Common Craps Terms
Hello there! I’m your resident online casino expert, and today, I’m excited to guide you through the casino game of craps. Now, if you’re new to this game, the table lingo might sound like a foreign language. But don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive craps terminology guide. Let’s dive right in and demystify the jargon.
Firstly, craps is a fast-paced dice game that centers on the outcome of the roll (or series of rolls) of a pair of dice. Players wager on the results, and the person rolling the dice is known as the ‘shooter’. Simple enough, right? Let’s move on to some of the more specific terms.
Related: Craps Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts for First-Time Players
Basic Craps Terminology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Come Out Roll | The initial roll in a round |
| Point | The number set by the Come Out Roll |
| Pass Line | The area where you bet the dice will pass (win) |
| Don’t Pass Line | The area where you bet the dice won’t pass (lose) |
Perhaps you’ve heard people shouting “snake eyes” or “boxcars“. These are nicknames for specific dice outcomes. Snake eyes means a roll of two 1s, while boxcars refer to a roll of two 6s. There are many more, each as colorful as the last.
Dice Roll Nicknames
| Nickname | Dice Outcome |
|---|---|
| Snake Eyes | Two 1s |
| Ace Deuce | A 1 and a 2 |
| Boxcars | Two 6s |
| Little Joe | A 3 and a 1 |
As you delve deeper into the game, you’ll encounter more complex bets such as ‘Place‘, ‘Buy‘, and ‘Lay‘ bets. These allow players to wager on numbers outside of the primary game.
Complex Bets in Craps
| Bet Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Place Bet | Betting a number will be rolled before a 7 |
| Buy Bet | Similar to a Place Bet but with different odds |
| Lay Bet | Betting a 7 will be rolled before a certain number |
Craps also has a unique collection of multi-roll bets. For instance, the ‘Hard Way‘ bet involves wagering that the shooter will roll a double before rolling a 7 or the ‘easy way‘ of that number.
Multi-Roll Bets in Craps
| Bet Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Hard Way | Betting a double will be rolled before a 7 or the ‘easy way’ |
| Big 6 and Big 8 | Betting a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7 |
Now, let’s address the infamous ‘craps’ term. It refers to a roll of 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll, which results in a loss for Pass Line bets but a win for Don’t Pass Line bets. It’s a bit of a paradox, and that’s what makes the game so intriguing.
The Term ‘Craps’ Explained
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Craps | A roll of 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll |
In craps, strategy matters. If you understand the odds, you can make smarter bets. The house edge can vary widely depending on the type of bet, so understanding this can improve your game significantly.
House Edge on Different Craps Bets
| Bet Type | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 1.36% |
| Come | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | 1.36% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% |
| Field (2:1 on 12) | 5.56% |
| Any Craps | 11.11% |
As you can see, the ‘Pass Line‘ and ‘Don’t Pass‘ bets have the lowest house edge, making them some of the safest bets you can place. On the other hand, the ‘Any Craps‘ bet has a high house edge, making it a riskier proposition.
Now, a term you’ll often hear at the craps table is ‘the stickman‘. This is the casino employee who uses a long stick (hence the name) to push the dice around the table. He’s also the one who calls out the results of the dice rolls and entices players to place prop bets.
Casino Personnel in Craps
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Stickman | Casino employee who manages the dice and calls out the results |
Finally, let’s talk about ‘the horn‘. This is a one-roll bet on 2, 3, 11, and 12. If any of these numbers are rolled, you win. If any other number is rolled, you lose. It’s a high-risk, high-reward bet that adds excitement to the game.
One-Roll Bets in Craps
| Bet Type | Description |
|---|---|
| The Horn | A one-roll bet on 2, 3, 11, and 12 |
To wrap up, craps is a thrilling game with its own language. Understanding the terminology is the first step to mastering the craps casino game and becoming a more confident player. I hope this guide has shed light on some of the more perplexing terms and provided you with a better understanding of this exhilarating casino game.
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