Craps is like cricket - try explaining the rules to someone and you'll soon find it easier to grab a bat and show them. It's one of those games that you need to watch and then throw yourself in. Like the rest of the games in the casino, craps is all about pure chance.

But there are some bets that are better than others - you just need to know when to hit them. Because there are so many different craps bets, we will just look at the main ones.

Pass-line bet

A pass-line bet can only be placed on a 'come-out roll' (the first roll in every 'hand' of craps) and is also known as betting with the shooter. This type of bet wins on an initial roll of 7 or 11 and loses on an initial roll of 2, 3 or 12. On a come-out roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10:

YOU WIN: If the initial number is matched later in the roll.

YOU LOSE: If the initial number is followed by a 7.

The shooter continues to roll until one of the two above scenarios occurs.

This type of bet pays even money and has a house advantage of 1.41%.

Don't-pass-line bet

A don't-pass-line bet can only be placed on a come-out roll and is also known as betting against the shooter.

This type of bet loses on an initial roll of 7 or 11 and wins on an initial roll of 2 or 3. If the initial roll is 12, the bet's a push or tie (you get your stake back).

On a come-out roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10:

YOU WIN: If a 7 follows the initial roll.

YOU LOSE: If the initial number is matched later in the roll.

The shooter keeps rolling until one of the two above scenarios occurs. This type of bet pays even money and has a house advantage of 1.36%.

Come bet

A come bet can only be placed after a point has been established (a come-out roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) and is similar to a pass-line bet. Once this bet has been placed, the next roll of the dice is a winner if a 7 or 11 is thrown and a loser if a 2, 3 or 12 is thrown.

If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, the come bet stays on the table. If the initial roll is matched before a 7 is thrown, the bet is a winner. If a 7 is thrown before the initial come bet roll is matched the bet is a loser. A come bet can be placed on each roll after a come-out roll. This bet pays even money and has the same house advantage as a pass-line bet (1.41%).

Don't-come bet

A don't-come bet can only be placed after a point has been established and is similar to a don't-pass-line bet. Once this bet has been placed, the next roll of the dice is a loser if a 7 or 11 is thrown, and a winner if a 2, 3 or 12 is thrown.

If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, the don't-come bet stays on the table. If the initial roll is matched before a 7 is thrown, the bet is a loser. If a 7 is thrown before the initial don't-come bet roll is matched, the bet is a winner. A don't-come bet can be placed on each roll after a come-out roll. This bet pays even money and has the same house edge as a don't-pass-line bet (1.36%).

Taking odds

Taking odds is a bet that is placed in conjunction with a pass-line, don't-pass-line, come or don't-come bet. If one of those bets has been placed and a point is established on the next roll, an odds bet can be placed. This is the best bet in the casino because the payout is Evens.

The house edge is 0% so it's to your advantage to make the maximum odds bet, subject to your bankroll. For this very reason you will not see any mention of an odds bet on the table layout. Funny that.

The maximum amount of an odds bet is a multiple of the original bet placed and varies from casino to casino - '1x odds' means the maximum is equal to your original bet, '2x odds' means the maximum is equal to double your original bet, etc. If there isn't a sign at the table listing the maximum odds bet, ask one of the table crew.

Place bets

A place bet is placed after a point is made (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) and can be put on any of these numbers to win or lose. Multiple place bets can be made and a place bet can be taken off the table after a roll.

If you make a place bet for a number to win, the bet wins if that number is rolled before a 7. If you make a place bet for a number to lose, the bet will win if a 7 is rolled before that number.

The payout and house advantage varies per number but in general you are better off betting the number to lose. Place betting 4 or 10 to win pays out at 9:5 with a house advantage of 6.7%, whereas betting the same numbers to lose pays out 5:11 with a house advantage of 3%.

Buy / lay bets

A buy or lay bet is similar to a place bet but you have to pay a commission - usually 5% - to get true odds on a number. The house advantage on these bets is 4.76%.

Field bet

A field bet is only good for the next roll of the dice and pays even on a roll of 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 and 2:1 on a roll of 2 or 12. The house advantage is 5.56%.

Big 6 and big 8

These are bets that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7 and pay even money. The house advantage for each of these bets is an astronomic 9.09%. So, if you are at the table and feel either of those numbers is going to come up next, avoid this bet like the plague and put your money on a place bet which pays out at 7:6. The 6 or 8 place bet will cut the house edge to only 1.5%.

Hardway

A hardway bet is one that a certain hard combination will be rolled before a 7 or the same soft combination is rolled. For example, a hard 6 occurs when two 3s are rolled while a soft 6 occurs when a 1 and 5 or a 2 and 4 are rolled. Generally the house advantage on these type of bets is between 9-11%, so be wary.

One-roll (proposition) bets

Any Craps: Next roll of the dice is a 2, 3 or 12. Pays 7:1 and has a house advantage of 11.11%.

Any Seven: Next roll of the dice is a 7. Pays 4:1 and has a house advantage of 16.67%.

Two: Next roll will be a 2. This bet pays 30:1 and has a house advantage of 13.89%.

Three: Next roll will be a 3. This bet pays 15:1 and has a house advantage of 11.11%.

Eleven: Next roll will be an 11. This bet pays 15:1 and has a house advantage of 11.11%.

Twelve: Next roll will be a 12. This bet pays 30:1 and has a house advantage of 13.89%.

Horn bet: Next roll will be a 2, 3, 11 or 12. A horn bet is made in multiples of 4, with a quarter of each bet placed on each number. This pays out at the same odds as any individual number and the overall house edge is 12.5%.

TIP: Avoid the following bets like the strawberry creams in an old box of chocolates (we've put the house advantage in brackets):

- Big 6 and 8 (9.1%)
- Hardway 6 or 8 (9.1%)
- Hardway 4 or 10 (11.1%)
- Any craps (11.1%)
- 3 or 11 proposition (11.1%)
- 2 or 12 proposition (13.9%)
- Any 7 (16.6%)