So you are new to the game of craps and you’re not sure where to start. As you learn about the many different kinds of bets, it can make your head spin by the shear complexity of it all. One roll bets, hardways, hard 6 and 8′s, place bets, field bets, buy bets, and many more. So where do you start, and why. One word my sultry companions: Passline.
The line bets, and specifically the passline bets, are perfect for beginners for several reasons. First of all, the rules surrounding passline bets are extremely simple. You make the bet (with a 1 to 1 pay ration) and wait for the next roll. If it is a 7 you win. An 11, you win. If it is a 2, a 3, or a 12 you lose. Any other number becomes the point. As the shooter continues to roll you simply win if the point comes up before a seven, and lose if a seven comes up before the point.
Need more reasons? Low house edge. Every single craps bet gives the casino a slight statistical edge, but the smarter bets keep this edge to a minimum. The passline bet, for instance, keeps your house edge well under 4% which is great compared to the many casino games ranging well into the teens, or even over 20% total house edge.
Once you have mastered the line bets, you can slowly move forward and learn more. The come/don’tcome bets are a great place to start, and after that you can take your pick as you slowly learn more and more about the game.
Until next time, good luck, and happy rolling.
