Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcome of two dice. The simplest way to play: put a bet on the Pass Line, wait for the shooter to roll, and you win if the first roll is a 7 or 11. A round builds from there through a “point” number until either the point repeats or a 7 shows.
That is the whole game in one breath. Everything else is detail, and the detail is where craps gets fun. The table looks like a math exam at first. Loud crowd, chips flying, a stickman calling numbers you don’t recognize. Stick with me and it falls apart into something you can learn in about ten minutes.
You can follow along free in the game on this site. Read a step, make the bet, watch what happens. That loop teaches faster than any article, including this one.
The one bet that matters first: the Pass Line
Ignore ninety percent of the table for now. Find the strip that says PASS LINE running along the edge closest to you. That is where you start.
You put a chip there before a new round begins. From that point the shooter (the person throwing the dice) rolls, and your bet lives or dies by the numbers. The Pass Line has a house edge of 1.41%, which is one of the lowest on the table. That is why every guide, including this one, tells you to start there.
The come-out roll
Every round opens with a come-out roll. This is the shooter’s first throw of a fresh round, and it splits three ways.
Roll a 7 or 11, and the Pass Line wins immediately. Even money. You bet ten, you get ten.
Roll a 2, 3, or 12, and the Pass Line loses. That is “craps,” and yes, that is where the game gets its name.
Roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) and that number becomes the point. Nothing wins or loses yet. The round keeps going, and now the shooter has a target.
The point
Say the come-out roll is a 6. Now 6 is the point. The dealer flips a marker to ON and sets it on the 6.
Here is the whole tension of craps. The shooter keeps rolling, again and again, and you are waiting for one of two things:
- The point (6) shows again before a 7. Pass Line wins.
- A 7 shows first. Pass Line loses. This is the “seven-out,” and it ends the round.
Notice the flip. On the come-out, 7 was your friend. Once a point is set, 7 is the enemy. Same number, opposite meaning, depending on where you are in the round. New players trip on this constantly. Once it clicks, the rest is easy.
Seven-out and the dice moving on
When a shooter sevens-out, the round is over and the dice pass to the next player, going clockwise. A shooter who keeps hitting points without sevening out can hold the dice for a long time. Some legendary rolls have lasted over an hour. Most last a few minutes. The dice come around the table so everyone gets a turn, but you never have to shoot if you don’t want to. You can bet the whole game and never touch a die.
How a full round flows
Let me walk one round start to finish so the pieces connect.
- New round. You put a chip on the Pass Line.
- Come-out roll. Shooter throws a 5. The point is now 5.
- Shooter rolls an 8. Nothing happens to your Pass Line bet.
- Shooter rolls a 3. Still nothing. On the come-out a 3 loses, but we are past the come-out now, so it’s harmless.
- Shooter rolls a 5. That’s the point. Pass Line wins, even money.
New round starts. Different round, the shooter could seven-out on the second roll and you lose. That is the game. You are not trying to be clever here. You put money on the most probable side and let the dice run.
Free odds: the bet with no house edge
Once a point is set, you can back your Pass Line bet with something called an odds bet (also just “odds” or “free odds”). You place it right behind your Pass Line chip.
This is the best bet in the entire casino, and most tourists walk past it because it isn’t labeled on the felt. The odds bet pays true odds, meaning the house edge is 0%. Zero. The payout matches the real probability exactly. If the point is 4 or 10, odds pay true odds on that portion.
The catch: you can only take odds after a point is set, and only as a multiple of your Pass Line bet (tables cap it, often at 3x, 5x, or 10x). Bet small on the Pass Line, then load up on odds. That is the closest thing craps has to a smart-money move.
The other main bets, in plain terms
You don’t need these to start. But you’ll hear them, so here is the short version.
Don’t Pass. The opposite of the Pass Line. You’re betting with the house, more or less. Win on a come-out 2 or 3, lose on 7 or 11, and after a point is set you want the 7 before the point. Edge of 1.36%, a hair lower than Pass. Fewer people bet it because you’re rooting against the table, and the table is loud and social.
Come. Works exactly like the Pass Line, but you make it after the point is already set. The next roll becomes your personal mini come-out. Same 1.41% edge, and you can take odds on it too.
Don’t Come. The Don’t Pass version of a Come bet. Edge of 1.36%.
Place bets. You pick a number (6, 8, 5, 9, 4, or 10) and bet it shows before a 7. Placing the 6 or 8 is decent, with an edge of 1.52%. Placing the 4 or 10 is worse at 6.67%.
The Field. A one-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Looks generous because it covers seven numbers. It isn’t, really. Edge of 5.56%.
Proposition bets. The stuff in the middle of the table: hardways, Any Seven, the Yo (eleven), boxcars. These pay big and cost you dearly. Any Seven alone carries a 16.67% edge. Fun to toss a dollar at. A terrible plan for your bankroll.
How to actually play at a real table
Walking up to a live craps table is intimidating. Here’s the etiquette so you don’t feel lost.
Buy in between rolls. Put your cash flat on the felt (dealers can’t take it from your hand) and say “change only.” The dealer gives you chips.
Make your own Pass Line and Field bets by placing chips yourself. For Place bets and props, put your chips down and tell the dealer what you want. They position it for you.
Handle the dice with one hand when it’s your turn to shoot, and hit the back wall on your throw. Keep your other hand and your drink off the table rail.
Tip the dealers now and then, often by making a small bet for them. It’s normal and it keeps the crew on your side.
None of this matters in the game here, which is the point of practicing first. Learn the bets in the browser, then walk up to a table already knowing the flow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest bet in craps for a beginner?
The Pass Line. You bet it before the come-out roll, win on a 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12, and otherwise chase the point before a 7 appears. Its house edge is 1.41%, among the lowest on the table, which makes it the standard starting bet.
What does “seven-out” mean in craps?
A seven-out happens when the shooter rolls a 7 after a point has been set, before hitting that point again. It ends the round, loses all Pass Line and odds bets, and passes the dice to the next player. Before a point is set, a 7 does the opposite and wins.
Why is 7 good on the come-out but bad later?
On the come-out roll, a 7 wins for the Pass Line instantly. Once a point number is set, the goal flips: you now need the point to repeat before a 7. Since 7 is the most common roll with two dice (six ways to make it), it becomes the number you’re racing against.
Do I have to roll the dice to play craps?
No. Shooting the dice is optional. When your turn comes around you can wave it off, and the dice move to the next player. Plenty of people bet every round without ever throwing. You can still win or lose on every roll regardless of who is shooting.
What is the best bet on the craps table?
The free odds bet, taken behind a Pass Line or Come bet after a point is set. It pays true odds with a house edge of 0%, the only bet in the casino with no built-in advantage for the house. You can only place it after a point exists, so pair it with a Pass Line bet.
Can I practice craps without real money?
Yes. The game on this site is free play-money craps, no signup and no cash involved. It runs a real ruleset, so the rounds, points, and payouts behave like a standard table. Read a step, make the bet, watch the dice. That loop is the fastest way to learn.