A Guide to Craps aka Seven-Eleven – Rules, Instructions and How to Win Strategy
Introduction
Craps, also known as Seven-Eleven is a game I’ve played a lot, and it’s a blast. It’s a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of the roll of a pair of dice. It’s got a rich history, going back to the Crusades and was brought over to New Orleans by a guy named Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville (a mouthful of a name, to be sure). The name “Craps” comes from the French word “crapaud,” which means “toad,” probably because folks would crouch over a floor or sidewalk to play it before it hit the casinos.
The game is super social and has a bunch of different bets, which can seem complicated at first. But once you get the hang of it, I think you’ll agree that it’s really fun. You’ve got one player rolling the dice, called the “shooter,” and other players around the table making bets on the outcome. There’s a lot of cheering and commotion, which makes it a standout game in any casino.
Chuck a Luck is a similar dice-based betting game (usually played at fairs rather than casinos) that I’ve also written a guide on.
Quick Tip for Craps
Always start with simple bets like the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line to get a feel for the game before diving into more complex wagers.
Rules for playing Craps
Understanding the rules of Craps / Seven-Eleven is key to enjoying the game. The basic idea is to bet on the outcome of the roll of the dice. The person rolling is the shooter, and the first roll they make is called the “come-out roll.” If they roll a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win. If they roll a 2, 3, or 12, it’s “craps,” and Don’t Pass Line bets win. Any other number becomes the “point,” and the shooter keeps rolling until they hit that point again for Pass Line bets to win, or they roll a 7, which means Don’t Pass Line bets win.
There are lots of other bets, too, like Come and Don’t Come bets, which work like Pass and Don’t Pass but can be made any time after the point is established. Then there are single-roll bets, like betting on the next roll being a certain number. And there are multi-roll bets, like Hardways, where you bet that the shooter will roll a pair of the same number before rolling a 7 or that number in a non-pair combination.
List of Bets in Craps with Rules, and payouts
| Bet Type | Description | Rules | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | Betting on the shooter to win | Shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll | 1:1 |
| Shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll (Craps) | Loss | ||
| If the point is established, shooter must roll the point | |||
| before rolling a 7 for a win | |||
| Don’t Pass Line | Betting against the shooter | Opposite of Pass Line bet | 1:1 |
| Come | Similar to Pass Line but placed after the point is established | Shooter rolls a 7 or 11 after the come-out roll | 1:1 |
| Shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 after the come-out roll | Loss | ||
| Don’t Come | Similar to Don’t Pass Line but placed after the point is established | Opposite of Come bet | 1:1 |
| Shooter rolls a 7 or 11 after the come-out roll | Loss | ||
| Field | Betting on specific numbers (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12) | Shooter rolls a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 | 1:1 for 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 |
| Shooter rolls a 5, 6, 7, or 8 | 2:1 for 2 or 12 | ||
| Big 6/Big 8 | Betting that 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7 | Shooter rolls a 6 or 8 before rolling a 7 | 1:1 |
| Shooter rolls a 7 before rolling a 6 or 8 | Loss | ||
| Place Bets | Betting on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) | Shooter rolls the chosen number before rolling a 7 | Varies based on number |
| Buy Bets | Similar to Place Bets but with better payouts and a 5% commission | Shooter rolls the chosen number before rolling a 7 | Payout varies based on the number |
| Lay Bets | Betting against specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) | Shooter rolls a 7 before the chosen number | Payout varies based on the number |
| Any Seven | Betting that a 7 will be rolled | Shooter rolls a 7 | 4:1 |
| Any Craps | Betting that a 2, 3, or 12 will be rolled | Shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 | 7:1 |
| Hardways | Betting that a specific pair of numbers will be rolled as doubles (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) | Shooter rolls the chosen pair (doubles) before rolling a 7 | Payout varies based on the specific numbers |
| Proposition Bets | Betting on various outcomes within a single roll | Various rules apply depending on the specific proposition bet | Payout varies based on the specific bet |
Equipment and Setup for Craps / Seven-Eleven
To play Craps / Seven-Eleven, you need a special table that has all the different bets marked on it, and two dice. Players stand around the table, with the shooter rolling the dice across the table.
The dice have to hit the opposite wall of the table to count.
How to Play Craps / Seven-Eleven
Playing Craps / Seven-Eleven involves a few key steps:
- Setup: Players put their chips on the bet they want to make.
- Gameplay: The shooter rolls the dice, and the outcome determines if bets win or lose or if the game continues.
- End of the Game: The game ends when the shooter rolls a 7 after the point is established, and a new shooter takes over.
How to Win at Craps / Seven-Eleven
Winning at Craps / Seven-Eleven is about understanding which bets have the best odds. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets have some of the best odds in the casino. Betting on the Come and Don’t Come gives similar odds after the point is established. Avoid the more exotic bets like Hardways or any single-roll bets unless you’re just looking for fun, because they have worse odds.
Best Strategies for playing Craps / Seven-Eleven game
The best strategies for Craps / Seven-Eleven involve sticking to the bets with the lowest house edge. The Pass Line and Come bets, with odds bets behind them, are some of the best bets in the casino.
The Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets are also good, but they’re not as popular because you’re betting against the shooter.
Below is a list of each bet and it’s likelihood of happening / paying out for you:
| Bet Type | Odds / Likelihood |
|---|---|
| Pass Line | Approximately 49.29% chance |
| Don’t Pass Line | Approximately 49.29% chance |
| Come | Approximately 49.29% chance |
| Don’t Come | Approximately 49.29% chance |
| Field | 16.67% chance for 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 2.78% chance for 2 or 12 69.44% chance for 5, 6, 7, or 8 |
| Big 6/Big 8 | Approximately 9.09% chance |
| Place Bets | Varies depending on number placed |
| Buy Bets | Varies depending on number bought |
| Lay Bets | Varies depending on number laid |
| Any Seven | Approximately 16.67% chance |
| Any Craps | Approximately 11.11% chance |
| Hardways | Varies depending on the specific hardway bet |
| Proposition Bets | Varies depending on the specific proposition bet |
Variations
There are a bunch of variations of Craps / Seven-Eleven, like “Crapless Craps” where you can’t lose on the come-out roll, or “High Point Craps” where a come-out roll of 2 or 3 is ignored until a different total is rolled.
Scenarios
Good scenarios in Craps / Seven-Eleven are when you’re the shooter and you roll a point number and then hit it again before rolling a 7. Bad scenarios are when you roll a 7 right after establishing a point. To turn these scenarios to your advantage, manage your bets and don’t chase losses with high-risk bets.
Frequently Asked Questions about playing Craps / Seven-Eleven game
Q: What’s the best bet in Craps / Seven-Eleven?
A: The Pass Line bet with odds behind it is one of the best bets you can make.
Q: Can I play Craps / Seven-Eleven online?
A: Yes, many online casinos offer Craps / Seven-Eleven games.
Q: Is Craps / Seven-Eleven a game of skill or luck?
A: It’s mostly luck since it’s based on dice rolls, but knowing which bets to make can involve skill.
Additional Subtopics
Other things to know about Craps include understanding table etiquette, like handling the dice with one hand and not taking too long to shoot. Also, it’s good to know the lingo, like “snake eyes” for rolling two ones, or “yo” for an eleven.
External Links
For more information on Craps / Seven-Eleven, check out the official rules from a casino or visit educational gambling sites for detailed guides and strategies.
Chandler and Monica playing Craps in Friends [Video]
A real-life game of Craps in a Casino [Video]
Eve Brownlee was a gamer before gaming communities on the internet were a thing. Eve grew up playing traditional, standard deck card games like Rummy and Bezique, taking an interest in the classics Backgammon and Chess. Parlor card games like Bridge continue to keep Eve active in the community. After a long career, primarily in horticulture for USDA in Maryland, Eve now travels and writes on The Pineapple (pineapples.info) and contributes to Quora/Pinterest topics. Contact Eve via email.
