You must have Discipline and Play Smart

This is a very important strategy and can be used for games other than just craps. Before you even log into your account with your online casino, you need to set yourself a limit as to how much you are willing to bet or lose.  If you are just starting out, don’t go all out. Start modest and work your way up as you learn more about craps and gambling in general.  If you are a beginner craps player, it might be smart to try and play some practice rounds before you place an actual bet. You can find free practice craps games online. This will help you better understand the game and be more prepared before you start placing real bets. The more prepared and understanding you are of craps, the better your results will be.

Don’t lose your Cool

Craps can be a very nerve racking game because you just can’t ever predict the outcome. It can be more nerve racking, the higher the bet. A good strategy to remember here is to keep your cool. Getting anxious and nervous can cloud your judgment and cause you to make poor choices when choosing your bet or your numbers. Staying cool and focused will allow you to keep a level head and make smart choices. Many craps players see this as the most important strategy of all.

Manage your Money

To play craps successfully, you must have a game plan for managing your money. No matter which money managing strategy you choose to use, do not change it in the middle of a game. When you set your limits, follow them. If you are doing well or not so well, you must stick with the limits you have set. Once you reach your limit-loss, walk away.

It is said that ancient dice were carved from many different types of materials including:

• Bones
• Wood
• Animal teeth
• Horns
• Nutshells
• Ivory

Prior to the creation of dice; arrows, bones, sticks and stones were thrown as a gamble to inform tribes of what they may expect in the future. Shaman also used dice for this same reason.

Craps has not been around since dice were first created. The origins date back to a sooner time period. Many scholars believe craps is based on the game Sic Bo, an ancient Chinese dice-based game. Although played with three dice, the same types of bets are consistent between the two games. On the other hand Sic Bo and craps have rules that differ greatly.

Many scholars believe craps began around the 12^th century in England where the game was originally dubbed Hazard. Many prominent Europeans speak of Hazard in their journals and during tales. It is also believed that the Mayflower brought the game to America.

Around the same time period, the French also brought the game (known as craps in France) to the United States. Throughout the years, the rules have evolved and the betting tables have changed, but they’ve all been based on the same basic rules of throwing the dice to achieve a specific number. If you hit the number, you win; if you don’t, you lose. Modern gambling parlors play the most popular table version.

In 1931 modern craps and betting were revolutionized with the addition of a Don’t Pass wager. These are the rules were play today. Overall craps has become a popular world-wide form of gambling. Since modern craps was developed, the rules and betting have changed little with the exception of adding progressive jackpots.

The dice material, the rules and the betting structure of craps has evolved over centuries into the popular game we see today. It has expanded into thousands of casinos across the globe. Due to its fast-paced, exciting action; craps will continue to grow and be a staple in all casinos.

The Betting Structure

Overall there are around 40 different bets that can be made most of which offer terrible odds. The most important wagers for new players to learn are the passline bets. A simple passline bet is made by placing your bet on the passline before a new shooter rolls (aptly named the come out roll).

The Rules

If the new shooter hits a 7 or 11 you’re a winner. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 you lose. Any other number acts as the point number in which the shooter must hit that number before a 7. If they roll the point number prior to a 7, your passline bet wins even money.

Once a point number is reached, bettors can place additional wagers behind the passline bet (known as the odds bet). This is the only bet in the whole casino that offers true odds and doesn’t have a house edge. Most establishments allow the bettors to place twice the wager of the original bet.

The Payouts

The passline bet is one of the easiest bets to make. Since the odds bet has no house edge, it is one of the smartest bets to place. If you win, the standard payouts in craps are:

• If the point number is 4 or 7, the payout is 2 to 1
• If the point number is 5 or 9, the payout is 3 to 2
• If the point number is 6 or 8, the payout is 6 to 5

Most casinos offer free lessons on how to play craps. The instructors present the basics along with table etiquette. These lessons are a great way to practice craps in a safe, money-free environment to prepare you for real money games.

Craps is by far the most exciting game in the casino and online. Due to the low house edge (even lower with the odds bet) and action on every role, it is also one of the most popular games on the casino floor.

Three Books About Craps You Should Read

Craps for the Clueless: A Beginners Guide to Playing and Winning by John Patrick

If you are new to the game of craps, this is the first book you should pick up. John Patrick, professional player and long time TV show host, writes this book in an easy to understand format. Even the newest craps player can pick up several tips and rules from this book alone.

Craps: Take the Money and Run by Henry J. Tamburin

Take the Money and Run focuses on the betting aspects of craps. If you are interested in betting systems, you will enjoy this book by Henry J. Tamburin. This book focuses on both regular and tournament play.

Dice Control for Casino Craps by Yuri Kononenko

As the name implies, Dice Control for Casino Craps, covers the dice aspect of craps. In this book you will learn the mechanical play behind dice and how to manipulate them to your advantage.

In order to play any gambling game at your best, you have to arm yourself with the right education. Books on craps written by professional gamblers is a great way to start.

How Do I Play Craps?

To play Craps, players will place a bet on the table. Then the player rolling the dice, known as the shooter, will roll the dice.

The shooter will make a “come out roll” by rolling the dice in the hopes of establishing a point. The face value of the dice will be used to determine if the “come out roll” is a winner.

If the dice land on 2, 3 or 12 it is “craps” and all players loose their bet.

If the dice land on 7 or 11 it is “natural” and all players win their bet.

If the dice do not land on these numbers, players will continue to roll until the point is established. To get a point the player must roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Once this roll is made it becomes the point, and the shooter will continue to roll until they land on the point again or roll a 7.

How Does Betting Work in Craps?

There are several forms of betting in Craps.

Pass line: Made by the shooter, the bet is won if the come out roll is a 7 or 11, and lost if the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12.

Don’t pass line: If the roll is a 7 to 11, the roll is lost. If the roll is a 2 or 3, the roll is won. If the roll is a 12 it is consider a draw.

Pass odds: If a point is set on the “come out roll,” players can make pass odds bets. The pass odds bet is won if the point is rolled again before a 7.

Don’t pass: The player wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number.

Come: After the point is established, if a 7 or 11 is rolled the bet is won. If a 2, 3, or 12 are rolled the bet is lost.

Don’t come: After the point is established, if a 7 or 11 are rolled, the bet is lost. If a 2, 3, or 12 are rolled, the best is won.