made in craps. It's
very confusing for a beginner, but all you really need to
concern yourself with right now is the "Pass Line" area and the
"Don't Pass" area. These are the only bets you will make in our
basic strategy (and for the most part the only bets worth
making, period).

BASIC GAME PLAY

Don't let the confusing layout of the craps table intimidate
you. The basic game itself is very simple. A new game with a new
player (the person shooting the dice) begins when the current
player "sevens out", which means he rolls a seven. That ends his
turn and a new player is given the dice.

The new player makes either a pass line bet or a don't pass bet
(explained below) and then throws the dice, which is called the
"comeout roll".

If that first roll is a 7 or 11, this is called "making a pass"
and the "pass line" betters win and "don't pass" betters lose.
If a 2, 3 or 12 are rolled, this is called "craps" and pass line
betters lose, while don't pass line betters win. However, don't
pass line betters do not win if the "craps" number is a 12 in
Las Vegas or a 2 in Reno and Tahoe. In this case, the bet is
push - neither the player nor the house wins. All pass line and
don't pass line bets are paid even money.

Barring one of the three "craps" numbers from winning for don't
pass line bets is what gives the house it's low edge of 1.4
percent on all line bets. The don't pass bettor has a stand-off
with the house when one of these barred numbers is rolled.
Otherwise, the don't pass bettor would have a small advantage
over the house "� something that no casino permits!

If a number other than 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12 is rolled on the
comeout (in other words, a 4,5,6,8,9,10), that number is called
a "place" number, or simply a number or a "point". In this case,
the shooter continues to roll until that place number is rolled
again, which is called "making the point", at which time pass
line betters win and don't pass bettors lose, or a 7 is rolled,
which is called "sevening out". In this case, pass line bettors
lose and don't pass bettors win. When a player sevens out, his
turn is over and the whole process begins again with a new
player.

Once a shooter rolls a place number (a 4.5.6.8.9.10), many
different types of bets can be made on each subsequent roll of
the dice, until he sevens out and his turn is over. However,
they all have odds in favor of the house, many of them heavily
in favor of the house, with the exception of two: odds on a line
bet, and "come" bets. Of these two, we will only consider the
odds on a line bet, as the "come" bet is a bit more confusing.

You should ignore all other bets, as they carry odds that are
too high against you. Yes, this means that all those other
players that are throwing chips all over the table with each
roll of the dice and making "field bets" and "hard way" bets are
really making sucker bets. They may know all the many bets and
special lingo, but you will be the smarter gambler by simply
making line bets and taking the odds.

Now let's talk about line bets, taking the odds, and how to do
it.

LINE BETS

To make a line bet, simply place your money on the area of the
table that says "Pass Line", or where it says "Don't Pass".
These bets pay even money when they win, although it's not true
even odds because of the 1.4 percent house edge discussed
earlier.

When you bet the pass line, it means you are betting that the
shooter either makes a 7 or 11 on the comeout roll, or that he
will roll one of the place numbers and then roll that number
again ("make the point") before sevening out (rolling a 7).

When you bet on the don't pass line, you are betting that the
shooter will roll either a 2 or a 3 on the comeout roll (or a 3
or 12 if in Reno and Tahoe), or will roll one of the place
numbers and then seven out before rolling the place number again.

Odds on a Line Bet (or, simply called "odds bets")

When a point has been established (a place number is rolled) on
the comeout, you are permitted to take true odds against a 7
appearing before the point number is rolled again. This means
you can bet an additional amount up to the amount of your line
bet. This called an "odds" bet.

Your odds bet can be any amount up to the amount of your line
bet, although many casinos will now allow you to make odds bets
of two, three or even more times the amount of your line bet.
This odds bet is paid at a rate equal to the odds of that point
number being made before a 7 is rolled.

You make an odds bet by placing your bet directly behind your
pass line bet. You notice that there is nothing on the table to
indicate that you can place an odds bet, while there are
indications loudly printed all over that table for the other
"sucker" bets. This is because the casino does not want to
encourage odds bets. You have to know that you can make one.

Here's how these odds are computed. Since there are 6 ways that
a number 7 can be rolled and 5 ways that a 6 or 8 can be rolled,
the odds of a 6 or 8 being rolled before a 7 is rolled again are
6 to 5 against you. This means that if the point number is a 6
or 8, your odds bet will be paid off at the rate of 6 to 5. For
every $10 you bet, you will win $12 (bets smaller or larger than
$10 are of course paid at the same 6 to 5 ratio). The odds of a
5 or 9 being rolled before a 7 is rolled are 3 to 2, so you get
paid $15 for every $10 bet. The odds of 4 or 10 being rolled
first are 2 to 1, so you get paid $20 for every $10 you bet.

Note that these are true odds "� you are paid exactly
proportional to your chance of winning. This is the only true
odds bet you will find in a casino, so be sure to make it
whenever you play craps.

AN EASY TO LEARN BASIC CRAPS STRATEGY

Here's an example of the three types of outcomes that result
when a new shooter plays and how you should bet.

Assume new shooter is getting ready to make the comeout roll and
you make a $10 bet (or whatever amount you want) on the pass
line. The shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the comeout. You win $10,
the amount of your bet.

You bet $10 again on the pass line and the shooter makes a
comeout roll again. This time a 3 is rolled (the player "craps
out"). You lose your $10 pass line bet.

You bet another $10 and the shooter makes his third comeout roll
(remember, each shooter continues to roll until he sevens out
after making a point). This time a 4 is rolled "� one of the
place numbers or "points". You now want to take an odds bet, so
you place $10 directly behind your pass line bet to indicate you
are taking the odds. The shooter continues to roll the dice
until a 4 is rolled (the point is made), at which time you win
$10 on your pass line bet, and $20 on your odds bet (remember, a
4 is paid at 2 to 1 odds), for a total win of $30. Take your
chips off the table and get ready to bet again.

However, if a 7 is rolled before the point number (in this case,
before the 4), you lose both your $10 pass line bet and your $10
odds bet.

And that's all there is to it! You simply make you pass line
bet, take odds if a point is rolled on the comeout, and then
wait for either the point or a 7 to be rolled. Ignore all the
other confusion and sucker bets. Your have the best bet in the
casino and are playing wisely.

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT ODDS BETS

Odds bets can be made any time after a comeout point is rolled.
You don't have to make them right away . However, you'd be
foolish not to make an odds bet as soon as possible considering
it's the best bet on the table. However, you are permitted to
make, withdraw, or reinstate an odds bet anytime after the
comeout and before a 7 is rolled.

When you win an odds bet, be sure to take your chips off the
table. Otherwise, they are considered to be automatically "off"
on the next comeout and will not count as another odds bet
unless you specifically tell the dealer that you want them to be
"working". But in a fast moving and loud game, your request may
not be heard, so it's better to simply take your winnings off
the table and bet again with the next comeout.

BEST PLACES TO PLAY CRAPS IN LAS VEGAS

Any of the downtown casinos. Minimum bets will be low (you can
usually find $3) and, more importantly, they frequently allow up
to 10X odds bets.

Good Luck!...Read More: href="http://www.vegas-casino-secrets.com/casino-craps-easy.html"
>Casino Craps: Easy to Learn and Easy to Win

About the author:
Mahal Ramapois is a successful writer and online gambling expert
providing valuable tips and advice for those interested in
gambling and online gambling strategies .

His numerous articles found on href="http://www.vegas-casino-secrets.com">vegas casino
secrets ,provide useful and factual gambling information and
insight.

Author : Mahal Ramapois
Site : www.goarticles.com

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