Day 1 Craps Dealer Introduction : Basics of Craps

Mastering the Craps Table: Your Day One Dealer Instruction for the Basics of Craps

Welcome, aspiring craps dealers and gaming enthusiasts! The video above provides an invaluable introduction to the fundamentals of craps instruction, laying the groundwork for anyone eager to master this dynamic casino classic. Our “Probie Day One” curriculum at CEG Dealer School starts here, demystifying the basic mechanics of the craps game from a dealer’s essential perspective.

Understanding the Foundation: What is Craps?

Craps stands as one of the most exhilarating and complex table games in any casino, often drawing the largest and loudest crowds. Fundamentally, it’s a game played with two dice, where the outcome of each roll dictates wins and losses across a multitude of bets. For a novice craps dealer, grasping these basic principles is paramount to maintaining game flow and ensuring accuracy. The shooter, the player rolling the dice, selects two dice from a bowl typically containing five or six. These chosen dice are then rolled down the length of the craps table, and their final resting positions determine the result. Every dealer must internalize these outcomes and their immediate impact on the various wagers placed around the layout.

The Dealer’s Core Tools: Dice and Chips

As a craps dealer, your familiarity with the game’s physical elements is crucial. The dice, of course, are central to every roll. You will also manage a rack of casino chips, which carry specific values represented by distinct colors. While players often focus on the numerical value, proficient dealers quickly learn to identify chip values by color and unit for rapid processing. Here’s a breakdown of common casino chip denominations by color:

• **White Chips:** Represent $1 units.
• **Red Chips:** Represent $5 units.
• **Green Chips:** Represent $25 units.
• **Black Chips:** Represent $100 units.
• **Purple Chips:** Represent $500 units.
• **Yellow/Orange Chips:** Often represent $1000 units.

Our dealer school emphasizes color recognition early on. This approach allows students to process bets and payouts much faster, moving beyond simple numerical calculations to an intuitive understanding of total value by grouping chip units. This skill is vital for maintaining game speed and accuracy in a busy casino environment.

The Pass Line Bet: The Heart of the Craps Game

The Pass Line is arguably the most common and foundational bet on the craps table. It is intrinsically linked to the game’s central progression, always connected to the status of the “puck” – the marker that indicates the game’s current phase.

The Come-Out Roll: Puck Off

When the puck is in the “off” position, the game is in its initial “come-out” phase. During this crucial first roll, players betting on the Pass Line hope for one of two outcomes:

• **Seven or Eleven (Naturals):** These numbers immediately win for the Pass Line bettor, paying even money.
• **Two, Three, or Twelve (Craps):** These numbers result in an immediate loss for Pass Line bets.

Any other number rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) does not immediately resolve the Pass Line bet. Conversely, these numbers establish “the point.”

Establishing and Making the Point: Puck On

If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled on the come-out, that number becomes the “point.” The dealer then flips the puck to its “on” side and places it directly above that number on the table layout. This transition signals a shift in the game’s objective for Pass Line bettors. Once a point is established, the Pass Line bettor’s goal changes: they must roll that specific point number again *before* a seven appears. Should the point number be rolled, the Pass Line wins even money, and the puck is reset to the “off” position, starting a new come-out roll. However, if a seven is rolled before the point number, the Pass Line bet loses – a scenario commonly referred to as “sevening out” or “crapping out” in player vernacular. It’s a critical distinction for dealers: a seven is a winning number on the come-out, but a losing number once a point is established.

Navigating the Don’t Pass Line Bet: The Opposite Perspective

In direct contrast to the Pass Line, the Don’t Pass Line offers an almost perfectly inverted betting proposition. This wager appeals to players who prefer to bet against the shooter, often referred to as playing the “dark side.”

Don’t Pass on the Come-Out Roll

When the puck is “off,” the Don’t Pass Line follows a different set of rules for the come-out roll:

• **Seven or Eleven:** Unlike the Pass Line, these numbers cause the Don’t Pass Line to lose.
• **Two or Three:** These numbers result in an immediate win for the Don’t Pass bettor.
• **Twelve (Bar 12):** This is a unique outcome for the Don’t Pass. Rolling a twelve results in a “push” or “bar” – neither a win nor a loss for the Don’t Pass bet. This “Bar 12” rule exists to prevent players from easily hedging their bets by simultaneously betting on both the Pass and Don’t Pass lines without any risk, thereby maintaining the house edge.

Don’t Pass and the Established Point

If a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is established, the dynamics for the Don’t Pass bettor again mirror the opposite of the Pass Line. Once the puck is “on” a number, the Don’t Pass bet now wins if a seven is rolled *before* the established point number reappears. Conversely, if the point number is rolled again before a seven, the Don’t Pass bet loses. This intricate dance between the Pass and Don’t Pass lines, governed by the puck’s status and the dice outcomes, is fundamental to the craps game. A proficient craps dealer understands these relationships intuitively, making accurate payouts and managing the game’s tempo with precision.

Beyond the Basics: Becoming a Proficient Craps Dealer

While understanding the Pass and Don’t Pass lines forms the absolute core of craps instruction, it is merely the first step on the journey to becoming an expert craps dealer. The game features dozens of other bets, each with its own payout odds, placement rules, and timing considerations. Mastering the comprehensive mechanics of craps requires dedication, practice, and an acute attention to detail. For new dealers, the initial focus on chip colors and unit values, as highlighted in our Day One instruction, is a strategic move. This mental shortcut drastically improves reaction time and accuracy, essential for handling the fast-paced action of a real casino craps table. As you progress beyond the 2-5 year mark in your dealing career, these skills become second nature, allowing you to manage multiple bets and complex payouts with seemingly effortless grace. To truly excel as a craps dealer, consistency, accuracy, and clear communication are paramount. These initial lessons on the fundamental bets and table management procedures are the building blocks upon which all advanced craps dealing skills are developed. Want to see the full video and continue your craps dealer training? Join and become a student today!