More Craps Etiquette

Since it is about 2.5 hours to Atlantic City from my home, I have been venturing over there a few times per month to test and improve my skills.

Craps has become my favorite table game, followed by Blackjack, then Caribbean Stud Poker. Slots are alright, but if you want a serious return on your bets, table games are your best approach.

After playing several times at Craps, there are a few rules that most people should go by.

1) The best time to cash in for chips is when the board is in an off position. The worst thing to do is cause a delay in the throw and ruin the shooter's momentum.

2) Always place your bets before the shooter rolls. It happens every time when the shooter rolls his dice, a person would be in the process of placing his/her bets, and the dice would hit the person's hands, and it would end in a 7-out. Be watchful of the shooter while placing your chips.

3) Hitting the number 7 is only good when the board is in an off-position. After the point has been made, 7 is taboo. Avoid mentioning the number 7, it's just bad luck.

While going around the many craps tables at the casino, it is clearly a fun and exciting game to enjoy. It is always true when a girl playing for the first time would do extremely well as the shooter. It is clearly the opposite for a guy rolling for the first time.

Players coming to the table betting on the Don't Pass line are the ones that want you to lose, and are probably not interesting in learning the finer points of the Craps game. If you are just there placing your bets on the Don't Pass or Don't Come areas, then why don't you go to the Let it Ride table game since you are not interesting in enjoying the game. If you see these people come to the table, they are bound to make the table "cold" and that's your sign to leave and find another table.

The only people justified in playing the Don't Come/Don't Pass are the ones that know that the shooter could be a bad thrower and they would know when to switch to Pass/Come playing when it's a good thrower. Adopting one stance won't result in consistent winnings.

Of course, the most likely people betting on Don't Pass/Don't Come are the young guys (21-25 age range), holding a couple of bucks, and are just there to put a bet on the Loser, collecting the winnings, and moving on. These are the non-risk takers. Plus I kinda hate it when they teach one of their buddies to play Don't Pass as a way to play Craps. It is one way to do it, but not the most optimal way. Yes, I do see a few rich players play the loser method, but at least they do it on and off and they do play the inside game. You can make over 100 bets on this game at any one time.

Last, be mindful of the people that are around you. No one wants to be unlucky and certain things must be respected. Some do take it in fun but some do take it seriously. There are times when joking around doesn't bring smiles around the table. There are players out there that want to have a good time and win money. Don't piss them off with your antics.