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Table Games Did You Want To Try Craps, But Felt Too Intimidated?

I love craps.....especially using the....3 point Molly or the Iron Cross when the table is right!!!

Use the Wizard of Odds to play for free AND practice.
https://wizardofodds.com/play/

YOUTUBE is your friend on lessons!!!! Pause and learn....rewind...pause and learn.


For a beginner:

Pass line and take the odds(behind your bet)......Nothing else UNTIL you learn the game....and what NOT to bet/sucker bets.
Point6FreeOdds.jpg
 
It's SO easy once you take the time to study it. Then, it's SOOOO FUN! I actually don't play anything buy craps, no slots, BJ. All those other machines/tables are just in my way while trying to get to the craps table.
 

  • December 27th - December 31st
  • December 31st - January 1st
I started playing craps 30 years ago. Didn't know a thing and it was a $2 table (yes I am old). Won $200 and old guys had stacks of $25 and $100 chips.

If I knew what I do now it would be thousands.

I have been chasing that hot table for 30 years.
 
I learned craps in two steps.

First, one of those free lesson sessions in a Lake Tahoe Casino
Second, the PC casino game software I bought in the 90s came with an Avery Cardoza book in the box. His explanations of craps really helped.

I'm a conservative player.
  • Play the pass line. Max odds.
  • Play a Come Bet. Max odds
  • If 4 and 10, play another Come bet; max odds . Or place a 6 or 8.
  • Occassionally place 6 or 8 anyway.
  • Avoid middle of table. Never once placed a hard ways, horn, or other bet. Only a general, not detailed, understanding of how they work, even after decades of play.
  • Will toss a little money at bets I consider foolish "lotto tickets". C&E or Yo bet. Fire bet or all small/tall.
  • Played the Field often after that in-casino lesson; never again since reading Cardoza's book. My typical corny wisecrack to dealers "wheres the Big 6, Big 8?"
  • Considered, but never turned odds on during come out roll.
  • Superstition... I'll leave a table if a group of wrong betters arrives. One quiet wrong better, ok. A group of noisy wrong betters screaming when the rest of us lose.... ruins the experience for me. Never played a wrong bet myself, never will.
Advice I give to newbies, never-played, daunted by the noise, layout.... "learn the pass and come and disregard everything else."

Hate that, but probably lucky that, Craps is not approved for California gaming.
 
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A few random nuggets to add on to what is already posted.

1. Picture the scene. The game is absolutely throbbing. It is crowded and there are black chip skyscrapers everywhere. Is now a great time to try handing he dealer $5 and say "so...... how do you play this game?"
Play with the free apps before your trip, take the free craps lessons offered in the graveyard, try playing by yourself at an empty table. If the dealer is grumpy to you then, then they are doing their job badly. If he is grumpy toward you in the throbbing scenario above.... he is giving you a hint to jog on.

2. When the dice are in the middle of the table, make whatever bets you want. When the stickman pushes the dice out, get your hands out the way. If you didn't make all the bets you wanted... too bad. It is absolutely on you to get in tune with the pace of the game. This might just be the biggest tip there is and will have you fitting in instantly if you can follow this.

3. A follow-on from the last point, while it might take you a while to learn the payouts, you can learn the payout order. It isn't random, when the dealer has paid the guy stood next to you.... you are next! (S)he will announce the payout (e.g. $14!) which is your moment to say what you want. If there is silence, or they already worked out you are a noob, they will just pay you the $14. Base dealers will like you a lot more if they only have to bend their back once for you each roll. The rest of the table will like you a lot more if you place your bets efficiently. Consider the example: "$14!. Silence..... dealer hands off $14. Player then says..... place this on the 4..... and this on the 5....... and this on the 10.... 1 minute later and 4 back bends later, you are all set! Conversely.... knowing the payout is now $14.... when the dealer announces "$14!" you could just drop a dollar and announce "press the 4,5&ten" and the job is done. A softer way is just to inform the dealer "press a unit" which on a $10 table, will take you up $10 at a time with them paying you the difference.

4. Saying the word "seven" at a table is like saying Macbeth in a theatre. Don't do it.

5. The general advice ITT is spot-on. Start off slow, and when it feels like it is too boring, add a bet. Ignore all the fire bets, centre action, just make line bets, place bets, come bets to your level of comfort. The game is very difficult to beat with flat bets, so do be prepared to press it up when things are going your way. You need to make enough in that hot roll to cover the 12 months of misery that will inevitably follow :cry: In 12 months time when you next get what looks like a heater, let me know how you feel about the noob that wanders over with a $20 and asks "how do you play this game" and it will all make sense.... you'll be a seasoned and salty craps player yourself!

6. Whilst craps can certainly see the most curmudgeonly of patronage, keep your hands out the way, follow 1-5 and you really shouldn't experience any intimidation or hostility.
 
I do think they could make Craps more approachable without all the superstitions and etiquette; I always try to get my friends to at least try the pass line and odds bets but all the yelling and clapping around the table just keeps them intimidated. I suppose that's just part of the charm once you work up the nerve to do it!
 
Years ago i badgered a friend to put 5 dollars on the pass line and get in the game. He was 50 yrs old and fairly well off. He lost the 5 dollars on first roll and has never forgiven me!! My lesson was that if a friend can stand tableside for hours and do nothing just leave them alone!!
 
Solid advice here

SimonG said:
A few random nuggets to add on to what is already posted.

1. Picture the scene. The game is absolutely throbbing. It is crowded and there are black chip skyscrapers everywhere. Is now a great time to try handing he dealer $5 and say "so...... how do you play this game?"
Play with the free apps before your trip, take the free craps lessons offered in the graveyard, try playing by yourself at an empty table. If the dealer is grumpy to you then, then they are doing their job badly. If he is grumpy toward you in the throbbing scenario above.... he is giving you a hint to jog on.

2. When the dice are in the middle of the table, make whatever bets you want. When the stickman pushes the dice out, get your hands out the way. If you didn't make all the bets you wanted... too bad. It is absolutely on you to get in tune with the pace of the game. This might just be the biggest tip there is and will have you fitting in instantly if you can follow this.

3. A follow-on from the last point, while it might take you a while to learn the payouts, you can learn the payout order. It isn't random, when the dealer has paid the guy stood next to you.... you are next! (S)he will announce the payout (e.g. $14!) which is your moment to say what you want. If there is silence, or they already worked out you are a noob, they will just pay you the $14. Base dealers will like you a lot more if they only have to bend their back once for you each roll. The rest of the table will like you a lot more if you place your bets efficiently. Consider the example: "$14!. Silence..... dealer hands off $14. Player then says..... place this on the 4..... and this on the 5....... and this on the 10.... 1 minute later and 4 back bends later, you are all set! Conversely.... knowing the payout is now $14.... when the dealer announces "$14!" you could just drop a dollar and announce "press the 4,5&ten" and the job is done. A softer way is just to inform the dealer "press a unit" which on a $10 table, will take you up $10 at a time with them paying you the difference.

4. Saying the word "seven" at a table is like saying Macbeth in a theatre. Don't do it.

5. The general advice ITT is spot-on. Start off slow, and when it feels like it is too boring, add a bet. Ignore all the fire bets, centre action, just make line bets, place bets, come bets to your level of comfort. The game is very difficult to beat with flat bets, so do be prepared to press it up when things are going your way. You need to make enough in that hot roll to cover the 12 months of misery that will inevitably follow :cry: In 12 months time when you next get what looks like a heater, let me know how you feel about the noob that wanders over with a $20 and asks "how do you play this game" and it will all make sense.... you'll be a seasoned and salty craps player yourself!

6. Whilst craps can certainly see the most curmudgeonly of patronage, keep your hands out the way, follow 1-5 and you really shouldn't experience any intimidation or hostility.
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Craps is expensive to learn, because we only learn when we win. Craps is especially hard because the rules change during the game. (YAY, seven winner! AAAWWW, seven out!)

Whenever a newbie sidles up to the table next to me I get helpful. When they ask or are lost.
I tell them Rule #1- Know where your money is. I've had several dealers nod approvingly when they hear this is Rule #1. Put your chips in the end of the rack and keep finger pressure on the open end. Have you ever seen the movie Casino? How Sharon Stone steals from the guy's rack? Protect your money. And put your $1s on the end of the rack. Know Where Your Money Is #2: the dealer will put your bets in specific spots. Know where those spots are. Watch. Ask if you don't know, the dealer is cool with it.
Rule #2- Craps players are superstitious about saying the number between 6 and 8. It is called Red, as in 5, 6, Red, 8, 9, 10.
Rule #3- Keep your hands behind the black line when the dice go out.

Then I will talk about the game- Pick a yellow number. Announce your number when you put your money down. Watch where it goes. Pick up your winnings immediately. It's funny when the puppy asks "How come you are getting paid more money than me?" Answer: "Because I'm betting more than you". Then I talk about pressing. I love getting asked that question because it means we are winning so often the puppy is noticing stuff outside only their game. After a few wins I ask if they are ready for another number.

They don't ask much after place bets because if pressing is working they don't care about anything else but getting paid.
 
When introducing a player to the game, my initial pointers concern table etiquette.

Rule #1 is: Know where the dice are before you do...well, anything.

#2: When asking a question or making a bet, use your words. It is amazing how many people at the table can't ask a question without sticking their hands in the tub and pointing.
 
I have always taught new players by just putting min bet on pass line, no odds or anything. If the table is hot its a good introduction without a lot of down side risk.
 
Last time I played in Vegas there was a guy who was not-so-under-his-breath losing it on anyone who crapped out in less than half a dozen rolls - made for a tense and not-so-fun experience. Quickly left!
 
I read this thread some years ago and was killing time on my flight home from Vegas so decided to read it again. Really nice of BenJ to take the time to write it all up. I have played craps sometimes but eventually learned that I gamble for fun and entertainment and didn’t really enjoy the thinking involved, especially when I’m drinking. I grew up playing cards and games generally come easy to me but the thing I grew to not enjoy at any table game is as having to incorporate the few cranky or weird f***ers at the table into my evening of fun. And any of us that have gambled for decades knows that gamblers can be some odd characters. Casino games are definitely a “to each their own” activity and I figured out long ago not to play something just because others thought I should. I still do play craps, BJ, roulette or PGP when I get in the mood but usually, a cocktail and a fun slot or VP game more suits my mood.
 
I understand you want to maximize your odds bet, but can you ever make an odds bet lower that your pass line bet?
 
fwtxbevo said:
I understand you want to maximize your odds bet, but can you ever make an odds bet lower that your pass line bet?
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Yes, on many hot rolls I work everything with a large pass line bet and often start out with odds smaller than the pass line bet and add to it as numbers hit. I do it all the time.
 
huskermike said:
Yes, on many hot rolls I work everything with a large pass line bet and often start out with odds smaller than the pass line bet and add to it as numbers hit. I do it all the time.
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Just curious, if you or the table is on a hot roll, why do you not maximize your odds bet right from start? Are you also making come bets and/or place bets too?
 
fwtxbevo said:
Just curious, if you or the table is on a hot roll, why do you not maximize your odds bet right from start? Are you also making come bets and/or place bets too?
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I bet all the numbers across the board and press. I have no way to know it’s a hot roll from the start so I generally have large place bets out when the point hits. I don’t like turning my bets off on the come out on good rolls, so I semi hedge by putting out a large pass line and working all my numbers. Whatever hits I take down and use as my starting point for odds, which is often less than the initial pass line bet.
 
huskermike said:
I bet all the numbers across the board and press. I have no way to know it’s a hot roll from the start. I don’t like turning my bets off on the come out on good rolls, so I semi hedge by putting out a large pass line and working all my numbers.
Click to expand...
I see. Thanks.
 
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