Have you ever played craps?  I have to admit this is one game that can be more fun at a live casino that at an online casino. That’s because in craps part of the fun is betting for the guy tossing the dice. Unless you’re in an evil mood, then the fun is betting against the guy tossing the dice.  And if you’re the one throwing the dice, hey, you have a whole table of people cheering for you. That’s action you can’t really get online.

But you know what you can get online? Practice at craps! Look, I’ll be honest, this isn’t one of the easiest games to understand when it comes to betting.  There’s the craps table and lots of spaces for bets that provide useful information like “pass” or “don’t pass” and I can’t blame a novice player for just not understanding what those translate to.  But if you play craps online, you can practice some bets and learn those terms.  You can also check out  http://www.gamblingreviews.com/craps/  for some great information, but let me try to give you a quick rundown of what you need to know to get started.

Pass or Don’t Pass is the most basic bet you make when a shooter is going to toss the dice. Now, there is one critical bit of info to remember about this bet. If you bet “don’t pass” you are betting against the shooter and probably most of the table. So when playing craps at a live casino, you’re safest betting “pass.”  Just trust me on this one.

Okay, now here’s the rundown.   When the shooter rolls the dice for the first time, if he rolls 7 or 11, it’s a win. All those Pass bets win.  2, 3 or 12 is a loss, except for the “don’t pass” guy. Other numbers rolled will establish a point and the shooter keeps rolling because he needs to roll that point number again before he hits a 7. So, 7 is a good thing on the first roll and bad after that.  Makes sense, right?  Yeah, I know. It’s craps.

The other bets on the table are a bit easier to understand. You can bet the field, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12. Or you can bet a specific number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.  Or you can even bet a specific dice roll like two sixes or a five and six. Want the odds? Well, often they’ll be right there on the table. But obviously betting the field gives you better odds than betting on a roll of 2 sixes.  But betting “boxcars” and winning, hey, that pays better.

I have to admit I can always stand to improve my blackjack strategy a bit. Blackjack is one of those games that challenges us. There are set strategies for it and you can even take the strategy cards to the table.  You can even sit at the table with the strategy card and consult it for every hand you’re dealt. But do you want to have to do that, unless you’re at a table of beginners all doing the same thing. And even then, well, do you want to have to do that?  Maybe it’s just me, but I like to look like I know what I’m doing at the table. I know that doesn’t change the odds at all, but I feel more confident if I am more confident and while it may seem strange, that can mean I’m more likely to make the right bet on a hand.

Okay, so you may want an explanation for that last remark, but let me give an example that you may have seen at a blackjack table if you play regularly.  Two players have a similar hand, perhaps both soft 16 but it could be a soft and hard 16.  The first player, who has proven to be the more experienced player, hits when he should stand according to strategy.  The second player in a moment of doubt, follows the action of the first player rather than what’s on his strategy card.  Why? Well, simply because he thinks the first player, who is more confident, must know what he’s doing.  At the table, I want to be the confident player, not the follower.

And the best way to become more confident is to practice. And then practice some more.  Not only will you learn to make decisions without referring to the cards, but you’ll be able to see how the strategy plays out over time.  This means you’ll be more likely to make the right decision when playing.  And the best place to practice is at an online casino where you can play free blackjack games.  Right now, I’m devoting a little spare time each day to go in and let the computer deal me some cards.  It’s easier than trying to get to a land based casino after work and I enjoy the game.