Craps is an absolute blast, and one of the most exciting games in a casino, but it can be intimidating to new players.

We’ve slapped together 10 common craps mistakes made by newbies.

One of the key rules for street craps is that the dice bounce when the shooter throws them. That is why there should be a wall or another kind of a backstop where the dice can bounce. If there is no bounce, then the throw is not valid, and the shooter should perform it again. Here are some basics to get you started shooting Craps. One player, known as the “shooter,” throws the dice. All wagers must be placed before the shooter throws the dice. The types of wagers that can be made are. Shooting dice, also known as street craps, is a slightly simplified version of traditional Casino Craps, and is a classic hustle. You can also learn to play Mexican drinking dice, Farkle, and other games that only require you to know a few rules and get a few dice in a cup.

If you haven’t selected a dice set yet, go to Craps: Dice Sets & Dice Setting For The Controlled Shooter. This practice session is broken down into two parts. Getting your hand and fingers into the proper positions for your ‘dice grip’ Setting, picking up and tossing the dice using your preferred ‘dice grip’ DICE GRIP SESSION 1. When a player buys into a game specifically with cash, the 'only' means no bets are being placed at the time of the buy in. Can also be used when a player colours in. (Dealers will say this out loud so that a player can't take a shot and say he wanted a bet on X.).

1. Trying to hand cash to a dealer.

Dealers aren’t allowed to take cash from your hand, so simply lay your money on the table. The dealer will give you chips, and you’re ready to stick it to the house.

2. Not holding the dice over the table.

There are lots of rules in casinos, typically intended to either keep people from cheating or employees from stealing. Always keep the dice in sight of the dealers and boxman. We’d explain what a “boxman” is, but it’s not that kind of list.

Want to make $1,000 from a $1 investment? Bet a “hard six.” Hit it three times before you “seven out” and you get a grand!

3. Touching the dice with two hands.

It’s exciting shooting the dice, and if you’re a craps virgin, experienced players are going to love having you shoot the dice, too. Just make sure to only use one hand to shake or throw the dice. Using two hands makes the house nervous (as some cheaters try to switch the dice for loaded ones).

4. Not hitting the back wall.

Throw the dice all the way down, or the dealers will let you hear about it. This ensures each roll is truly random, and there’s no funny business (sometimes called “dice control” or “precision shooting”) going on.

Just look for these bad boys at the opposite end of the table, and hit them with the dice. No pressure.

5. Not knowing the chip denomination colors.

We saw this one at a downtown casino recently, and it was adorable. Before you begin play, make sure you know the colors associated with each denomination of chip. Red chips, for example, are typically worth $5. Green are worth $25, and so on. This helps a lot when a helpful dealer says, “If you’d like to bet on 6 and 8, I’ll need $12.” Otherwise, chaos.

6. Holding a drink over the table.

Yes, people sometimes drink when they gamble. That leads to spills, and the felt on table games is especially vulnerable. So, take a sip and place your drink on the special “rail” down below (and don’t forget to tip your waitress). The chip rail is on top, by the way, with ample room for your winnings.

See the drink rail? It’ll keep your cocktail out of harm’s way.

7. Dangling hands over the table.

Seasoned gamblers are very superstitious, especially craps players. Avoid their hard stares by keeping your hands out of the way of the dice. Hands are better put to use clapping in support of hot shooters.

8. Shouting out late bets.

“Get your bets in early!” is a common saying among dealers. Waiting until the last minute to make a bet can cause confusion and delays at the table. Make your bets when the dice are in the middle of the table, before they’re pushed to the shooter.

9. Mistaking dealer placed bets for self-serve.

Some craps bets are made directly by players, and others are made by the dealers. For the most part, anything within arm’s reach is your responsibility. Otherwise, set your chips in the middle of the table (the area marked “Come” is a good spot), and tell the dealer your bet. If you’re confused about which bets are which, just watch and ask questions. You’ll find other players and dealers are very helpful. Note: It’s best not to ask lots of questions during a hot roll. You’ll mess with the mojo.

Craps tip: Don’t bet the Big 6 and 8. The same bet pays more if you “place” those numbers with the dealer. You’re welcome.

10. Saying “seven” at the table.

Speaking of mojo, this is one of the worst transgressions a new craps player can make. Don’t say the word “seven” out loud at the craps table. Our hands are actually shaking just typing that word. Part of the fun of craps is learning the rituals of the game, the jargon, the ridiculous rules and superstitions. This isn’t one of the ridiculous ones, by the way. Don’t say “seven”! Just trust us, we are a Las Vegas blog.

Now that you know some of the gaffs new craps players make, you can avoid them and take part in one of the most thrilling casino games, ever.

Remember to have fun stick to the basics of the game when you’re first starting out.

Catch a hot roll and you could reach legend status in a mere three to four hours. Actual results may vary.

The following is a glossary of terms used in the dice game craps. Besides the terms listed here, there are many common and uncommon craps slang terms.^[1][2][3]

A[edit]

ace deuce

A roll of 3

B[edit]

Big Red

The number 7 or a bet for any 7 to appear

bones

A slang term for the dice

box numbers

The place numbers (4,5,6,8,9,10)

boxcars

A roll of or bet on 12

C[edit]

center field

Nine, often called Center Field Nine

change only

when a player buys into a game specifically with cash, the 'only' means no bets are being placed at the time of the buy in. Can also be used when a player colours in. (Dealers will say this out loud so that a player can't take a shot and say he wanted a bet on X.)

Cheque change

Breaking down a chip into smaller denomination chips.

colour up

The process of changing denominations of chips to larger denominations

cold dice

also known as a cold table; an expression used when players are not hitting the established point and sevening out

come out

1. The initial roll of the shooter

2. To roll the dice when no point has been established^[4]

crap out

To roll a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll. A player betting on the Pass line or Come loses on crap out, but the roll does not lose when a point is established. Don't Pass and Don't Come wins if a 2 or 3 craps is rolled on come out, but ties (pushes) if a 12 is rolled on come out. The shooter may continue rolling after crapping out.

craps

the numbers 2, 3, and/or 12

D[edit]

double pitch

In dice control, when the dice stay on axis which rarely occurs (less than 5% of the rolls), but one turns two faces more than the other. If players set the dice with the same face, such as a hard ways or 3V set, the roll may likely result in a seven.

down

To remove or reduce a bet, players often say 'take it down'

E[edit]

easy way

Rolling an even number with any combination other than doubles. Applies to 4, 6, 8, and 10 only.

even money

Any bet that pays out at 1:1.

F[edit]

fever five

A roll of 5, also called five fever

free odds

Simply known as odds, is the odds which can be taken or laid behind the Pass/Come or Don't Pass/Don't Come. These are paid at true odds.

flea

A player who bets at or near table minimum, normally for extended periods of time; very annoying.

G[edit]

garden

Slang for the field bet

George

A good tipper

H[edit]

hard way

Rolling a 4, 6, 8, 10 with a pair of the same number

hi-lo

a single roll bet for 2 or 12

hi-lo-yo

a single roll bet for 2, 11, or 12

high

A bet on or roll of 12, also see boxcars

hop

A single roll bet for a specific combination of dice to come out. Pays 15:1 for easy ways and 30:1 for hard ways

horn

A divided bet on the 2, 3, 11, 12

horn high

A horn bet with addition units going to a specific number. For example 'horn high ace deuce' would generally mean a 5 unit bet with 2 units going on the 3.

hot dice

also known as a hot table; an expression used when players are hitting the established points or rolling for long durations without seven outs

I[edit]

inside numbers

betting on the 5, 6, 8, 9

L[edit]

lay

To bet on a seven to come before a specific point number. Lays are paid at true odds with commission taken.

lay odds

To give odds behind a Don't Pass or Don't Come. Betting against the shooter

Little Joe

Point 4

low

a single roll bet for a 2

M[edit]

mechanic

A shooter who allegedly implements dice control

N[edit]

natural

Rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll

Nina

Rolling or betting on a 9

Street Craps Rules Learn How To Play Craps Outside.

O[edit]

Off

1. The come out roll; when no point has been established

2. To have a bet on the table but not in play. The bet can not be won from or lost when it is Off.

On

1. When a point has been established

2. A bet that is in play (working).

outside numbers

betting on the 4, 5, 9, 10

P[edit]

parley

To parley a bet is to take all the winnings from the previous bet (or up to maximum allowed for bet if winnings exceed maximum) and add it to the next bet.

press

To double a bet, players generally say 'press it' when doubling a bet, players can also press an additional one or more units and can increase the bet less than the original bet by saying 'press X units'

push

a tie

S[edit]

same bet

To keep the previous winning bet as is. If a player says same bet it does not mean to double the bet, that is referred to as 'pressing it'

seven out

A roll of 7 when the point is On. All bets on Pass, Pass Odds, Come, Come Odds, Place bets, Buy bets, hard ways and any single roll bets not for a seven loses. All bets on Don't Pass, Don't Pass Odds, Don't Come, Don't Come Odds, Lay bets and any single roll bets for a seven wins.

snake eyes

A roll of 2

stroker

A player who makes bets overly complicated and/or gives dealers unnecessary additional work

T[edit]

take odds

To bet odds behind a Pass or Come. Betting with the shooter^[5]

take down

See down

true odds

The real odds for payout where house edge is 0%

Shooting Craps Rules Against

W[edit]

working

A bet which is in play and can be won or lost.

whirl

A five-unit bet that is a combination of a horn and any-seven bet, with the idea that if a seven is rolled the bet is a push, because the money won on the seven is lost on the horn portions of the bet. The combine odds are 26:5 on the 2, 12, 11:5 on the 3, 11, and a push on the 7.

world

See whirl

wrong way bettor

When a person is betting against the shooter on the Don't Pass Line.

Y[edit]

yo

A roll or bet on 11 (6-5, 5-6), short for Yo-leven

References[edit]

Craps Shooter Rules

1. ^'Craps Lingo'. readybetgo.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
2. ^'Craps Etiquette and Lingo Casino Gambling Game Rules and Strategy Guide'. VegasTripping.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
3. ^Jack Botermans (2008). The Book of Games: Strategy, Tactics & History. Sterling. pp. 545–. ISBN978-1-4027-4221-7.
4. ^Craps A Smart Shooters Guide. Cardoza Publishing. pp. 24–. ISBN978-1-58042-576-6.
5. ^R. D. Ellison (2001). Gamble to Win: Craps. Lyle Stuart, Kensington Publishing Corporation. pp. 42–. ISBN978-0-8184-0621-8.

Shooting Craps Rules Poker