History of Craps
It is generally accepted that craps is a spinoff of two very
popular games of yesteryear – the English game called Hazard
and the French game known as Crabes. It is thought that in 1124
AD, Sir William Tyre and his knights, while laying siege to the
castle of Hazarth, invented a game. The game came to be known
as Hazard as a play on the name of the castle. The game spread
in popularity amongst the English population and various
references can be found in texts dating from the Middle Ages,
such as in the works by Geoffrey Chaucer.
The popularity of the game also spread to the English nobility
in the 1600 and 1700s, who – in turn – introduced Hazard to
French nobility. The French renamed the game Crabes and it soon
immigrated across the oceans with the first settlers to the
settlement of Acadia in the 1700s. It is also thought that the
English settlers on the Mayflower also brought their own
version of the game to American shores and the game was played
in slightly different formats along the country’s coastline for
many years. The African-Americans also had a hand in spreading
the game across the country on the Mississippi river boats of
the time.
The American John H. Winn is attributed with creating the
ground rules for modern day craps. In 1907, Winn introduced new
features to the game such as “Don’t Pass Bets” and his version
of the game is still played in casinos today. The popularity of
the game continued to gain momentum throughout the decades and
became a firm favorite in casinos in the gambling capitals of
the world such as Las Vegas. Today, craps is also found at
online casino sites. Everything except the buzzing social vibe
found around a live craps table, has been duplicated for the
internet version of the game. A great advantage of online craps
is that players can really get to know the game and benefit
from the free software and tutorials to slowly improve their
game.
Craps Glossary
Ace: The player bets that the next roll will be a 2.
Any Craps: The player bets that the next roll will be a 2, 3,
or 12.
Any Seven: The player bets that the next roll will be a 7.
Back Line: The Don’t Pass line.
Betting Right: The player bets that next roll will win on Pass
Line and Come bets.
Betting Wrong: The player bets that the next roll will not win
on Pass Line and Come bets.
Big Eight: The player bets that an eight will be thrown before
a seven is thrown.
Big Six: The player bets that a six will be thrown before a
seven is thrown.
Bones: Another name for the dice in a craps game.
Buffalo: A bet placed on Any Seven and the Hardway.
Buy Bet: The player gives the house 5% commission to get paid
the correct odds for a place bet.
C and E Bet: The following roll will be 2, 3, 12 or 11.
Crap: The numbers 2, 3, and 12 in a craps game.
Crap Out: If the numbers 2, 3 or 12 are thrown on the first
roll.
Easy Way: When the dice rolls a 4, 6, 8 or 10.
Field Bet: The player bets that the next roll will be 2, 3, 4,
9, 10, 11 or 12.
Front Line: Another name for the Pass Line.
Hard Way: The player bets that the numbers 4, 6, 8 or 10 will
be thrown next as doubles.
Hi-Lo: The player bets that the next roll will be 2 or 12.
Horn Bet: The player bets that the next roll be 2, 3, 11 or 12
(in multiples of four, made up with one each of these
numbers).
Lay Bet: The player bets that the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10
won’t be thrown before a 7 on the next throw.
Line Bet: The player bets on the Don’t Pass or the Pass
Line.
Little Joe: A pair of twos in craps.
Midnight: A bet on the number 12.
Natural: The player bets that 7 or 11 will appear on the Come
Out roll.
Outside Numbers: 4, 5, 9, 10
Parley: The raise of a bet.
Pass Line Bet: The player bets that the dice will win or
pass.
Place Bet: The player bets that a place number will appear
before the seven comes out.
Place Numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Point Number: Established on the Come Out roll.
Snake Eyes: The roll of a two.
Three Way Craps: Players make a bet in units of 3.
Working: Risky bets on the next throw.
Yo: Number 11 in craps.
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