Though there is a litany of rules to get familiar with, the heart of craps comes down to simply shooting dice. What you may not have known is that you don’t need a casino to do just that. Learning the game of street craps can have you ready to test your roll luck anywhere, at any time.
Though online casinos have bridged the gap for players who don’t live in proximity to brick-and-mortar casinos, it isn’t quite the same experience. Sure, you get the same gameplay, and live casinos give you a real dealer to play with. But there is nothing quite like getting onto the casino floor to enjoy the action.
That is the beauty of street craps, aka shooting dice. The rules are largely the same with a few differences. If anything, it is a simpler version of the casino game, something that you can begin playing with friends, family, or interested passersby. The key is to know everything about shooting dice and how to become a master at street craps.
What are Street Craps?
Street craps are a simplified version of the casino game we know and love. Typically, you may hear it referred to as shooting dice, a simplified name for a simplified game. If anything, it is a simpler and faster version of the casino game, and it doesn’t require anything more than a few dice and a vertical surface to play.
All you need is a shooter and a few participants to place wagers on whether that shooter will roll a specific number. There is no need for an expensive table, a trip to the casino, or anything else. If you have the option to play street craps, it helps to know the rules and how to approach the game.
Why Play Street Craps vs. Casino Craps?
Shooting dice does offer some distinct advantages compared to traditional casino craps. For starters, you don’t have to drive to a casino to get in on the action. Depending on where you live, it could be a trip of several hours to make it to the closest physical casino. For many, that’s not really an option.
Street craps is great because a game can break out virtually anywhere there is a vertical shooting surface. As it turns out, there are plenty of reasons to stick with the local street game rather than head to the casino to play the traditional version. Check out the major benefits below.
Flexible Bankroll Limits
Depending on the casino in question, there are almost certainly going to be betting limits in which you must stay. That entails how much you are allowed to bring to the table, how much you can wager on each roll, etc. The limits are there for a reason, but for some people that can be restrictive.
In street craps, all you need is other players that are willing to play within those limits. Depending on your bank roll, you can get into some pretty interesting games. Remember, the goal is to play responsibly but street craps don’t put a hard cap on what you can wager during an average game or roll.
Play Anywhere, Any Time
The real beauty of the game is that it can be played virtually anywhere. Whether it be on a table in your home or physically on the street, all you need is to have a vertical surface and a couple of dice to roll on. Everything after that is purely peripheral.
There is definitely something a bit cozier about being at a legitimate craps table, whether on your own or with friends. Having said that, there is nothing like being able to play craps wherever you want, especially if you are an enthusiast of the game.
Play with Friends
Depending on the casino in question, you may have a hard time finding a spot at a table. Bringing friends along can make it even tougher to get the kind of game you have been looking for. Though availability may be better at an online casino, it is impersonal at best.
When shooting dice, you can set up the game to fit your needs. Get a few friends together and set stakes you are comfortable with. That’s all it takes to get going, and it makes for a fun game whenever you are together with friends or family who like shooting dice as well. That versatility is tough to compete with.
How to Play Street Craps
If you are a fan of traditional craps, shooting dice will likely be right up your alley. Even better, the rules are much simpler, so you can get going in virtually no time at all. Even if you don’t play for real money, it is a game you can pick up sooner rather than later and start enjoying.
There are five basic steps to being playing street craps. Start by learning the rules, learning the point values, and knowing the vocabulary. When you actually start playing, it is about gaining experience and learning dice control. Let’s take a deeper dive into the steps for playing street craps.
1.) Learn the Rules
The golden rule for any game is to take time to know the rules. Street craps is the simpler version of its casino brethren, but there are still rules to learn. Even if you are familiar with the rules of traditional craps, don’t just assume that you can step right in and play street craps.
In street craps, you shoot with two dice, shot by a single player. The number of other participants is virtually unlimited, but each game will find a comfortable number. Prior to the game starting, a shooter has to be decided on. From there, the onlookers bet whether the shooter will pass or crap out.
In order to pass, the shooter must roll a 7 or 11. Crapping out means rolling a 2, 3, or 12. Should the shooter crap out, the game ends, and each of the participants gets their bets. The shooter is the first one to place a bet and the onlookers have to match his stake if the game is to continue. If they can’t or won’t, the shooter must lower the wager in order to proceed.
2.) Learn the Point Value
The next step to becoming a master at street craps is to know the point value system. If the shooter doesn’t pass or crap out on the first roll, then those rolled numbers become what is known as a point. All the dice numbers in this instance become essentially useless except for 7 and the point value.
From this point, the shooter has to keep rolling his dice until he either hits another 7 or that point value. Pass Bets become about whether the shooter will roll the point value again before the shooter rolls another 7. Don’t Pass bets are on the other side of the spectrum.
When it comes to the point, the game ends when the shooter rolls either a 7 or the point value. Some rolls can go on for a bit, especially if the shooter manages to keep rolling anything other than a 7 or the point value.
3.) Know the Vocabulary
The key to any game, both in the casino and on the street, is to know the vocabulary. No one should ever want to be the guy that constantly asks about values, rolls, and the litany of other things that a player needs to know before they begin playing street craps.
Learning the vocabulary should be one of the first steps you take before playing in an actual game of street craps. It helps avoid confusion, which is important if you want to win, but it also prevents the potential frustration of having to ask a ton of questions. Here are some essential vocabulary terms:
- Come-out: The come-out is the first roll of the game
- Crap out: Getting a 2, 3, or 12 when rolling the come-out
- Pass: Rolling a 7 or 11 with the come-out roll
- 7-out: Rolling a 7 before rolling the point value
- The Point: rolling any number between 4 and 10 in the come-out
4.) Start Playing and Gain Experience
When you are finally familiar with the rules and feel comfortable with the flow of the game, it is time to start playing in earnest. Start the game by having players ante up, which is essentially contributing to the pot before anything happens. Players are paying here to be considered for the shooter.
Everyone who antes rolls and the player that gets the highest number will become the shooter. After that, the shooter places the first bet. He bets whether he will either pass or crap. The other players can match the bet and start placing side bets, and can wager on the side or the throw in.
After all of that, it’s time for the shooter to make the first roll, also known as the come-out. Should the come-out be a crap-out or a pass, the game ends right there and any bets are then distributed. If the shooter rolls a point, crap-out bets turn into bets on whether the shooter will 7-out or not and pass bets turn into point bets.
5.) Learn Dice Control
The more you play street craps, the more you will learn about proper dice control. Other players don’t want to wait for the shooter to set his dice, after all. The faster you get the better things will be. Dice controllers generally start with three on top for both dice, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.
Take the time to practice your grasp so that you can get the diagonal lines of the numbers you choose to show lined up. Learn to roll the dice in an arc with as few rotations as possible. You don’t want to add any spin to your dice.
Try to keep your dice together on the arc so that they land in a more preferable way. Too far apart and they’ll likely bounce in vastly different directions. Having a vertical surface keeps the dice from rolling far off, so that’s why it’s essential. The perfect roll should hit the wall, jump once, and come to a stop. Keep practicing your control to improve as a shooter.
Craps You Can Take with You
At the end of the day, shooting dice is far simpler than the traditional casino version of craps. With a vertical surface and a couple of players, you can get going at any time. Before long, you can enjoy all the fun that shooting dice can provide.
