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Craps Simplified: Bets You Should Know FirstCold Open: a 60‑second walk past the railThe dice hit the wall. A cheer. Someone yells, “Yo!” The dealer sweeps chips. A new shooter takes the dice. If this feels fast, that is normal. Your first goal is not to bet on every square. Your first goal is to make two or three smart bets and stay in the game long enough to learn. Craps looks loud. It does not have to be hard. In the next few minutes, I will show you the first bets that work for most new players. We will skip the noisy stuff for now. If you want a quick historical background of craps, this short primer is clear and fair: quick historical background of craps. The one‑minute bet mapStart simple. Place a chip on Pass Line before the come‑out roll. If a point sets, add Odds behind that Pass Line. If you want one more bet, use a Come bet next roll. If it moves to a number, add Odds there too. That is it. No horn. No hardways. No field yet. Why these bets beat the noiseThese bets have low house edge. That means the casino takes a small cut on each dollar you risk over time. This is not a system to win for sure. It is a way to pay less tax to the house while you learn the flow. Read a simple take on what the house edge actually means. Beginner‑friendly craps bets at a glance
Pass Line, done rightPlace your chip on the Pass Line before the come‑out roll. If 7 or 11 shows, you win even money. If 2, 3, or 12 shows, you lose (12 can be a push in some places). If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 shows, that number becomes the point. Your Pass Line now wins only if the point hits again before a 7. It loses if a 7 comes first. Two common mistakes: pulling the Pass bet off the line in the middle of a point (you cannot; it must stay) and adding side bets when you feel bored. Stay with the plan. For clean math and rule notes, see the mathematical details of the Pass Line. The Odds bet: 0% edge, real riskOnce a point is set, you can put an Odds bet behind your Pass Line. This is a second bet that pays true odds if the point hits. It has no house edge on the Odds part. If the point is 6 or 8, your Odds pay 6:5. On 5 or 9, they pay 3:2. On 4 or 10, they pay 2:1. Be wise with size. Many tables cap Odds at 1x, 2x, or 3‑4‑5x your Pass Line. A few go higher. More Odds means more swing. That is fine if your bankroll can take it. If not, take smaller Odds. For a simple note on the math idea behind fair (zero edge) pay, see how zero‑edge Odds show up in zero‑edge ‘Odds’ explained in casino math courses. Don’t Pass (and when to use it)Don’t Pass is the mirror of Pass. On the come‑out, 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, 12 is often a push. If a point sets, you win if a 7 comes first, and you lose if the point repeats. The math is a hair better than Pass. The room vibe can be mixed, since you are “against” the shooter. Be polite. Bet quiet. If you worry about rules or fair play at tables, read about fairness and regulations around table games. Come and Don’t Come: grow the plan, not the noiseCome and Don’t Come act like Pass and Don’t Pass, but only after a point is on. A Come bet moves to a number when it rolls and then acts like a mini Pass bet on that number. You can add Odds there too. This can spread your action without moving to risky prop bets. Do not place three or four Come bets at once at the start. It can drain you fast if a 7 shows. Add one. Then see the flow. For a calm take on spread and risk, review understanding variance in simple betting systems. Bets to ignore for nowThe Field looks fun. It hits often. That is the trick. In the long run, the edge is higher than on Pass or Come. Hardways look cool when they land. They do not land often. Any 7, Horn, and Yo are one‑roll shots with big tax to the house. Save these for later, or never. If you want broader research on why these “proposition” bets carry steep edges, read this expert hub: why proposition bets carry big house advantages (expert overview). Bankroll and pace: stay long enough to learnBring a buy‑in that lets you make at least 40 to 60 Pass Line bets at the table minimum, plus Odds. If the table is $10, a $300–$500 buy‑in is fine for a slow, calm hour. Use a stop‑loss. For example, “If I lose 40% of my buy‑in, I will walk.” Also plan a win goal. Take a break if you hit it. Play at a pace you can track. It is okay to sit out a few rolls. For more on safe play and risk sense, see bankroll management basics for gamblers. Etiquette and flowKeep your hands above the rail when the dice are out. Place chips when the puck says “OFF,” or tell the dealer your bet when safe. Do not toss chips as dice fly. Do not shout “Seven!” during a hand. Be clear: “Odds on my 6, please.” If you play online, say less, click more, but be just as clear. If you want formal rules for safe play, see the UK regulator’s page on official guidance on safer gambling. Online vs. live: what changes (and what should not)Online games move faster. That can be rough on a small bankroll. Use small units and set a timer. The layout is clean, and the button for Odds is clear in most apps. Watch table limits. Some sites cap Odds at 1x or 2x. Some give 3‑4‑5x or more. The core plan stays the same: Pass (or Don’t), take (or lay) Odds, add one Come (or Don’t Come) at most, and skip props. Live tables have crew and a flow. Take your time. Ask the dealer to set your Odds right if you are not sure. Do not chase a hot roll that just ended. Breathe. It helps more than you think. Quick routine you can try tonightTry a 20‑roll drill at home with two dice. Keep score with chips or coins. Do this exact loop:
After 20 rolls, check how you felt. Was your stack swing too hard? Then use smaller Odds. Was the pace easy to track? Good. Keep the plan simple. From my notebookThe night I stopped chasing the Field, I lasted twice as long at the table. I remember a loud roll. The shooter hit 6, then 8, then 9, then a 7. My Pass with Odds broke even on that hand. My friend on the Field lost a chip on most rolls. It looked fun. It was not kind to his rack. Simple won the night by just not losing fast. Where to read the fine print (limits, odds, site rules)If you try online craps, read the table card and the rules page. Check the max Odds, the min bet, and any small quirks in pays. Look for clear support and fair terms. You can scan site reviews and terms call‑outs at onlineslotstown.com (Affiliate link). They list table limits, max Odds, min buy‑in, and how fast the game runs. It helps you match a site to your style before you risk money. Dealer corner: small notes that save chips
FAQ: five quick answersIs the Odds bet really 0% house edge?Yes, the Odds part pays true odds. But your base Pass or Come still has a small edge. And bigger Odds make swings bigger. So the risk is real even with 0% on that piece. Why do some players hate Don’t Pass?It feels like you bet “against the table.” Some folks take it personal. It should not be. It is just math. If you play Don’t, stay calm and kind. No cheers on a seven out. What is a good first buy‑in?Enough for 40–60 base bets at the table min, plus Odds. On a $10 table, $300–$500 is fine if you want time to learn and a pace you can track. Should I Place the 6 and 8 instead of Come?Place 6/8 are okay later. For a first week, Pass + Odds + one Come + Odds is even simpler. After you feel safe, test Place 6/8 and see what you like. Where can I get help if gambling stops being fun?If play feels out of control, pause. Talk to someone. Here is a help link for the U.S.: help if gambling stops being fun. Your health comes first. Final notes from the railStart with Pass (or Don’t), add Odds you can afford, then one Come (or Don’t Come). Skip prop bets. Learn the feel of the table. Track your chips. Breathe. The point is to have a good time, not chase a myth. Age rules and laws vary. Only play where it is legal for you. Set limits. Take breaks. If you need tips on safe play, read this page on responsible gambling advice. Appendix: tiny glossary
Sources and further reading
Note: This guide is for learning. It does not promise wins. You must be of legal age in your area. Play within your budget. |
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