Craps – The Basics Part1

You don’t just walk up to a craps table and begin to play. That is the main reason that craps is a “dying” game in the casinos. Where it once dominated the American casino, craps is now disappearing as the players who learned the game in the back alleys of the major cities, or the barracks of the armed services, get older and disappear. But for those
who want the best action in a casino, craps is the only game to play.

Let’s start by looking at the craps layout. Confusing, right? It’s true that there are dozens of bets available to the craps player, but intelligent players will ignore the majority of those bets and concentrate on those that give you the best chance to win. So, for the moment, we’re going to forget about the pie-in-the-sky bets and concentrate on how to get started.

Don’t walk up to an empty game to play, because although the odds are no different at an empty table than at a full table, you won’t get the flavour of the game without at least a few players. But, in contrast, don’t try to get into a game that is jam-packed with players with a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’ because no one will want a novice who might slow
up the rolls of the “hot” dice.

Pick a calm game with a few players and plenty of room to spread out. Tell the dealer you’re just getting started. Most dealers who aren’t too busy will take the time to walk the novice through the game, explain the different bets and the procedures. They understand that their livelihood depends on developing the new players.

A craps table employs three dealers at a time: two stand behind the table to accept bets and to either pay winners or take from losers. On the other side, in the middle of the table, is the stickman who handles the dice with a “stick” controls the speed of the game. Sitting down opposite
the stickman is the boxman who acts like a supervisor in blackjack, approving all bets and large payouts.