The First Time You Walk Up to a Table

[heavy]

I still remember the first time I walked up to a casino craps table. I'd played street games, bunk-house game, and barracks games. But I'd never walked up to one of those expansive fields of green, placed money on the felt and tossed the dice eight or ten feet down the table to watch them ricochet off the back wall and dance around the table. Never seen those piles of red and green and black and purple chips up close and personal. Never even had my hands on a pair of razor edged dice. Dice so sharp the corners could make you bleed if they hit your hand while flying down table. The only layout I'd ever played on was drawn in chalk or traced in the sand. Every bet was a "call" bet and someone had to "fade" you. And every bet paid even money in street games. The idea of getting paid two to one on a four or ten seemed insane. How did they keep these places open paying at odds like that? Man, did I love the idea of the game.

My first live session in a real casino I won just a little over $160 on about a $20 buy in. It was a $1 game in a long defunct Vegas strip casino. I locked up a win when my wife cashed out from the slots, walked over, looked at my rack and asked how much money I had on the table. I told her and she said something to the effect of "take your bets off and let's cash in and get out of here while we can." A wise woman, my wife. She won over $300 that day playing nickel slots. I won over $160 at dollar craps. Between us we'd won close to $500 - and this was back in the early seventies. Today that same $500 would equate to a little over a $3000 win.

After that trip I made it a point to learn everything I could about craps and casino gambling in general. Just about every craps book I read recommended the same simple strategy. Find a casino that offered double odds at craps. Play a table minimum Pass line bet with full double odds behind the pass line. Then make two or three Come bets with full double odds. Whenever you get paid on one of those bets - make another Come bet with full double odds. If the Seven shows and knocks all of your bets off - start over on the next shooter. This sounded like a simple and productive way to play - until I tried it. Time after time I'd get two or three bets established with a total of $30 - $45 at risk and the seven would wipe me out. There had to be a better way to play.

One of the things I came up with early on was to simply diversify. When craps wasn't working for me I'd play Blackjack. When Blackjack wasn't working I'd play Mini-Bac. If that wasn't working I'd play Roulette. And somewhere along the line I became a "streak" player. I was always looking for - and trying to capitalize on - any streak at the game. A streak of dealer busts at blackjack, a streak of Banker at Mini-Bac, a streak of Black at Roulette, or even a streak of Seven outs at craps. Because I also learned to play the Don't Pass and Don't Come on those occasions when the dice were giving me sevens.

There is an abundance of books on craps on the market place. Most of them, particularly the "popular" books by authors who are "famous" by gaming standards, are pretty much worthless. Oh, they have some entertainment value, as do most works of fiction. But most of these guys are simply story tellers who have a tendency to exaggerate real life tales. Their adventures tend to grow in the re-telling. An 18 number hand becomes an 81 number hand and an $800 win becomes an $80,000 one. Alas, it is what it is. They're book sellers - not professional gamblers.

Of the craps books I'd recommend - most are by players who I'd say are NOT writers by trade. In fact, some of their books are just out and out difficult reads. They were written in an era before spell check and grammar check. Most wrote like they spoke. You can often "hear" their regional dialects when you read their work. And sometimes you have to read a page several times to really grasp what they're saying. Trust me. It's almost always worth the effort. Authors I recommend include:

General Casino Books:
Frank Barstow - Beat the Casino

Craps Specific Books:
Edwin Silberstang - Winning Casino Craps
Sam Grafstein - The Dice Doctor
John Patrick - Advanced Craps
John Scarne - Scarne on Dice
Thomas Midgley - A Smart Shooter's Guide

Dice Control Books:
Yuri Kononenko - Dice Control for Casino Craps
Tino Gambino - Mad Professor's Crapshooting Bible

I'm sure other forum members will chime in with their own newbie recommendations. Feel free to jump in guys. Let's get the new folks off on the right foot.

[LeftyAJ]

All those books Heavy and $nakeEye$ speak of are great and I've read most of them. But the majority of the recommended books above are for the more advanced players. If you've come to this forum and are considering playing craps for the first time all you need is a basic "how to" book on craps. Sure the ones listed above might have a chapter on the basics of the game but many of them go into far too much detail for the first time player. More for the up and coming DI.

The best "basic" manual I've ever read on craps is called -- The Facts of Craps -- by Walter Nolan
It's no longer in print but you can find it used on Ebay or Amazon. It's a 48 page paperback "gem" on basic casino craps.

The Facts of Craps explains very simply only the things you need to know when you walk up to a table for the first time. The rules of the game, craps table layout, basic math of the different bets, best bets, non recommended bets, money management (basic) and definitions and terms.

AJ

[SHOOTITALL]

I would like to add Zeke Feinberg's "You can earn $12 to $24 each hour playing craps" or "Casino Craps is a Vicious $$ Devouring game" Basically they are both the same and really simple. He is basically a one trick pony. Now, I did notice he had another book written in '92 that I do not have, so am ordering it. No particular reason, I just like ole Zeke.

[London Shooter]

First ever time I played I followed a Canadian family from blackjack at what is now the Linq to casino royale - they have a $3 table I was told - that meant nothing to me but I proceeded to tag along, play s little and still not learn much.

That night my wife daughter and I somehow ended up in the Riviera of all places and patient dealers explained a lot to us. We made around 600 - this is easy I thought on cab journey back to Cosmo

Next night this easy game saw me giving the Cosmo all the profit and then some during a long session where you work out your free beers are costing you 100+ each time

[heavy]

I've seen guys tip the cocktail server $100 for a beer when they have 16 beers in the rail. The cocktail server was married to his hip and not moving.

[davper]

My first time at the craps table was because I was board. Foxwoods circa 2005, I was playing 'Let it Ride' and was 10 feet away from the Craps pit in the Rainmaker Casino.

As I wait for the dealer to deal the cards, I would look over at the Craps table and see everyone having a good time, throwing dice, and interacting with each other. I knew nothing about the game. I couldn't tell you if the 7 was good or bad. But boredom at what I was playing one out and I walk over.

SR1, 2, & 3 was wide open, so that is where I stood with my chips in my hand and I just watched. I quickly learned that the Pass line was everyone's first bet and it was $5 minimum. After 15 minutes, I made my first bet. Yo was the call and the dealer doubled my bet. Uh? What just happened? I picked up the nickel and then heard craps. The dealer took my nickel. Slow down, why did I just lose?

Slowly I learned with no help from the dealers. I had no idea if they were paying me the correct amount. They would just tell me that it had to be $6 when I tried to bet $5.

I don't recall if I won or lost that session. But I do know I was hooked. On the drive home, I started to wonder if it was possible to make repeatable tosses or as we call it now DI. I still didn't know anything about the game, so I immediately bought my first book on Amazon. A search brought up a highly ranked book by Scoblete. :shudder:

This book taught me a lot about the math of the game and the different bets. It is also where I learned my first betting strategy that didn't work, the 5-count.

I have been playing ever since and have played Let It Ride maybe twice for $100 each since that time only because the craps table was full.

Now when a newbie walks up beside me, I take it upon myself to help them learn the game. Wish I had that when I started.

[Bandit]

The first time I walked up to a craps table was on a cruise ship, $300 buy in and it was gone in 30 mins, but the guy next to me had doubled his money, and then ask "what's wrong with this picture?".
When I got home, I started studying everything that I could to learn how to play.
My $500 Bankroll is now $5000 after 14 months...
I love this game

[Moe Bettor]

First time playing craps for me was at Circus Circus. Lived in L.A. and used to drive to Vegas to play blackjack. They had single deck games at Circus Circus. I was a primitive card counter in the early days and I did pretty well sometimes. I only took a hundred with me and if I lost twenty..I 'd take a walk around the casino. I thought everything was timing and in a while..A streak would manifest itself. So there was a lot of yelling coming from the craps pit. An oriental guy was getting slapped on the back in appreciation. I walked over and watched. He was rolling and collecting green and red on every roll. He won over and over until finally he sevened out. Seemed like at least twenty minutes. There was a collective groan, but congratulations too as he colored up and turned from the table. Since I was right there, and I have a habit of talking to anybody..I asked him what he did to keep winning. We were standing next to an empty craps table. He said..Money on 6, 8, 5..and the field. That's it. I didn't know then that the play is the iron cross..but it seemed so logical when he pointed out that a seven ruins everything..BUT you win on every roll! He put 180 inside (except for 9) and 25 on the field. We parted and I went back to Blackjack, but my next trip I tried his game with a lot less money. I was hooked. Every once in a while, if my throw is on..I will use the IC in a regressed situation. But only for two rolls. You can get real wiped real fast if mister nasty shows up.

[mssthis1]

I can't remember the first time I played but one Sunday morning a long time ago I was tossing by myself and a guy I knew remotely from the factory was watching at the other end of the table.

I asked him if he was going to shoot and he said he never had in his life. I tossed a $5.00 chip down to his end and talked him into giving it a try. He proceeded to toss 8 pass line winners and left happy as a clam ahead by $40.00. I made around a grand off his roll.

If life could only be so simple. I don't know if he ever played again after that. I know I haven't seen him in a casino since.

[Americraps]

First time I ever played was in Vegas with my brother. The rodeo was in town and we were at the GN playing 21 and losing when my brother said "C'mon lets go over here, I'll teach you how to play craps.

Well, this cowboy strolls in with two, ahem, very hot escorts in tow. One on either side, dressed to the nines, and drunk as skunks-all three of them. He whips out a $5K roll, drools a little and turns it into $20K in about 15 minutes. He and the fluzzies left, and I looked up at my brother and said "that was cool".

Shortly after we got home I saw the special on the Dominator and we pooled our money and bought the DVD.

[luxlogs]

Funny how different people react to the same event. That special on Dom and his little buddy, remember the asshat who threatened the dealer. Well that BS drove me away from the game for five years. No Class

[luxlogs]

First time at a craps table. 1973 back room of some Gin Mill on Rush St. In Chicago. I was 10 and with my Dad who was just a little connected. No Italian or Jewish blood if you know what I mean.

It became my job to fetch the dice every time they went off the table for tips, twenty five cents. Main thing I remember are Hard Ways hitting and the dice looked like they came from my sisters Candy Land Game. Wiseguys were always good to kids.

[DocDays]

I had seen Crap tables in Korea when I was stationed there in 1988 to 1989 during the Olympics, but they had the craziest rules I have ever heard of. There were no pay-out sheets or list, every box number had a different pay-off. It was way over my head.

I started Craps on a trip to the Bahamas in 2000. You can almost read in my profile picture the words "Bahamas" on my shirt which I bought before leaving. I only had $100 in cash and was trying to get on the BJ tables, but everything was full. I saw a Craps table open and no one was there yet, I'd better hurry before it fills up to. I thought, "Oh boy, maybe I can learn from the dealer how the game is played. I got out my only $100 bill and put it on a Craps table. He guys hands me one Black chip.

I was puzzled, so I said: “No sir I need change to play.” He points with his stick at a little sign: “$100 Min”. "DAMN, that's all the money I have." So I walked away with my one chip. Lucky for me I saw one opening at another table, I checked the little sign: “$5 Min”. Now that is what I'm talking about. I got on the 2nd place right of the stickman and was standing next to a beautiful French woman who was winning like crazy. I introduced myself saying in my best French accent: "
Bonjour jeune femme, comment allez-vous?" She seemed pretty happy about that and ran off about 100 words in the 1st 2 mins, none of which I understood. My next line was: "Parlez-vous anglais?" That made her laugh, so I guess I was doing good. We didn't talk much after that, but we did yell a Iot.

I had no idea what was going on; she kept on winning so I just cloned all her bets and I started winning like crazy too. ( 6s and 8s). Won $1200 in 7hrs. I actually said about 2hrs into the game: “How can the Casino make any money on a Craps table.” I got a lot of boos and mean remarks, lol. One guy at the other end of the table commented: "Just bet like I'm doing and you will see how the Casino makes money." Everyone got a good laugh off that.

The 1st time I got the dice, I said; "What numbers am I trying to get?" The answer was always the same; "Get the 7 or 11 on the first roll-out then try not to get the 7 anymore." What the hell kind of game is this? Oh well, sounds simple enough. I always won at pitching quarters back in high school, so I just pitched the dice as close to the back wall as I could. My hand lasted 5 minutes, but only won about $40, guess I didn't hit many 6's and 8's, but everyone else was going crazy and calling me names; good names this time. I have been a fan of Craps ever since. The money i won more than paid for the flight and motel, and all the other bills. Hope that helps.

Doc

[mainframe]

Okay my story is that my first time at a Craps table was a little bit planned out or "pre-meditated".
The first time I ever wagered money at a casino in my entire life was at Foxwoods in Connecticut. I put $20 in progressive "penny slot' and after a few spins I won $470 which I proceeded to slowly lose over my 3 day stay. I watched people having fun at the craps table during that trip and said to myself "hey...I want to learn that game" but I wanted to have at least *half a clue* before putting down any money on it.
Later that year, I went to my brother's bachelor party which was basically poker and drinking. The guy hosting the bachelor party had his own craps layout...a green mat and chips without a formal table. That fella was nice enough to show me all the basics of the game without playing for real money.

A few months after my "craps lessons", I went back to foxwoods and played craps. I didnt remember everything I was taught but I remembered the mechanics of the pass line bet (come our roll, point establishment, etc). I remember having my first turn at tossing the dice. I rolled like 5 sevens in a row on the come-out. I barely knew what I was doing, despite having had a "craps primer"...but I had a lot of fun, and walked away from the table a winner...I think I made like $240. To this day, I chalk it up to "beginners luck". I have seen it happen to craps virgins a bunch of times since then...and not just female newbies.

[heavy]

If you haven't already told us about the first time you ever stepped up to the craps table - I KNOW you haven't forgotten the experience. Here's the place to tell us about it. Let's hear that story.

[shortstop]

It was spring cleanup week 2001. My neighbor was a teacher and was on vacation that week. He had taken the PARR course earlier and was anxious to go back to Vegas. My wife and I met up with he and his wife at the Fremont. I went to the table with him, he took stick left and I was stick left 2. Having watched the game at length beforehand I knew about the basic pass line bet with odds. He just said to toss the dice like he did and have some fun. I remember that I set the crossed sixes for every toss like he did and tried to hit close to the back wall. The only bets I made was the pass line with single odds. Beginners luck kicked in big time - I didn’t win much money, only about 50 or 60 bucks, but I won a jacket for having a long roll. I was hooked. I took the PARR course the following October. Craps is my game of choice now. I still have that jacket and cherish it to this day.