Heavy's Axis Power Craps Forum

First off, heavy if this is in the wrong forum area please move it to the correct area.

So I'm taking my girl to tunica the first weekend in September. She has never been to the casino and I want to introduce her to the greatest casino game of all time. Here is the deal. She is stubborn as hell(one of the reasons im in love with her)so with her the first impression is everything. I've explained to her that its extremely important that she likes this game. But with her I know I need her to understand the basics before she walks up or she could get frustrated an then she will not like it because we all know it can be very confusing for new players. So she has agreed to read up on the basics so when we walk up to the table it will be easier to explain to her what is going on. Plus we all know you can read this shit but until you are in the action it won't click. She is very smart and will pick up on it I just want her to basically know the basics.

So I'm looking for any sites you guys might suggest that might be a few pages to read or even a YouTube video. I'm looking myself but I may miss a good site someone already has bookmarked.

Thanks in advance!

Yaz

Well, good luck. Married to the same gal for 44 years now and she still doesn't have a clue about how to play. I still have memories of running into Best Buy one time while my wife and younger daughter (then around five) waited in the car. When I came back out they were having a heated argument. Seems they'd been playing a game with the dice I kept in the car's console. My wife was insisting that it was still her turn. My five year old looks at me and says, "No dad! She threw five - then seven. Seven is out. My turn." Yeah, I had to explain to my bride that her daughter was correct.

First thing you need to understand is that you're girl will likely be the ONLY girl at the table. That can be good or bad, depending on her personality - and the mix of players at the table. I'd shoot for a relatively empty table. Next, although you may want her to toss the dice - she is likely to be hesitant about the whole thing. So consider letting her get comfortable with some basic betting before putting any pressure on her to throw them. Of course, ASK if she wants to toss the dice. If she does, by all means let her shoot. As far as betting is concerned - this is an area where many women are wired differently than you and I. I see that $10 Pass Line bet as the admission price to get to toss the dice. My wife sees that $10 Pass Line bet as about 10% of a pair of shoes. Add in $20 in free odds and $12 each on the six and eight and suddenly she's thinking "we could have gone out to eat on that." Of course, we couldn't, but she hasn't picked up a tab in so long she wouldn't know that. And yes, I know I'm sounding sexist. Alas, it is what it is. Your girl is wired differently than you. That's one of the reasons we like them.

Anyway, just teach her very basic bets and stay away from things that will cause problems. Let's say it's a $5 game and you're going to play the Pass Line. Have her put $5 on the line then take $10 in free odds. Always take double odds if you're playing the pass line so you don't have to get into the whole "even odds on odd numbers" discussion. If you want to place any action afterward - either place the six and eight OR the sister of the point that's established. Personally, I like the "sister" act because you'll have less action on the table - and you won't have to confuse her every time with that $12 six and eight bet-size thing.

You can cover pay outs if you want, but don't make yourself or her crazy with it. Odds are she won't remember anyway. She can learn it as she goes along. If she's as sharp as I suspect, it won't take long.

You might consider letting her play some of the free/fun games on the on-line casino sites. Or download a trial copy of WinCraps for her to play around with just to get the feel of the game. If you register WinCraps there's a damn fine introduction on how to play craps in the documentation that comes with it.

For a short, easy to understand book on craps that serves beginners well, consider John Gollehon's Conquering Casino Craps. Hard to believe that sucker is selling for around $11 a copy these days - I think it originally sold for around a buck in casino gift shops. You can still find used copies of it on line for under five bucks. It's a small, easy to read book she probably won't get bored with.

I'll leave you to your own devices as far as finding on-one content. Suffice to say, there's plenty out there and everybody is an expert. Cough cough.

Yea ill have to remind her she will be the only girl. Ill put her in between me and either stick or one of the dealers. She doesn't take a lot of shit from people(another reason I'm with her lol). Plus she is pretty tough. Thanks for the book suggestion Heavy, ill check it out.

http://www.crapdice.com/

Here is an easy on-line craps game. Click at the bottom where it says "play casino craps". You have to have Java enabled on your computer.
Sometimes actually playing is a better way to learn than reading all day.

I agree with Heavy and realtime. You have to be involved in the game hands on to learn it. If it is just a mental exercise it simply doesn't stick.
On the casino games, start with PL or DP and just hammer it until she understands the ramification of wins/losses/odds/etc. One bet at a time in my opinion.

I have found that craps either grabs you or it doesn't. My son loves it. My sister thinks it's dumb. My niece it totally hooked. Two of our friends love it. L's daughter doesn't even want to learn. So I say a huge part is that she has to have the "craps" gene to love the game and if she doesn't have that it won't matter how great your plan is.

That said, yes by all means let her start on the right foot. One thing I have found is that if someone get's a long roll and the winnings pour in they really want more of that. So if you have a table top setup at home at home (if you don't you should) you might "take liberties" to get her a long roll. Call no-roll for some reason if she get's a seven really quick. I didn't do that and now wish I had with a few folks 'cause they would just start to understand enough to make a placed bet and then - wham - seven-out. I know that's the nature of the game, but to put your best foot forward take minor liberties, give a mulligan or two to try to get them a nice hand and see if she likes the excitement of that.

I respectfully disagree with Heavy about the only-girl stuff. Our experience is different I guess. There's a lot of ladies where we play. Several couples like us that both bet and roll. And L is an eager student of the game. She is a naturally lucky person and has brought us our best wins with her often lengthy rhythm rolling. She started out playing the field like a lot of new players. But now waits a roll and puts up a $90 six. Two rolls or one hit and make it look like $30. She's pretty savvy now and she definitely has the craps "gene" so I know first hand some ladies have it.

One thing that was huge for me, my son and L was getting Aw Craps on the iPhone. It's only $1.99 and it's super well done. Just playing that app will teach someone the game, including things like having to claim your winnings off the board.

And again, if you don't have a table top cloth layout and real craps dice get 'em. We have a nice home set up with 11.5g chips and real dice. The whole set up cost less than $75. We play virtually every night at home. It's the home practice game that got L hooked AND it gives us the chance to experiment at home with just chips and that gives great comfort of what to expect in the casino.

Good luck!!

I'm not so sure its a craps gene as much as whether one likes or dislikes math. If you like math then this is the game for you, if not... not so much. For me the math is actually interesting enough I've even thought it may be interesting to pursue various college physics courses to further refine the DI aspects of the game, the betting and probability is simply general math. For those that love math you can either love the game or come to, if you hate math then like as not the game is only to be tolerated.

I would tend to disagree with the small liberties thing though, for the following reasons:
1] When a person is learning the game, how does one explain how this 7 didn't count but it does everywhere else, or why you called it a no roll but the casino doesn't.
2] If the person becomes discouraged enough in the learning process to decide craps is to be hated because of a few 7 outs, what are the odds that person continues once it happens on a real table with real money, really often.

Anyway, best of luck with it... personally I gave up on the idea myself [lots of reasons but for the most part it boils down to women view going to the casino with a man as bonding time, etc, I go to make money and that may not always dovetail with "quality time, talking, etc... especially the showing up at 1AM on the table and staying as long as there is $$$ to be made].

I have to say, just like any other casino game, you are going to find plenty of people who love playing craps but have no idea how any of the math works out, nor do they particularly care.

Anyway, I always find the best way to explain the game is to completely disregard any betting. Explain the GAME. The game is two stages, come out roll and point cycle. Once the GAME is understood, then explain betting that the shooter will pass or miss. After that is understood, add in place bets, then come bets, and finally all the prop bets.