To summarize craps in one sentence it would go something like this: it is a game where the dice determines the winners. If learning craps were as simple as this, it would be a very nice game indeed. Thought, while craps seems rather complicated and intimidating, it is nonetheless a reasonably simple game to learn.

The first thing a new player to the game should do, is learn the layout of the table. the table consists of two identical sides – a player therefore only needs to learn one of these. The layout of the table effects the games  from all sides. When playing online craps, players will only be presented with one half of the table.

The craps table is made up of various boxes where the chips can be placed. The different boxes represent different types of bets. A player needs to be familiar with each box and its bet.

The come box is situated directly behind the field box. The come bets are set here, while in the corner, either to the right or left depending on where you are standing, is a triangular box labeled Big and the numbers 6 and 8. here the Big 6 and Big 8 bets are placed. Following this are a series of numbered boxed from 4 to 10, excluding 7. these are known as the box numbers and where you can make place bets, buy bets, lay bets, and bets governed by point numbers set by the dealer.

Between the above mentioned box and the vertical don’t pass bar is the don’t come bar. The don’t come bets are placed in the positions. On the right (or left) is another group of boxes, these are hardly used since they have a very high house edge. The first one of these is the box called 7, next is any craps and two length wise strips of boxes with several dice combinations. The proposition bets are placed here.

The best advice is not to worry to much about all the above mentioned bets. Rather, simply concern yourself the pass line box, don’t pass bar, come box and don’t come bar. The numbers can only be bet upon for field, place and buy bets. In most other situations, the dealer will be moving your chips to the number, when it is applicable.

There are two important terms to know. The first is the come out roll. Once the bettor has placed his wager the next roll of the dice is taken by the shooter. The second is the point number. If the bettor's bet is not won or lost on the first roll of the dice, the number that is rolled becomes the point number.

Pass line wager is made by placing chips in the pass line box. This can be done once the shooter picks up the dice for the first time and places a bet. as mentioned before, the first roll is known as the come out roll. If this is a 7 or 11 those who betted in the pass line box win. However, if the come out roll is a 2, 3 or 12 those bets lose. If any other number except those just mentioned is rolled, this number becomes the point number.

In cases where the point number option occurs the dealer will automatically move the wager to its corresponding number on the craps table. In order for the pass line bet to still win the shooter has to roll the point number again before he/ she rolls a 7 or 11. if this doesn’t happen in this order the bets are lost and thus cleared from the craps table.

Don’t pass line bet is almost directly and equally opposite to its pass line cousin. Firstly, the bets need to be place on the don’t pass bar before the first roll of the dice in a new game. If the first roll happens to be a 7 or 11, the don’t pass bets lose. If a 3 is thrown instead, the bets win. If double sixes or double ones are thrown on the come out roll they count for zero, thus the dice roll following this becomes the actual come out roll for the don’t pass wagers. If the come out roll produces a point number the dealer will automatically move the bets to their corresponding number. Alternatively, for the don’t pass line bets, the shooter needs to roll a 7 or 11 before the point number in order to win.

The come wager has to be made at the very beginning of the shooter's game. In this way it differs from the pass and don’t pass bets. The bets, in this case, are made by placing them in the come box. After this has taken place the first roll afterwards is the come out roll for this wager. From here onwards, the wager works in the same way the pass line wager works. If a 7 or 11 is the first roll of the dice the bet wins, if a two, three or twelve is rolled instead the wager is lost. In cases where any other value is diced, the roll made established the point number for that round of come wager. Similarly, the bettor wants the point number to be rolled prior to a seven or eleven in order to win. If this doesn’t happen in this order the wager will be lost. The game works where some players are winning from the roll of a dice, while others are losing from the same roll.

The don’t come wager is similar to the don’t pass line wager. The don’t come wager can be placed at any point during the game. Once it has been placed the very next dice roll becomes the come out roll. As already mentioned this come out roll can do one of three things – either the bet will win, or it will lose, or it will establish the point number. To win on the come out roll on a don’t come wager, the shooter needs to throw a three. If a seven or eleven is rolled, the wager loses. However, any other number is the point number. In the case of a point number the dealer will move the wager to the corresponding box of the point number. In a don’t come bet a seven or eleven has to be rolled before a point number in order to win, if the opposite occurs, the bet is lost.

The place bet is a bet that can only be made once the shooter has established the point number. After this has taken place, the place bet can take place at any time during the game. To make a place bet simply place the chips on any number between four and ten (excluding seven). If this number comes up before a seven is rolled the player wins. If on the other hand the seven is rolled first the bettor losses his or her chips. The odds on the various numbers vary. A place bet on ten or four, the odds are nine to five. While a place bet on five or nine has odds of seven to five. Furthermore a place bet on six or eight has odds of seven to six.

Free odds wagers offer the best odds within the online casino arena. These are bets that are strategically placed. They are explained in more detail in the strategy tips sections. In order to return true odds, free wagers need to be made over and above the pass, don’t pass, come and don’t come bets. However, they are then offered better odds and thus better returns. A free odds wager can only be made once the point number has been set. Following this the dealer has transferred the wagers to their correct numerical value. Once this has taken place players are entitled to make their free odds bets, they do this by placing additional chips on top of their existing chips.

The easiest bet to understand is the field bet. field bets can be placed at any time during the game. Their outcome is determined by a single roll of the dice. To win a field bet a two, three, four, nine, ten, eleven or twelve has to be rolled. However, if a five, six, seven or eight is rolled this wager will lose. Field bets are less risky than proposition bets.

The place bet is similar to the buy bet. to make a buy bet you simply need to place the chips on four, five, six, eight, nine or ten. This can be done any time after the shooter has established the point number. To win a buy bet the chosen number has to be rolled before a seven is diced. The buy bet, however, has a commission of five percent. This is known as being hit with a vig. Nonetheless, this particular bet offers better odds than the place bet. this in turn is also dependent on the number chosen. For example choosing a five or nine offers higher odds than a four or ten, while a six or eight offers the best odds in this case.

An additional bet placed only after the shooter has rolled the point number is the lay bet. the lay bet is also charged with a commission of five percent. Like the don’t come bet, a lay better hopes that a seven is rolled before the chosen box number. The lay bet can be placed on any chips between the numbers four to ten (except seven). However, if this number is rolled before a seven is rolled the bet is lost. Similarly, different numbers pay out at different odds. The best odds are a six or eight which pays out five to six.