Craps can be an intimidating game for the beginner. The table seems to have about a hundred different kinds of bets. Critical to the understanding of craps is that it is a game of rounds. The first roll in a round is called the come out roll. Sometimes the outcome of a round will be determined on the come out roll. In particular a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 on the come out roll immediately ends a round. If any other total is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) that number is called the point. The dealer will place a white puck on an area of the table to designate what the point is, in case you forget. If a point is rolled the dice will be rolled continuously until the same point is rolled again or a 7.

These wagers are decided on the next roll of the dice, the next roll decides if you win or lose. Field Bets are popular because seven outcomes will win (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12) can win, while only four (5, 6, 7 or 8) can lose. Any Seven Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 7. Any Craps Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. Two Bets are for the next roll to be a 2. Twelve Bets are for the next roll to be a 12. Three Bets are for the next roll to be a 3. Eleven Bets are for the next roll to be an 11. Horn Bet is made when you are betting that a 2, 3, 11 or 12 will show on the next roll. All of these bets are made through the stickman, except for the Field bet which you can place for yourself

Basic craps terminology: Shooter: the current dice thrower. Come-out roll: The shooter's first roll. Pass: If the shooter wins his game, by any means, he is said to "Pass". Don't Pass: The term used if the shooter loses. The following illustration depicts the left half of a craps table. The bets to the bottom right, therefore, are referred to as the center bets, as they are actually in the center of a full sized table.