In this Guide, I hope to give some tips on how to have fun at the Craps table, regardless of whether you’re winning or losing.

This guide is not supposed to a “How To” lesson on how to play Craps, if you would like to learn, there are plenty of guides online here and there on the web.  Or if you would like a book on playing craps, I recommend “Get the Edge at Craps” By Frank Scoblete, it’s a very well written introduction to the game, and includes pointers and tips even veterans may not know about.

So, why a guide on how to have fun losing at craps?   Well, as an experienced X-Craps player, I am here to tell you that most of the time, you will lose.  Sure there will be those occasional big wins, where the blue-haired old lady gets hot and rolls the dice for 30 minutes non-stop, but most of the time you WILL lose.  The Casino has the long-term edge, and there’s no use fighting the odds, so if you’ve decided to let lady luck do her thing, you might as well have fun right?

First and foremost, never gamble (or game, as the slick Casino’s try to call it) with money that you can’t afford to lose.  That’s rather obvious, but a lot of people don’t seem to get that.   I.e.:  Don’t bet the rent at Craps, or any other game in the Casino.

Ok… So you’re at the table,  its bad, real bad, no one can hit a point, and you’re having a crummy time, so how do  you turn this session into a good time?

I’ve broken it down into five major ways you can lose at Craps and still have fun…

• Invent new bets
• Talk to the Dealers
• Make rolling the dice a game within the game
• Get Drunk for free
• Teach someone else how to play

 

Invent New bets

Craps is a game with an almost unlimited amount of ways to bet on the outcome of the roll of two dice.   The bets printed on the table are only a small fraction of the actual bets you can make.  Perhaps you’ve heard strange lingo at the table such as a “Yo”, “ET”, “Horn High Eleven”, or “2 Way”.   These are all bets people make all the time that are known by the Craps Community (i.e.: Dealers and experienced players).

Usually a bet like this is a combination of other bets, and is most often (but not always) one roll bets.    So how did these bets get their names?

Usually someone made the bet, gave it a name, and it stuck.    For example, betting on an 11 to come out on the Come Out Roll has always been considered a “Yo” bet.  But why?   Who knows, Who cares?  As far as I know it’s been lost to time.

So how do you invent a new bet?     Easy.  You come up with a bet that you like,  preferably one that’s never been used before,  make it repeatedly, and each time you tell the dealer you want a _______ Bet. 

Sooner or later he’ll get the message that when you bet on (for example) The 12, 11 and Hard Four Hop on the Come-out Roll only, it’s called a Foondaggle.. or whatever name you give to it.

My friend Eric created a bet in a Casino Once.   We were playing at Fitzgerald’s in Reno, and he was making a lot of 3-way bets, when the idea dawned upon him to invent the 4-way bet…

A 2-Way bet at a craps table is where you make a bet for yourself, and the shooter (person rolling the dice).  Typically it’s a small one-roll bet, such as a “2 way yo” etc.  If the bet hits, you and the person rolling the dice will each be paid. 

The rarer 3-Way bet is where you make a bet for yourself, the shooter, and the dealers.  If this bet hits, you, the Shooter, and the dealers will all make money.  So back to the story… 

So Eric likes to tip the dealers a lot, and so he’s making a lot of 3-Way bets.   Then he looks up to notice a cute woman at the other end of the table, she isn’t playing or paying much attention, she’s standing next to her girlfriend watching her play.   It dawns on Eric that its now time to make a 4-Way bet…

Eric: “$20 4-Way Yo Bet”.
Dealer: “What’s a 4 way bet?”
Eric: “$1 for me, $1 for the Shooter, $1 for you, and $1 for the cute girl at the end of the table”.

Unbelievably, the Yo Hit!,  Eric, The Shooter, the Dealer and the cute woman all made $15 each.    When the Dealer gave her the $15 she thought it was a mistake, then he nodded that Eric made the bet for her.  Smooth.  (And in case you were wondering, no he didn’t get a phone number).

So that’s how its done, find an odd bet you like (or combination of bets), make the bet often, then give it a name tag.

 

 

Talk to the Dealers

Most dealers have a lot to say, and a lot of them have been around for quite a few years.  Unless you run into a grump, which happens on occasion, you’ll find your dealer willing to talk about almost anything.   Sports, Politics, Music, they are all human and have opinions just like anyone else.So why is this fun?   

First it helps to get to know your dealer,  the guy is taking care of your bets,  he’ll catch a mistake if he likes you,  heck I’ve actually seen dealers catch mistakes that didn’t actually happen,  i.e.: Cheat for me.   Usually its small time stuff, like forgetting to take down a prop bet, or on the rare occasion, paying off on a bet that didn’t hit.  Sometimes it happens because they are distracted, but once in a blue moon, I know for a fact that dealers have left up bets that didn’t hit (like a hard 8 for example) because they were trying to help me out. 

Also talking to your dealer can take your mind off the game, especially if you’re having a bad run, it helps ground you and make you realize there is a life outside this particular Casino.

So why not talk to the other players?    I’ve found that most players don’t like to talk.  Unless you’ve come to the table with friends, they are usually pretty tense and nervous about the game.  Oh sure total strangers will high five you when someone’s hot and hitting points,  but they’re not exactly inclines to get into a discussion about topics away from the Casino like a dealer will.

 

Make rolling the dice a game within the game

So you’re at the table, and it’s been terrible.  Crap out after Crap out, no one can seem to hit a point, and everyone’s grumpy, except…

The smiling guy at the end of the table with a big stack of chips!  Wait.. Why is he smiling?  Ah, that’s when you notice he’s been making don’t bets against everyone who’s shooting the dice.  (A don’t or wrong better is betting opposite of everyone else, and is hoping the table gets cold, they are rare, but they exist).

So now it’s your turn to shoot the dice, now what?   I’ll tell you what! You AIM for the don’t betters Chip Stack!   Yes that’s right, all chips on the table felt are fair game, and what could be more fun than trying to knock over a guys stack who only wins if you lose.  

Not only is it fun to try to aim for a target 16 feet away, its extremely satisfying to see him have to re-stack his chips every time you hit them, and if you can turn the losing streak around, and he’s the superstitious type, he may even think you touching his chips with the dice is causing his new losing (for you winning) streak, causing him even more angst. 

Sooner or later he may get the message that it’s not friendly to bet against 12 other people at the table, and especially when YOU are shooting.  Muh ha ha, good fun.

Another fun little trick to try when rolling the dice is to see how high you can get the dice without actually leaving the table.  I’ve seen old geezers do the exact same throw and motion time after time, landing the dice in almost the exact same place, its almost like watching a baseball pitcher set, wind, and throw. 

Just be careful not to continually throw the dice off the table, or hit the people at the other end to often (Well unless its that guy betting don’t against you, then its ok). 

 

Get Drunk for Free

If you’re losing your bankroll, the thinking goes; well you might as well drink for free.  And I agree, but…

There is one major caveat to this, NEVER drink if you’re betting with serious amounts of money.   Its one thing to walk up to the craps table with $50 and drink for free for an hour, make silly bets, joke with your friends, and flirt with the girls standing next to you, if you get drunk and make stupid decisions, who cares right?   

But if you get on a winning streak and turn that $50 into $1,000 (I’ve done it many times) then get the heck out of there before heavy intoxication sets in.    

And if you approach the table with some serious cash, don’t even think of ordering booze while you play..

If you want to play small, make small bets and have a fun night out with friends, having the Casino paying for your booze can be a fun way to do it.

 

Teach someone else how to play 

Sometimes you’re not in the mood to play, or the table’s crushed your bankroll, but maybe you have a friend who wants to play, or someone at the table needs help. In these situations it can be a lot of fun to teach someone how to play the game. 

Beginners to craps are always confused by the many varied bets and the flow of the game, and appreciate the help.   

You can live vicariously through your “pupils” as they win their bets, without suffering the defeats. I’ve also always secretly suspected the Casino likes to see a coach at the table, it means less work for the Dealers when someone else is “Training” a new player.

So if you’re the teacher type, and like helping people understand a game, take a break from playing and go into teacher mode for awhile.

 

If All Else Fails… Leave the Table! 

So there you have it, I hope this little guide helps you have a good time the next time you’re at the tables, there’s no reason to have a bad time when you’re losing, just remember, the more you play, the more you will eventually lose.   As Robert Dinero’s character “Lefty Rosenthal” said in the movie Casino….  “In the end…we get it all…”
 

Porter