In the game of craps, there are a ton of different outcomes when you roll the dice. Of all the rolls, there are four variants that treat 2, 3, 11, and 12 as point numbers. Crapless Craps removes the Don’t Come box, lay bets, and the Don’t Pass line. It plays much the same but with some key differences.
Whether in online casinos or standing there at the table in person, craps is one of the most popular casino games around. Considered primarily a luck-of-the-dice game, there is more skill and strategy involved in the game than many realize.
There are several possible rolls involved in craps, but Crapless Craps puts a spin on the game. It looks and plays in much the same way as the traditional version, only with a few twists and changes. If you wanted to learn about how to play Crapless Craps and the rules that come with the game, this is the guide for you.
What is Crapless Craps?
Crapless Craps is slightly different from the traditional game of craps. Among all the comeout rolls, there are only four that are losers for pass bettors. There is one way to make 2, one to make 12, and two ways to make 3. But what if there were no losing numbers on the comeout?
That’s how Crapless Craps works. It can take some time to get used to the basic rules of the game, first introduced in Las Vegas at Bob Stupak’s Vegas World Casino. Since then, it has become more popular and even comes up at a variety of online and local casinos.
In Crapless Craps, 2, 3, 11, and 12 are all point numbers. Compared to standard craps, there are only two ways to roll 11 and they are winners on the comeout. In Crapless Craps, everything but a seven is a point number, creating up to six ways to win on the comeout.
With no losers and six winners – compared to eight winners and four losers in the standard version – it is a great tradeoff for pass bettors. That said, the house edge is substantially higher on the pass line. It goes from 1.41 percent in standard craps up to 5.38 percent for the house in Crapless Craps.
Craps vs. Crapless Craps
The main difference between the two versions has to do with the dice rolls when it comes to the Come Out roll. In standard craps, there are four dice rolls that can lead to a loss in the come out. Crapless Craps takes those losing numbers on the come out away.
Theoretically, every come out roll is a winner and losing is impossible. That said, there are some tradeoffs compared to the more traditional version. An 11 is a point number in Crapless Craps, whereas it would be an outright winner on the come out roll in regular craps.
Rules of Crapless Craps
Though it can seem confusing at times, it doesn’t take much of a learning curve to get the hang of Crapless Craps. It isn’t any harder than traditional craps, either. On the first roll, the come out roll, any number other than seven becomes the point. In order to win a Pass Line wager, you need to repat the point. Other than that, all other bets in Crapless Craps are the same.
The table layout is also slightly different. In Crapless Craps, the table extends from the Point boxes. Now, it includes the aforementioned 2, 3, 11, and 12 as Point numbers as well. There is no Don’t Pas section, but the Pass Line remains. There are also no “dark side” bets as all lay bets are taken away in Crapless Craps.
Come Bets in Crapless Craps
Come bets are very similar to pass bets, the one major difference is that they are made on rolls aside from the Come Out roll. If you already have a point working on pass, then you are able to get another point by betting on the Come Line. The next roll is essentially your Come Out; if you roll a seven, you win, if it’s any other number, it acts as a Point instead.
In order to win with Come bets, you have to repeat the Come Point before you roll a seven. If you come up with a seven first, your bet will lose. The house edge here is substantially higher than in traditional craps, so just be aware of that.
Place Bets in Crapless Craps
A Place bet in Crapless Craps is the same as in standard craps. The one exception being that you can place 2, 3, 11, or 12 as well. Put your chips out in front of you and state that you want to Place a certain number. If your number is rolled before a seven, you win.
So, if you Place a six, you win if the shooter rolls another six. But if a seven comes up, you lose and no other numbers count. Your bet stays in action until one of those two outcomes is achieved.
Free Odds in Crapless Craps
Just like you will find in standard craps, come or pass bettors can back their bets using a free odds wager. On that one, the winners will be paid out at true odds. Payoffs are the same in standard craps as they are in Crapless Craps when talking about 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
Free odds are your way to combat the higher house edge you will find in Crapless Craps. Backing your Come or Pass bets with free bets takes the house edge all the way down to 2.94 percent, which is far more reasonable.
How to Play Crapless Craps
In Crapless Craps, there is one player acting as the Shooter – the player who rolls the dice. At in-person casinos, you may not always be the shooter but you will be at online casinos. Players make the initial bet, also known as the Come Out bet. It is important to note that you can only bet on the Pass Line in Crapless Craps.
From here, the Shooter rolls the dice. If you’re making a Pass Line bet and the dice shows a seven, you’re a winner. Any other number, and that number becomes the Point. Should you set a Point, you can keep on rolling until you either repeat that Point and win or get a seven, which ends the game in a loss.
It takes some time and repetition to get the hang of Crapless Craps. Knowing the important distinction with the Point is crucial and can feel quite different the first couple of times through. Before long, the differences will become more subtle and easier to understand.
Crapless Craps Payouts
Another way in which Crapless Craps is much different from its traditional counterpart is in the payouts. The payouts are far different since there are slight differences in the way the game is played. Knowing the odds ahead of time is important.
- 2 and 12 – 6:1
- 3 and 11 – 3:1
- 4 and 10 – 2:1
- 5 and 9 – 3:2
- 6 and 8 – 6:5
You can also make a Place bet on virtually any number other than seven with very similar payouts. Since you can only win on seven during the Come Out roll, there are some important downsides when playing Crapless Craps. For starters, it is harder to set the point, especially because you can’t use dark side betting. In the regular version, players generally don’t bet against the Shooter and doing so is called dark side betting.
The house edge also goes up significantly compared to traditional Craps. Crapless Craps offers fewer ways to win on the Come Out since there is no 11 as a winning roll. Other than that, the two games are virtually the same.
Tips When Playing Crapless Craps
It is important to remember that there are no strategies to guarantee a win in Crapless Craps. Having said that, a few tips will help you garner a better understanding of the game, thereby putting you in a better position to win.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to get familiar with any game is to play it over and over again. Thankfully, there are plenty of online casinos out there that offer a free version of the game. You won’t win real money, but playing for free lets you get familiar with the ins and outs of the game without having to take a hit to your own cash.
Practice as much as you can before betting any real money. The game can feel confusing if you are just starting out and the last thing that you need to do is to find yourself down big because you didn’t quite know what you were betting on.
Know the Betting Limits
Even if you are playing the same game, betting limits can change from place to place whether it be in person or at an online casino. For that reason, it is important to know what the different betting limits are before you sit down to play.
Check to make sure that betting limits are within your budget. It may be possible that Crapless Craps will have higher buy-in bets than the standard version, which means that you will need to wager more. If you aren’t comfortable with that, consider playing another game.
Know the Rules and Play Responsibly
With any game, it is imperative to know the rules before sitting down. Take the time to play any free demos you can to get familiar with the rules. When you are confident that you know what you should be doing, then you can start playing for real if you want to.
Above all else, play responsibly. Only bet within your financial limits and know when to walk away. Play only what you can afford to lose and set aside a budget that comes from your disposable income only. If you can’t confidently play responsibly, then take a break and consider another time.
A Unique Twist to a Timeless Classic
Craps is a timeless game but Crapless Craps takes it to another level. If anything, it can be a way to branch out from the traditional and play a classic in a different way. There may be a better reduction of the house edge when playing the traditional version of craps, Crapless Crap has a unique twist that adds a new layer of fun.
You won’t have to worry about Don’t Come and Don’t Pass betting, not to mention the fact that you can’t lose with your Come Out roll. It means that you get more rolls if not more chances to win than you would have otherwise.
