Crapless Craps You may have run across it at the Stratosphere in Vegas.Or was on some backwater boat in Mississippi?Or maybe it was at that Indian casino you visited on vacation.It's called Crapless Craps.Many players like this game, yet after thirty years on the market, Crapless Craps is still difficult to find.Why?Primarily because it is a proprietary game, which means casinos must pay a licensing fee to use the layout.But there's also a certain amount of player - and casino - reluctance to accept the game.Part of this comes out of confusion over the payout schedules - still another set of numbers for dealers and players to learn.Then there's the vig – substantially higher than at the traditional game.Nevertheless, Crapless Craps can be a profitable game for the skilled dice setter who plays the 'best bets', then arranges his dice accordingly. The basic Crapless Craps game is quite similar to traditional banker's craps, however it does have a few unique variations.First off, there's the addition of four new point numbers.The 2, 3, 11, and 12 are point numbers in this game.Since it is 'crapless,' you cannot lose on the come out roll.But you don't automatically win on the eleven either, so the only way to win on the come out is by throwing the seven.Traditionally, the best set for throwing the seven is the hard 10 set with the 3/4 on the side.But we'll get into this more later. At first glance the Crapless idea looks good.You're giving up one natural, the 11,to avoid three losers, the 2, 3, or 12.Remember, though, that the probability of hitting a point of 2 or 12 is only 1/7, and the probability of hitting a point of 3 or 11 is only 1/4.In fact, giving up that sure winner on the eleven for a shot at winning on the 2, 3, and 12 boosts the house edge on the pass line to a whopping 5.382%.Placing single odds will reduce the vig to 2.936%.Double odds reduces it further to 2.081%.But it is not until you get to 5X odds that the vig gets halfway respectable – down to 1.042%.However, most of these games offer nothing better than double odds.Therefore, the pass line bet should be avoided unless you are shooting the dice. Let's take a look at the true odds aspect of these 'new' point numbers at Crapless Craps.The true odds of any point rolling are based on the number of ways that point can be rolled in relationship to the number of ways the seven can be rolled.Imaging you have $5 on the line and the shooter establishes the twelve as his point.You place full double odds behind the line bet and have a total of $15 in action.What would be the correct pay off if the shooter made the point?There is one combination of the dice that adds up to twelve.The six-six.But there are six combinations that add up to seven.They are one-six, two-five, three-four, four-three, five-two, and six-one.Therefore, the correct true odds on the twelve are six to one.In our example, if the shooter made his point we would be paid $5 for our line bet, and $60 for our $10 free odds bet, for a total payoff of $65. TRUE ODDS PAY-OFF FOR CRAPLESS CRAPS
As you can see from the above chart, if the three or eleven is established as the point, the correct true odds payoff is three to one.Using the same example as above, a five dollar line bet with double odds would pay a total of $35, five for the line bet and thirty for the free odds bet.The rest of the numbers pay the same as in a traditional game.Sounds good, right?But remember, the elimination of the eleven as a natural increases the vig in this game.A pass line or come bet with double odds carries a toll of2.081% compared to 0.60% in the traditional game.Again, the line bet should be avoided until it's your time to shoot the dice.Still, you should know the correct pay-off for those times when you are shooting the dice.This will also come into play with your buy bets - which we will get into later. Now let's take a look at place betting for Crapless Craps.Obviously, the traditional 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 bets are played – and paid exactly the same as in a standard game.The vig on these bets is no different than what you are used to.The major difference in this game comes with the placing of the 'extreme outside' numbers, the 2, 3, 11, and 12.The pay off odds for place bets on these numbers is as follows: EXTREME OUTSIDE PLACE BET ODDS As with the five and nine – you must bet an even amount of money to get a correct pay off on the extreme outside numbers.On a five dollar table the minimum correct bet on the two or twelve would be six dollars.For a correct pay off on the three and eleven you would place eight dollars.Placing an incorrect amount will result in a reduced payoff, which increases the already considerable vig.The11:2 payoff on the 2 and 12 yields a house edge of7.143%.The 3 and 11 run a close second with an edge of6.250%.That is why most veteran players 'buy' the extreme outside just as they would the four and ten. A Buy bet is similar to a Place bet except that you pay a 5% commission up-front in exchange for receiving a true payoff if it wins. The commission is based on the amount wagered. For example, if you wanted to make a $20 Buy bet on the number 11, you'd put down $21 in the Come area and tell the dealer 'Buy the 11'. He or she will move $20 to the number 11 point box and place a BUY button on top it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house. The result is that you'll win $60 (3:1) instead of $55 (11:4) for a place bet in the same amount.If your bet wins and you want to keep it up, you'll have to pay the dealer another $1 commission. The vig is returned if you remove the bet before it wins or loses. Let's review the best bets in Crapless Craps.Number one on the list is placing the six and eight - with a vig of 1.51%.Next on the list is the pass line with double odds - which carries a vig of 2.08%.Last of all is pushing the house for a better buy on the extreme outside numbers - which can get the vig as low as 2.56%.Now let's move on to the basic Crapless dice setting and betting strategy. A strategy for players with less bankroll to work with might be to place the extreme outside numbers for $6 and $8 each, then buy them out of the payoff on the first hit.However, the vig on this bet is substantially higher than on the buy bet.Whenever possible, it is best to pay the additional $12 plus the commission for a correct payoff.Remember, too, that money management is the cornerstone of any good betting strategy.With that in mind, plan to incorporate at least one regression move in your play, with an eye toward locking up a small win or minimizing potential losses.But any good strategy should focus on signature numbers for the dice arrangement to be used. Since the game is 'crapless,' on the come-out roll you want your best shot at hitting a seven – or establishing a point of 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 or 12.The recommended arrangement for these numbers is the hard-ten set – the 5-5 up, the 6-6 and 1-1 facing up and down table, the 3-4 on the sides.When rolled on axis, four out of sixteen possible combinations of the dice add up to seven, four combinations yield the six or eight, while six out of sixteen combinations add up to an extreme outside number.That's one way to make the two or twelve, and two ways to make the three or eleven.If you score a seven on the come-out roll – great.If you get up on any of our favored points – that's great, too.You'll want to play maximum free odds behind your line bet in order to reduce the vig and take advantage of the huge potential payoffs on these numbers.But once the point is established you should change your set for the balance of your roll. Assuming you are successful in establishing one of your preferred points, the correct dice set is one you are all familiar with by now - the crossed-sixes.In this arrangement, one die has the 3-4 on the sides, and the other has the 5-2 on the sides.Rolled on axis, this set reduces the number of combinations that add up to seven from four to two.You have one way each to make the two, three, eleven and twelve, plus two ways each to make the six and eight.That's a total of eight ways to win versus two ways to lose on the seven. So next time you're at Sam's Town in Tunica, The Isle of Capri in Kansas City, or yes, even the Stratosphere in Vegas – step up to the old Crapless game, wait for the dice, put five on the line and give it a whirl.With a little luck and a lot of skill – it might be the most fun you've ever had shooting dice. Back To Heavy On.. Copyright 2001 by Stephen Haltom - all rights reserved. |
Made directly on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 at any time. A 'Buy Bet' is a wager that the number bet will roll before a 7, similar to the 'Don't Pass Line' bet. A commission of 5% is charged on a 'Buy Bet', and on the amount that could be won on a 'Lay Bet'. The payoff odds are shown in the accompanying. Buy bets are very controversial in the craps circles. They involve paying an extra fee, called 'vig' (or vigorish) just to make the bet. However, in return for the fee, you get true odds instead of house odds for your bet. The casino still has a way of benefitting from those Buy wagers, as there are the vig taxes. There are certain numbers that could result in a more lucrative craps game. Buy bets on the numbers 4 or 10 appear to be more lucrative than similar bets on 5 or 9. The house edge is reduced when betting on the former numbers.
Understanding the Craps odds and bets that you can place is vital to ensuring you don't lose all your money or embarrass yourself in a live game.
You might hear people shouting all types of lingo and vernacular terms such as 'Horn Bets' or 'Lay 10' which often confuse or put off even the biggest casino degenerates.
Thankfully, the rules of Craps are actually quite simple even if it takes time to learn the jargon. Make sure to read all information on this page, before You play craps for money.
We can predict the odds of any particular number coming up on a roll and why the craps rules are made how you will see.
For example: the odds for you to roll a 4 on your next roll are 11 to 1.
You can figure this out by taking the number of ways a four can be made with two dice (with a one and a three, a pair of twos, or a three and a 1) compared to the number of combinations that two dice can make, which is 36.
So we have a 3 in 36 chance, or 1 in 12 chance that a 4 will come up on any given roll. To express these odds as ‘against', you would say the odds against rolling a four are 11 to 1 (think of it as 11 non 4's to one 4 for a total of 12 rolls). The calculation we've just done determines the ‘true odds' of rolling a 4.
As many of you may know, the casino doesn't like to pay back its players with ‘true odds', it prefers to alter them.
Craps rules, like so many other casino game rules, pay back odds which guarantee the house a profit in the long run. Say for instance you were to place a bet on ‘any sevens', meaning you're betting that the next roll will be a seven.
The odds against hitting a seven on the next roll are 5 to 1 (you can calculate that out the same way we did for 4), which means that if you bet one dollar and win, you deserve to win 5 bucks, but the casinos only pay you 4.
Most bets in most games at the casino have been altered in this way. In fact, this is exactly the phenomenon that gives the casino a house edge in many situations.
We've covered all the major types of bets and odds you receive here.
Understanding Craps Odds
For instance, odds can be related either as 2-1 or 2 to 1, where a 1 credit bet returns 2 credits. In other words, 2 to 1 odds returns the original 1 credit bet and a 1 credit profit.
The Best Craps Bets
The best bets in craps are the pass line bet, taking the odds, the don't pass bar, the come bet, and placing the 6 or the 8. Let's look at each:
Pass Line
This is the most basic and popular of bets when playing Craps. It has one of the lowest house edges (1.41%) and it is very simple to place. Betting on the pass line bet or betting 'with the dice' is the most common bet in craps and you will see many players or shooters choosing it. Online casino dealer hiring 2020.
A pass line bet requires you to place chips on the 'Pass Line' section of the table. If the shooter's come out roll is a 7 or 11, you win even money (1:1). However, if the come out roll is 2,3 or 12 (craps) you lose.
If any other number is rolled (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) it's called the point. The shooter continues to throw the dice until he/she roles a 7 or the Point. If the point is rolled first, you win even money. If the 7 is rolled first you lose your bet.
Interestingly, in a game of Crapless Craps, the ability to lose a Pass Line bet to craps on a come out roll is removed – hence the name 'crapless' craps. This improves your odds of winning by removing the house edge and increasing your expected value.
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Don't Pass Line
You can also bet on the 'Don't Pass' line, which is basically when you are betting or laying the shooter on his first roll. This is simply the opposite of the pass line bet and is also known as betting against the dice.
To make this bet place your chips in the narrower section just beyond the pass line labelled don't pass.
If the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 (Craps) than you win straight away (1:1 even money). If a 7 or 11 is rolled before the Point is scored you lose. A 12 is considered a Push (draw) and normally you can relinquish this bet.
If any other number is rolled (4,5,6,7,8,9 or 10) this is established on the point number. After this happens you'll win your money back if a 7 is rolled before the Point number, and lose if a 7 comes first.
Taking the Odds
After the point has been established, you can make an additional bet known as Taking the Odds or Pass Odds. You are betting on the Point number being rolled before a 7. The pay out odds are normally displayed on the Casino craps table.
The odds vary for different numbers based on the likelihood of them being rolled.
Normally, the payouts are as follows:
- 4 pays 2:1
- 5 pays 3:2
- 6 pays 8 pays 6:5
- 9 pays 3:2
- 10 pays 2:1
The odds bet is the best bet you can make in the game of craps, because the house has no built-in advantage. Free odds bets are paid back at true odds, so when you're making these bets the casino has no house edge whatsoever, it's an even game!
Come Bet
This is similar to a Pass Line bet, but it is made after the point has been established (dealer button is ON). The next roll then becomes the Come Out roll for your bet and establishes your Point. The payout depends on the Point:
- 7 or 11 pays 1:1 (also known as a Natural)
- 2, 3, or 12 you lose your money (also known as Craps)
- If neither of the above is rolled then (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) becomes the point for your bet. If a 7 comes before your point is rolled again you lose. If your point is won however your payout depends on the Point.
Come Bet Payouts:
| Number | Payout |
| 4 | 2:1 |
| 5 | 3:2 |
| 6 | 6:5 |
| 8 | 6:5 |
| 9 | 3:2 |
| 10 | 2:1 |
Taking the Odds
This is similar to the Come Bet and has the same odds above (Come Odds). You can place this bet only after the point has been established. If the 7 is rolled before the point, you lose.
Laying the Odds
Opposite of Taking the Odds. This is a Don't Pass Line bet which can be made only after the point has been established. If a 7 is rolled before the point, you win.
Laying the Odds Payout:
| Number | Payout |
| 4 | 1:2 |
| 5 | 2:3 |
| 6 | 5:6 |
| 8 | 5:6 |
| 9 | 2:3 |
| 10 | 1:2 |
Don't Come Bet
Oppose of Come Bet. This is similar to a Don't Pass Line bet, but it is made after the Come Out roll. To make this bet all you need to do is to put your chips in the area labeled 'Don't Come' on the layout. You lose on a 7 or 11, and win on a 2 or 3. 12 is a 'stand-off.'
Here you win if 7 rolls before your 'come-point' is repeated, and lose if the 'come-point' is made before a 7 is rolled.
Place Bets
You can bet on specific point numbers. If your number is rolled before a 7, you win. If a 7 comes before your point number, you lose. You're paid out according to the table below.
Place Bets Payout:
| Number | Payout |
| 4 | 9:5 |
| 5 | 7:5 |
| 6 | 7:6 |
| 8 | 7:6 |
| 9 | 7:5 |
| 10 | 9:5 |
Placing the 6 or 8
When you make a place bet you bet that one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will be hit before a 7 is hit. You can make a place bet any time by throwing your chips on the table while telling the dealer ‘I want to place the 6' or whatever number you want to place your bet for.
So, if the number you bet on is rolled before a 7 you win and you are paid as follows: 4 or 10 placed – 9:5 odds, 5 or 9 placed – 7:5 odds, 6 or 8 placed – 7:6 odds.
As you can see the best for you is to place a bet on 6 or 8, because these bets have the best odds and also they have a good chance of hitting.
If you get the feeling like you want to place the 4 or 10, you should buy them instead, because although there is a Vig (a fee for winning bets) on these numbers, the edge comes out in your favor, however slightly.
However, the pass line bet is still the best one with the best odds and in the long run you should stick with it.
Craps Buy Bet Vigo
Although you can technically place a place bet at any time, it is impossible for it to come into effect until the shooters point is set, therefore it is more acceptable to ask for this bet after the come out roll is over.
Craps table
Bets with Poor Craps Odds
Big 6/Big 8 Bet
Craps Lay Bet Vig
This is a Bet on a Big 6 or Big 8, put down after the point has been established. If a 6 or 8 is rolled before a 7, you win (1:1). This is a bet that you should not play because you can Place a bet on 6 or 8 and receive better odds.
Field Bets
Kind of what the name suggests, field bets are open to everyone who bets on the next number rolled. To place one you simple throw your chips into the table (as little chips as possible) and tell the stick man what you want. The payout for field bets:
- 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 all payout 1:1
- 2 pays 2:1
- 12 pays out either 2:1 or 3:1 (depending on the casino)
Proposition Bets
Placed before any throw. The house edge on all of these bets are over 11%. Therefore, you should not bet these very often or you should hedge your bets when you do so.
You can bet on any number as follows:
- Betting on the next throwbeing a 2, 3 or 12 (Craps)
- Any Seven: Betting on the next throw being a 7
- Eleven: Betting on the next throw being an 11
- Horn Bet: Betting on the next number being a 2, 3, 11, or 12. The payout is determined by the number rolled
Proposition bets are those placed in the middle of the table layout, and those bets never have a good house edge. You should make these bets only for fun and to make your game more exciting.
So, here they are:
- With the 'any seven' bet you're betting the shooter will hit a 7 on the next roll. It has a horrible house edge of 16.67%. Never make this bet.
- With the 'snake eyes' bet you're betting the shooter will throw a two on the next roll.
- With the 'yo eleven' bet you're betting the shooter will hit an 11 on the next roll.
- With the 'any craps' bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 2, 3, or 12 on the next roll. It holds a house edge of over 11%
- With the 'any three' bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 3 on the next roll.
- With the 'midnight' bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 12 on the next roll.
- With the 'horn' bet you're combining the snake eyes, 3, yo 11, and midnight bets.
Hardway Bets
A Hardway Bet is also made regarding the outcome of the next die throw. A Hardway roll occurs when doubles are thrown with an outcome of 4, 6, 8 or 10.
For example: rolling a pair of threes would produce a 'hard 6'. An Easy roll is produced when the same outcome is achieved, but without rolling doubles.
For the previous example, rolling a 4 and a 2 would produce an 'easy 6'. For a Hardway Bet to win, the shooter must roll a double with an outcome of 4, 6, 8 or 10. The wager loses if either a 7 or any Easy number is rolled.
The Lay Bet
The lay bet is almost similar with the don't pass and don't come bets, because with this bet your are playing against the dice. You can make this bet at any time in the game and it can be placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. A lay bet wins when 7 rolls before the number.
7 is more likely to come up than any other number so the casino requires you to wager more than you could win. This bet also requires a commission of 5% on average. If the bet is on 4 or 10 you get 1:2 odds, on 5 or 9 2:3 odds, on six or 8 5:6 odds.
The Buy Bet
When you choose this bet it means that you will buy numbers instead of placing them.
The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 can all be bought but there are only two numbers that really make buy bets worthwhile and those numbers are 4 and 10 because they pay off better than the other numbers. You win if the buy number comes up before a 7 is rolled.
The odds are higher for a buy bet. 2:1 on a 4 or 10 buy, 3:2 for a 5 or 9, or 6:5 for a 6 or 8. Player pays 5% 'vigorish' to get true odds on all numbers.
Depending on how much you bet, buying a bet can make you more money in the end even after accounting for the ‘vig'. The odds are only in your favor on a buy bet for a 4 or 10, so stick with the place bet on any others.
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