The game of craps is often deeply divided along lines of controversial strategies. Casinos design the game to be random, while experienced crapshooters claim the game can be strategized.

History

Craps is one of the premier dice games. Most historians agree that it evolved out of an English game called “hazard,” popular during the Middle Ages. Once the game arrived in America its name was changed to “craps.”

Object of Craps

The shooter is the player with the dice. Bets are placed before a roll. The shooter’s first roll is known as a “come out roll” and determines the play of the game. The roll of a seven or 11 on the come out is considered a win. A two, three, or 12 is a loss, or “craps.”

Any other number is called the “point number.” All subsequent bets are placed on the odds that the shooter will roll the point number before rolling another seven. Should the shooter roll a seven prior to his point number, he “sevens out,” or loses.

Craps Odds

Craps typically enjoys some of the better casino odds, alongside blackjack. However, risky bets such as “one-roll” bets and “hardway” bets exponentially increase a house’s advantage. Most experts agree the only people playing these risky bets are willing to be summarily parted with their cash.

Craps Bets

Betting in craps can be confusing for beginners. Dozens of bets exist with names like “pass line,” “don’t pass line,” “come,” “don’t come,” “hardway,” and “buys.” Craps experts generally suggest anyone wishing to master craps ought to study the rules and know the odds of the various bets. Safe bets are pass line bets in combination with buys.

Dice Throwing

This craps strategy might be part fact with a generous helping of myth. The practice of dice throwing is controversial within the craps community. Those who subscribe to the practice claim that teaching themselves to handle the dice with various sets, grips, and throws gives them more ability to “influence” the game. However, craps is not considered a game of skill, but one of chance. Therefore any attempt to make it a game of skill is often considered to be cheating.