Table Games Do Craps Dealers Know the "Right" Plays

So I'm not very familiar with craps. I have a general understanding of how the pass and don't pass work (because of math class), but other than that I'm not familiar with it at all (and am foggy even on the pass/dont pass rules).

My wife wants to play craps and I'm hesitant to really teach her because I'm not familiar enough with it. She said she wants to "learn by doing" so she doesn't want to just read about the rules online lol. "It's just not as fun."

Anyway, knowing blackjack and listening to advice of most dealers - I would not want my wife to learn blackjack from them. Are craps dealers the same? Is the game purely rules based, not decision strategy based, where a craps dealer would be the best one to explain the game?

 

I would not trust the craps dealers, I don't think they would screw you on purpose but I doubt they know the house advantage of the entire table.
If she learns Pass line betting and Odds she will be off to a good start.

 

If she (or you) understand Pass line betting with odds (and Don't pass betting & laying odds), then you automatically understand the 'Come' and the 'Don't Come' bets.
The only thing to really be aware of other than that is 'Place Bets'.
They're easy.
Just learn the best (proper) betting increments to use for the place bet numbers.

If you're comfortable with those, then the dealers will help you, should math be required... if, for example, you have $12 place bets on both the 6 & the 8, and one hits - you want to press both to $24, the dealer will ask you to drop 2 reds. Pressing both to $18 instead? You call that & he'll give you $2 in change.

Your particular dealer - if he's any good at all - will quickly become familiar with your 'routine' bets and sequences & he'll remind you if you forget something.

 

A number of places give lessons on craps. Just check with the hotel to see if your hotel does that also. They basically teach you the basics of playing craps (pass and come, odds, place bets) but they also try to explain everything on the felt. After the lessons they will actually open up the table for you to "practice" using your actual money. I guess they figure to teach more people so they will start to get into the game and the casinos can make money from the new players.

As for how to play the game, there are a number of books available that will teach you different methods of playing, some even will go into the mathematics of what to play (but very confusing unless you are good in math). You can even use google to get information on how to play the game. In fact here on this forum there are people that discuss their "system" of playing craps.

I would use the dealers to get info on the game but not how to play the game and I would take any "advice" from anyone with a grain of salt. Just know, there is no real right or wrong way to play the game or what to bet on and many people have their own methods of playing the game so you need to tailor your game to what you are comfortable with. Also be aware that if there was any "system" that actually works (guaranteed) then everyone would know it by now and be using it.

 

Dealers know the payouts but I would guess many/most don't know the house edge on a lot of bets. Most will know that pass/odds or don't pass/odds are the best bets but beyond that who knows. Some dealers act if it's their own money when they have to pay you.

 

Learn by doing. Great outlook. That's how the world works.

Find an empty or near empty, low limit table. Dealers (most) will be very helpful. Put a little money for the crew on your bet (s), they'll be more interested and helpful. Most dealers know the best plays, but their job is to get us to bet more.

Also, the bubble craps machine is a good way to learn and get a feel for the great game of craps.

 

Before I took my wife to Las Vegas the first time I got a couple books on Craps and she read them and kind of understood the game.
So walking up to a table was not so intimidating.
Expecting to learn from the dealers may not be the best way for a couple reasons.
You might encounter a grumpy dealer who does not feel like teaching.Some are great and some not so much.
Most dealers have their own opinions on the best way to play and it may agree with what you think.

Starting out,with the pass/don't pass bet and odds is a good way to get a feel for the game.
After a few sessions adding place or come bets will be easier.

 

Most casinos give free lessons during the day that are quite informative, takes some of the confusion out of it. just look for the signs.

 

What I notice when casinos offer free lessons on craps is that they will explain all the bets and the odds and returns when you win the bet, but obviously they will not advise you on which bets are the best bets to make. They are a casino and a business after all, so the dealers will not ( or cannot) tell you which bets are best and which ones to avoid.

I've watched the faces of the newbies as the dealer explains the high returns of the bets in the middle of the table (2,3,12,and the hardways, etc.) and the look in the eyes of the newbies were all dollar signs with fortunes to be made! What the dealers won't mention is the difficulty of these bets to win, hence the very high returns.

I always recommend a tutorial on the internet or the reading of some good books on craps. The book authors especially will explain the bets in a more objective view.

 

Go to a dead table or bubble craps machine. Easiest way to learn is by doing. If you know PL/DP and odds then you know the majority of the game. Dealers know payouts and can help you with nuances of what increments to bet if you decide to play a number, or making sure you have a "correct" amount on your odds. It's nothing like BJ, where there is a strategy involved. There are a ton of bets you can make on a craps table, and they all have different edges (some good some really bad) but once the bet is made, the outcome is simply determined by a random roll of the dice.

 

There is no "right" play in craps, unless you know what the next roll is going to be, so no the craps dealers don't know the right play. Having said that, there are bets that you can make that have a lower house edge and some that have a high house edge. They won't help you with those or if they do other than pass line and odds, don't listen to them. You chose what you want to bet on. There are certain bets that can only be bet at certain times and they will let you know that. There are certain bets (odds for 5 and 9, and place bets for 6 and 8) that should be bet in a certain multiples so you aren't giving away anything based on the payout. I've seen some dealers help players with this and some that just let you hang. After a roll, wait for the dealer to pay out the last roll before making new bets. Keep in mind that the only contract bets (bets you can't remove) are your pass line and come bet. If you win one of your other bets often they leave the original bet up and sometime they have your winnings beside the original bet. If you don't remove it, it will be counted for the next roll. You can remove anything that isn't a contract bet.

Start out with pass line bets and odds, maybe come bet and odds and maybe place 6 and 8. Get comfortable with the flow and then maybe make a few of the other bets for fun. Just make sure you have fun. Don't put up with grumpy dealers. Tip the dealers (either flat out or making a bet for them). They will be more likely to make sure you don't miss a bet that you normally make or should make and help you more with the correct amounts.

 

I'm with her on the "learn by doing" approach. On my very first trip out years ago, I learned craps on an empty table on a Wednesday morning at 6 AM at the Tropicana. Even then I had a bare bones understanding of the pass line. I bought in for $60 and repeatedly tossed the dice while the dealers were literally telling me where to put my chips on the felt, pressing me up, making sure I had odds, etc. Nearly 90 minutes later, I had nearly $350 in my rack and I was hooked! While I didn't learn ALL the ins and outs, the crew made me comfortable and I walked away a winner with a ton more confidence in my knowledge and they were toked appropriately. I know everyone's experience may vary, but perhaps 20 years later I'd still be table lurker had it not been for that!

She's going to love it and the social aspect of craps makes it a great game to play next to a significant other!

 

I'm not sure if there is anything much a craps dealer could impart to a new player beyond: make a pass line bet (or come box bet) for the table minimum and then back it up with the maximum (or as much as you are comfortable putting in action) odds bet. The odds bet is the only wager in all of Vegas that pays true odds, while the pass line or come box bet is the price of admission. For that matter, unless you are truly a novice, most dealers when it comes to subtle plays are not really helpful and sometimes are truly as clueless as novice players, especially at black jack. Then there are the dealers who encourage making those silly side bets. From their perspective, though they know the odds are formidable, if you do hit, it's likely they'll get toked.

 

If you and wife want to "learn by doing", I would recommend finding an empty table at the following places, which from my experiences have been the most patient and helpful to new players and asking questions:

1. Aria
2. Cosmo
3. Cromwell
4. Paris
5. Wynn/Encore (2x odds only though)

Main Street Station/California and Golden Gate/The D on Freemont also have competent and polite crews most times, as well as lower minimums and good odds (except Cal). But like most have said, stick to Pass/Don't with odds and Come/Don't Come with odds and you'll be good to go. That should provide you with a good amount of action and you'll be playing smarter (mathematically) than almost all other gambling options in the casino.

 

Only one advice for craps: Do play pass/don't pass with odds only when you're novice, when you're experienced and when you're expert. No need for the other crap

 

I feel that most dealers in Vegas have that kind of attitude.
Maybe because the players are visitors, they have the you (visitors) against us (casinos & employees) mentality.
In local casinos, I feel most dealers nicer and many really want to see the players win (for good tips, of course).

 

I don't feel this is the norm at all. I get that vibe from some bosses, but almost never from the crew. Maybe I'm just lucky and get fun crews.

 

At least attend one of the Free Classes as you get to play and learn.

 

If it is a non-busy table, most dealers will guide you.

All dealers know the payouts and will be accurate in their payout 99.9% of the time. As a new player who is not betting the rent money, you will probably have more fun by not double checking every payout. As a craps virgin, If you think they payed you wrong, you will find they are right almost every time.

I also believe almost all will understand the house advantage and will advise you on the " good" bets if you ask.

But take a lesson if it is offered or get a free craps app on your phone. Then just jump in.

 

Get a book and hubby's help. At some point you will see it is truly math based and you being in the right side of aberrations is known as a streak. Beware, it it crack-like.
Also note pay outs vs. true odds. Have fun