An Introduction to Craps
Take a look around the casino and observe the games and the patrons playing them. In the Baccarat pit you will likely see the tuxedo clad sophisticates. Scholarly types will be seen sitting at the blackjack table studying their hands while the roulette players sit quietly watching the ball spin towards its final resting place. Then from the craps pit you will hear whooping and hollering as you see high-fives and other animated gestures coming from the players.
Craps is by far the most exciting game in the casino and the players are not afraid to let their emotions show. The game is fast moving and at times very loud. It is for this reason that craps is probably the most intimidating game to new players. If you feel this way you are not alone. It was a few years into my casino visits before I decided to find out what this game was all about. I quickly learned that a pass line bet with a low house edge of about 1.41 percent made it one of the best bets in the casino as well as being one of the more exciting games to play.
Craps is not as confusing as it looks. It actually is an easy game to learn. An understanding of the Basics of the game and how to make a pass line bet will get you started on your way. You don't have to be concerned with any other of the craps bets when you begin to play. There are about 40 different bets that can be made on a craps layout but most of them like the Proposition and Hardway bets have terrible odds that you should avoid.
A simple pass line bet works like this. You place your bet on the pass line before a new shooter begins his roll. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win. If the shooter rolls a two, three or twelve, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the point number. The shooter must roll that number again before a seven is rolled. If that happens, you win. If a seven is rolled before the point number is rolled again, you lose.
An easy way to learn how to play craps is to take advantage of the Free lessons offered by many of the casinos. An hour of instruction will give you the basics and also show you some of the table etiquette that will make you feel more comfortable approaching the table. For an online lesson you can get the facts from Glen a former craps dealer, by logging on to his Official Craps Lesson site.
Before heading to the casino you may want to brush up on the lingo of the game by reading the Craps Glossary.
Over the next few weeks I will be discussing some more aspects of the game. Author Frank Scoblette will explain his 5-count method of playing in an up coming feature and Larry Edell will have another of his monthly Crapshooter articles. If you have any questions you would like to ask about the game, send them to me casinogambling.guide@about.com and I will get you an answer.
Until next time, remember: "Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever."