This article will give you the most valuable tips for the game of craps.
They are based on mathematical calculations and have been practically tested.
They may be well used as a strategy in craps – both in land-based and online casinos. If you only want to learn how to play craps, we can suggest you start with a free version of the game to learn the rules and principles.
Then you can play for money, but note that craps is a boisterous and quick game. If you like it, welcome to the brick-and-mortar casinos (if they exist in your region and offer craps tables to visitors). Otherwise, you can always enjoy the game in one of the online casinos, where you will not be rushed to decide.
However, if you like the game, you must try it in a land-based casino because the atmosphere at the table is the essence of craps for many players. An online casino can not offer anything like that.
Practice Playing Craps
The best advice for all craps fans is to practice all the time. Sure, it sounds corny, but it's true. Practice leads to mastery and helps to get rid of silly mistakes.
Craps is a really fast game, so you often won't have time to think about your next move in a real casino.
So don't rush into the battle if you feel unprepared. To play consistently, you need to learn a few things, so try to remember the introductory provisions.
Learn Craps Odds
Craps is a casino game in which the house edge significantly depends on the type of bet, so you need to carefully study this information and bet only on the most profitable numbers.
If you do it, craps become one of the best games for you.
Never Rely on Betting Systems
Now let's talk about the so-called systems. Like in other games, no betting system guarantees you 100% success in craps. Following the chosen strategy, you can win or lose, and no one can predict how often it will happen.
Perhaps, you have heard of the so-called safety bet systems in craps. Their general principle is additional bets which reduce the risk of losing but simultaneously reduce the possible winning. This approach can reduce the house edge (sometimes up to 1% or less), but it is certainly not the most effective way to play.
Moreover, such systems are often confusing and boring. The author is not a fan and recommends using different craps concepts discussed below.
If you have recently started playing craps, and you are interested in playing most successfully at this stage, the best advice for you would be to place bets with the smallest house edge.
In the future, when you feel confident at the table, you can try some of the strategies. Perhaps, you'll find the most suitable option for yourself. Therefore, our advice will relate to various types of bets. To start with, let's talk about bets you should not make.
Never Make Proposition Bets
This is about bets like Any Craps, Any Seven, Any Eleven, etc.
Placing such bets, you have to guess the next roll's outcome.
Despite quite good payouts for some of the numbers, the house edge for these bets is too high.
For example, if you bet on Any Craps, the casino has a head start of more than 11%, while in the bet on Any Seven – generally over 16%, that's pretty much as you can imagine. Any sane player should avoid these bets, even when the gut tells him to make it.
Do Not Bet on Lay
When making such a bet, you expect to hit a seven will before 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10, indicating one particular number.
Avoid this bet at least because of the 5% commission charged on the winning.
Besides, the house edge is not the lowest; some players like Lay Bets. If you are one of them and do not want to give it up, consider options to reduce the commission. But this will work only if the casino charges a commission starting from a certain amount. If the commission is charged for any winnings, it does not help. For example, the casino takes 5% only of each win of 20$.
Place bets of such size to win a payoff of around 40$. Then the commission will be taken only from 20$, and the rest will go to you.
Do Not Make Buy Bets Often
When winning these bets, a casino will charge a 5% fee. Although the house edge is much lower than in the Lay Bets, it's better to refrain from them. If you want to bring diversity to the game, bet only on four before 7 or 10 before 7.
Everything related to the fee reduction for Lay Bets may be used for Buy Bets, too, if the casino rules allow it.
Do Not Get Make Field Bets
The house edge in these bets is not as high as in the abovementioned cases. However, it is also quite risky because it plays only for one dice roll.
However, it's not a wrong way to diversify the game if that is what you need.
Learn the Place Bets
If you don't want to let a casino a chance to round up the win in its favor, make sure you do the following:
- Bet amounts that are multiples of 5 on 4, 5, 9, and 10 (the odds are 9:5 and 7:5);
- Bet the amounts multiples of 6 on 6 and 8 (7:6).
Otherwise, you may get only a part of the win. However, all players should only make Place bets on numbers 6 and 8, as the house edge here is about 1.5%. Meanwhile, it is 4% at 5 and 9 and almost 7% at 4 and 10.
As for such bets as Pass, Come, Don't Pass, Don't Come, as well as different bets on Odds, they are considered the most advantageous for a player.
A skillful combination of these bets allows for minimizing the house edge in the game of craps. This is especially true for the bets on Odds. We discussed them in another article, so I will not touch them again. We can only say that they should be used at every opportunity because, in this case, you play on an equal footing with a casino.
Summary
These simple tips will help you better understand the game process, however, do not think you don't need anything more. This game is full of twists and turns; mastering them can take years. Over time, if you practice and learn from masters, you can become a professional and develop a unique strategy to help you when playing craps.
The most experienced players usually focus on a particular game aspect to achieve perfection. You may follow their way.
