Here’s the secret of the simplicity of craps. On the first roll of the dice – the “come-out roll” – the stickman will slide five dice to a player – the “shooter” – who will then select two dice. He’ll throw the dice to the opposite end of the table. The dice must hit the wall of the table to be considered a legal roll.
The shooter tries to establish a number – four, five, six, eight, nine or ten. The dealers will then take a “puck” that says “off’ on one side and “on” on the other side, and place it on the number rolled, “on” side up – it is always “off’ on the come-out roll. The shooter will then attempt to roll that number again before he rolls a seven. And that’s the entire
objective of craps.
Other things can happen. Normally, the shooter places a bet on the “pass line”. When they roll that number again before rolling a seven, they have made one “pass”. When you bet on the pass line, the “front line”, you’re betting on the “dos” or you’re betting “right”. Most players bet the pass line because it means they are going “with” the shooter, hoping that he gets a pair of hot dice and rolls all night. When you’re betting on the “don’t-pass” line, you’re betting on the “don’ts” or you’re betting the “wrong” way. The players who don’t-pass line believe that the odds of rolling a seven will eventually catch up to the shooter, and they want
to profit from those odds.
If the shooter rolls a seven or 11 on the come-out roll, he wins. The stickman may say, “Winner, front-line winner, pay the dos, take the don’ts.” The don’t bettors lose their money, and the shooter continues to roll.
If the shooter rolls a two, three or 12 on the come-out roll, he loses. The stickman will most likely say, “Two (three or 12). Craps, line away. Take the dos. Pay the don’ts.” 12 is barred. (If the 12 shows, the pass line bettors lose, and the don’t pass bettors don’t win or lose, they get a push.) If the shooter “craps out” – rolls his point and then rolls a seven – he passes the dice to the next shooter.
When the shooter establishes a point, say a six, the stickman will announce “Six, mark the six.” The shooter will then have a chance to roll again to try to make a six before he rolls a seven. If he makes his point, he gets a chance to establish another point. He will continue to roll until he rolls a seven, when he’ll “seven out”.