Craps Strategy
Perhaps no other game of chance has had as much written about it when it comes to different strategies to beat the game. All are designed to win, of course. Most rely upon the existence of streaks in order to produce a profitable outcome. I have used many strategies that I have learned from friends or read about in books, on the internet, etc. and also a few I came up with myself. So...without further fanfare, let me outline a few of the more basic craps strategies for now. I will post a few more advanced strategies and links to some others that will curl your hair at a later date.
If you are not familiar with the game of craps and how it is played, please visit our Introduction to Craps page and our Craps Rules page. Feel free to practice your skills and various craps stratgies with out Free Craps Game. One more important thing to note; all of the stratgies outlined on this site will work at one time or another. They key, indeed a skill that often separates the winners from the losers, is determining what kind of table you are at. By this I mean, is the table hot or cold? Streaky or choppy? To become a consistent winner at craps you have to be able to tell the difference and apply the correct strategy at the correct moment. Unfortunately, only time and experience will help you develop this skill, a sixth sense to seasoned gamblers.
Having said all that, let's get to it shall we? The most basic bet and the easiest bet to make in craps is the pass line bet. After a point has been made, or after a seven has been rolled, the shooter is said to be coming out. This means that the shooter is trying to roll a point, or a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. When the shooter is coming out - about to attempt to roll a point - you place a bet on the pass line. This is called a pass line bet.
If the shooter rolls a 7 or ll you immediatley win the bet and are paid even money. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 this is called craps and you lose your bet. If the shooter rolls 4,5,6,8,9 or 10, he or she has rolled a point and the puck is moved to that number. You have the option of "taking odds" on the number. This is an even money bet and is the best bet in the casino. To do this you simply place a bet behind your pass line bet. Depending upon the casino this can be anywhere from 2 times your original bet to 10 times your original bet. Most casinos allow you to place two times your original bet as your "odds" bet. Three times or "3X" your bet is also fairly common. I have seen 100X odds at places like the Horseshoe in Shreveport, LA and at some of the small casinos on the Las Vegas Strip accross from Caesar's Palace. Occasionally, you will see decent odds in downtown Vegas as well.
Back to the strategies, however. Many times, when I am trying to get a feel for the table, I will only place the pass line bet without odds as I try to discern what strategy to employ. Most times, however, I will have scouted the table prior to taking a spot on the rail. But, when the casino is crowded, you have to take spot when you can get it. Simply betting the pass line is the cheapest way to find out what kind of table you are at in these situations.
O.K. So now the shooter has thrown a point, if he or she rolls that number again, before rolling a seven, you win! Simple, huh? And that is all there is to it.