Steven Hartman - The Ultimate Beginners Gambling Guide: Learn How to Play Craps, How to Play Texas Holdem Poker, & How to Play Blackjack by Learning the Rules, Hands, Tables, Chips, & Strategies

Copyright 2017 by Steven Hartman

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Contents

how to play craps

HOW TO PLAY

TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER

how to play blackjack

HOW TO PLAY CRAPS

A Beginner to Expert Guide to Get You from the Sidelines to Running the Craps Table

Steven Hartman

Youve heard the sudden bursts of cheers as youve strolled past the crowded Craps table.

You have even seen the countless TV shows and movies with the dice flying in slow motion over the green felt before knocking against the wall. The dealer barks out, Winner! and then the table roars with applause.

Now you want in.

But as you step up to an empty, unused craps table in a Vegas casino just to survey the complex boxes with terms like Field and Pass Line, youre hesitant. You have second thoughts about going to an active table and putting $20 down because it just seems so impossible to play.

And then there isnt just one dealer like at the blackjack table or roulette wheel, but four!

A bead of sweat tickles your brow and you walk away from the intimidating Craps table and decide to invest your money at the Wheel of Fortune slot machine or tackle a few hands at the three-card poker table.

Go Back!

This book is designed for the beginner who has always wanted to experience the thrill of throwing the dice but was too afraid to learn how to play.

Worry not, shooter, this guide will have everything you need to step up to the table with confidence and have fun playing the wild game of Craps!

The first part of this book is going to explain the bare bones of Craps. This will be a short introduction into throwing the dice and what the numbers mean when they come up.

The second part of this book will explain the Craps table and break down what the numbers and terms on the green felt means.

We will then explain the game in further detail and what to expect when the dice goes out, when you can bet, when you may win or lose money, and when your bet is safe.

Now that you know the table and the basics, its time to go beyond the basics. What are some fun bets to play? Why are some people making strange bets?

Part of the fun of playing Craps is the seemingly goofy lingo that goes along with it. Yo, 11, Nina at the Marina, and Crap check, are just a few examples of what you can shout out or what the dealers may call out.

After you spend a few minutes at the Craps table, you will discover that there is a lot of superstition. This means certain words or phrases uttered will give you death stares and looks of concern. We will cover the words you should avoid when at the table and proper etiquette.

Finally, we will give you a few tips on what you should do when you step up to the table for the first time.

A few months after I turned 21, my uncle insisted that I learned how to play Craps. We headed out to a nearby casino where he spent 5-10 minutes explaining the process and giving me a lesson on the game.

At the end of his lecture, he said, Okay, lets go have lunch and then come back and play. Once you have money down, youll learn real quick how it all works.

That stuck with me because I fully believe it. There is nothing like getting your hands dirty when it comes to learning. You could read all the material you want on how to drive a car but until you put the car into D and step on the gas pedal, you wont completely grasp the concept.

This book is going to teach you how to play Craps, but you will really learn how the game goes once you have money on the table.

This will by no means cover the game of Craps, but this section is going to briefly tell you how the game is played. This will make learning everything else a little easier.

Craps is played with a pair of 6-sided dice.

The first roll of the dice is called the come-out roll.

• If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, its a winner.
• If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, its called Craps and it loses.
• If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point. You then win by rolling the point before rolling a 7. It doesnt matter how many times you roll; the table does not lose unless the shooter rolls 7. (There are other ways to win, but more on that later)
• If the shooter makes the point, the game essentially restarts. They keep the dice and come out again.

And that really is the absolute basics of the game.

All the numbers and boxes can be somewhat overwhelming but were going to break it down so that you have an easier time comprehending what it all means.

This is where playing Craps gets a little tricky because its hard to explain the table without also explaining how the game is played. You know the basics from the previous chapter so that should help out. We will pepper this chapter with a little more about the game but wont go into much detail.

Picture yourself at the far end of one side of the table.

The Pass Line means you are playing based on the roller. Once you place a chip down into this area, you cannot remove it until you winthat is unless you lose, then the dealer will take it down for you.

Placing a chip in the Dont Pass Bar section means you are betting against the roller essentially, you are playing with the casino because if the roller loses, you win.

The Big 6 and Big 8 on the corner pay even money. You can place a chip down at any time and remove it at any time (so long as you havent lost it). Dont place or remove a bet if the dice are out. You have the power to put down and pick up your own chip, you do not need the dealer to do it for you.

There are 7 numbers in the section known as the field: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The field is a one-time bet which means you win or lose your money based on the next roll after you put the money down. Casinos have different payouts for this section but you will receive even money ($5 bet pays $5) unless it is a 2 or 12 which generally will pay 2:1 or 3:1 odds on your money. A $5 bet in the field on a 2 or 12 roll can win you $10 or $15.

Very rarely will the remaining numbers of 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 pay greater than even money; the exception being that 3 or 11 may have higher odds.

When a roller is shooting for the first time, its called a come-out roll. The areas labeled Come and Dont Come Bar are designed for those wanting to place a bet similar to a come-out roll after the shooter has started rolling the dice and a number (or point) has already been established.