Craps

The Game

craps_en Crabs is a dice game, which is synonymous with seven eleven or crap shooting. Craps is very popular in the US and a second version with cards has evolved called card craps, which has the same rules.

Rules

The basic rules of craps distinguish between the shooter and the fenders. The shooter is the one placing the first bet, the banco. Afterwards other players (fenders) may bet against the shooter. After all bets are placed the shooter throws the two dice.
The sum of the two dice determines the success of the throw. A 7 or 11 means “neutral” meaning that it is an immediate win and the shooter wins. A 2, 3, or 12 is known as a crap, which means an immediate loss, a 4 - 6 and 8 – 10 are called a point, and shooter can through the dice again, then the rules change slightly, if the shooter throws the same number as in the previous game he wins, if he throws a 7 he looses (contrary to the first round). If the shooter gets another number he throws again. Should he win the round he may throw the dice again, but even if he loses with a crap he can sill play, but has to place a bet. It is also possible at this point to pass the dices to the player to the right. Only if the shooter looses with a 7, he must pass the dices o the next player (to the right).

Game Play

The game is played usually with red dice that have rectangular edges; the shooter must throw the dice against a wall of the table. Note that fenders are at a 1.4% advantage against the shooter. If the banco is higher than the bet of the fenders, the difference is paid to the shooter. Vice versa, the shooter needs to pay the difference. There are multiple possibilities in case the shooter does not want to invest further. If this happens in the first game of the shooter, then the bet of the player who just shoot has priority, then it moves counterclockwise, until the bets balance. In case the shooter won the previous game, then the player, who wagered most in the previous game, has priority. Then it moves counterclockwise again until the limit of the banco. This procedure is also applied if the previous shooter voluntarily gave up the dice.

Side Bets

Players also have the option of placing different side bets in addition to the regular bets. One option is to call the dice amount and fenders may choose to bet for or against it.
Because the main game is supplemented by side bets players have higher chances of winning. Some bets for give the house a greater odd, while others augment the odds among the players. Some of these include: Pass, Don´t pass, Don´t come and Come. One should refrain from betting on Craps 2 and Craps 12. It is also advised to combine several side bets. Effective is for instance combining odd bets with one of the above-mentioned side bet. You should however practice a bit before entering multiple bets and increse your risk. Overall craps is one of the most entertaining casino games.

History

There are still controversies around the origins of craps, multiple theories contradict on the birthplace and period. Consensus lies in the fact that the modern version of craps came from the US to Europe.
According to Richard Epstein craps, then called Hazard can be traced back to the middle ages.
The origins of the name itself are also controversial, stating that the name either comes from the English word crab or from the French word Crapeaud (toad).
Goeffrey Dibben proposes a different theory, which suggests that craps dates back even further; and has its origins in an Arabic dice game, which is called Azzahr. After it came to France it was renamed to Hasard, which later became the English word Hazard. The throws with low value were called craps.
French brought the game to Canada in the 17th century and later with settlers to the US, where it go its current name craps.

The card version developed due to legal restrictions as dice games where prohibited in the US. 48 or 72 card deck serve as the basis for card craps, which consist of the cards 2 to 6 as well as all aces. The turning of two cards simulates the throw of the dice.