So you want to play craps? Excellent choice! It is common knowledge in the casino world that craps is one of the most popular and exciting games to play at the casinos. OK, I get that, but learning to play craps is also a little intimidating for most that are new to the game.

Here’s the good news… learning how to play craps is not as difficult or confusing as it looks. After reading this article, you will understand the secrets that cause confusion, but more importantly, you will walk away with the confidence needed to play craps successfully.

First things first… let’s remove the big mystery about the game of craps right now. Yes, there are many slang terms, odds and betting options available when you play craps. Always remember this — the majority of slang, odds and betting options are a complete waste of time. Why? They are all designed to add mystery, confusion and excitement to a game that would otherwise be… well, boring.

Listen, you are not going to be penalized for not speaking the lingo, knowing all the odds and making every possible bet…

Well… you will be penalized for trying to make every possible bet… you’ll lose all of your money! Think of it this way… when you go to your favorite restaurant, do you order every item on the menu, or just those items that you like?

So, when you play craps, you should only make the bets that offer you the best chance of winning, not the best chance of losing. Make sense? Great!

As for the lingo, look, if you can say the following words – change, give me odds, pass line, don’t pass, color me up – you have the important vocabulary you need. Yes, it really is that simple. Don’t fall for the other stuff; it is just a trap to free you from your cash.

Now for the fun part… here are the basics on how to play craps:

1. Play the lowest odds bets – pass line with odds or don’t pass line with odds. These are the safest bets that give the casino less advantage. You can make either bet whether you roll the dice or not.

2. When playing the pass line, if the shooter’s first roll (come out roll) is a 7 or 11, you will win. If the shooter continues to roll 7 or 11, you will continue to win. If the shooter rolls 2, 3, or 12, you will lose.

3. When playing the don’t pass line, if the shooter’s first roll (come out roll) is a 2 or 3, you will win. If the first roll is a 12, that will be a tie, you don’t win and you don’t lose. If the shooter continues to roll 2, 3 or 12 you will continue to win or tie. If the shooter’s first roll is a 7 or 11, you will lose.

4. Once the shooter establishes a point number (the shooter’s come out roll is either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), and you are betting on the pass line, you will win if the shooter rolls that point number again, before rolling a 7 and lose if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point number again. If you are betting on the don’t pass line, you will win if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point number a second time, and lose if the shooter rolls the point number again, before rolling a 7.

5. As for the odds bet on either pass or don’t pass, you can make this bet after a point number is established. If you are betting the pass line, and the table seems hot (the shooter is rolling a lot of numbers) make an odds bet with your pass line bet. If you are betting the don’t pass line, and the table seems cold (the shooters keep rolling 7 before repeating their point number), you can make an odds bet with your don’t pass bet.