Learning how to roll dice is essential in mastering the game of craps. There are rules that the shooter, or person rolling the dice, has to follow. Also, there are special techniques that you can learn to help you avoid crapping out.
If you are using a craps online casino, you do not need to be as concerned with the rules for shooters. Instead, you can roll with the click of a button, and a random number generator determines the outcome. On the other hand, players at land-based casinos need to be dice-rolling experts.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about rolling dice in craps. I will cover the basic rules that shooters must follow and break down some common dice-rolling methods.
Rules for Dice Rolling in Craps
Becoming a great craps player means understanding the rules of being a shooter. There are several rules players need to follow when they roll the dice in craps.
First, it’s important to know that the dice must hit the back wall of the craps table. If you fail to roll the dice correctly, the dealer will either give you another try or simply select a new shooter.
Also, make sure to hold the dice in one hand and then roll them the full span of the table. The dice must be visible by the dealer at all times, so avoid taking them off the table unless you’d like to meet a pit boss.
Casinos may also have additional rules about how players can behave while they are the shooter.
Not all casinos have these rules, but throwing dice above the dealer, slamming dice, bouncing them off the table, or using two hands are frowned upon at all casinos. They also don’t really help to control your roll for specific outcomes.
Craps Dice Rolling Techniques
There are a handful of tips and tricks for better dice rolling. Craps dice rolling can improve the probability of landing the dice a specific way. Some players became so effective at this, craps tables started adding spiked walls to increase randomness during rolls.
Understanding the rules of the casino is just one step to learning how to roll dice. Here are four craps dice control techniques that can help you be a more successful craps shooter:
Don’t Slam the Dice into the Back Wall
The dice have to touch the back wall in order for your roll to count. But you want to avoid hitting the wall too hard.
Slamming your dice into the wall is generally a bad idea. Too forceful of a throw will encourage randomness in your rolls. This is fine to do on an opening roll because high randomness gives you a better chance at a seven, the most probable number. However, after the opening roll, you will want to avoid hitting the wall too hard.
Set the Point Number Facing Up
Many technical craps rollers will take the point number and face it up on the dice. This will allow you to gently float the dice to the far wall.
If you do this correctly, it should reduce the chances of rolling the numbers on either left or right of the dice.
The dice should be rolled end over end, rather than sporadically so that the sides on the left and right of the point numbers don’t come up.
When setting the dice, place both sixes up with fives facing in. Assuming the dice roll end over end and together, this offers no combination of a seven. Many pro craps players claim this significantly reduces the occurrence of sevens.
Pinch vs. Two-Finger Grip
One of the most important elements of how to roll dice in craps is the grip. Don’t lay the dice in your hand or grab them up in the palm. Place four fingers on the front and your thumb on the back, effectively pinching the dice.
This keeps them together and helps you to create a consistent throw. The palm is also sweatier in general, which can throw off your roll.
Another grip technique is known as the Two-Finger Grip. For this method, put the dice together with two fingers on one side and your thumb on the other.
While this is a common technique, many rollers believe it’s not conducive to better rolling. In the end, the best grip is the one that helps you win the most. Try for yourself and decide what’s best for you.
Shoot at a 45 Degree Angle
Once you have picked your grip style, you can start working on shooting the dice at a consistent angle. Many craps players, including myself, suggest using a 45-degree angle.
Using the same angle each time will give you more consistent outcomes on your rolls. A 45-degree angle is ideal for reducing the “bounce” that results from the dice hitting the wall. Minimizing the bounce is key to effectively using any dice control technique.
At a 45-degree angle, the dice should hit the table relatively flat. This will disperse the force of your roll across a wider surface area. In theory, the dice should lose most of their momentum before they hit the back wall.
More Tips on How to Roll Dice in Craps
Once you have mastered your preferred dice-rolling methods, there are still other ways to improve your chances of winning. Here are five more tips to become a better craps shooter.
Practice Soft Rolling
Get two dice at home, and practice rolling gently to get specific numbers. As you get better, roll further and further away from you until you can bounce the dice off a wall and pre-select the numbers.
You don’t have to be at a craps table to practice rolling the dice!
So start at home, rolling close to you, then increase the distance at which you can roll your selected numbers. Soft rolling will help you improve your craps dice control.
Wash Your Hands and Don’t Drink
If you have condensation or food on your hands, they’ll be sticky. Wash your hands beforehand, and if you’re drinking at the casino, keep the drink in your other hand.
If your fingers stick to the dice, they’ll lose predictability. Also, despite what you have seen in movies, you should not blow on the dice. Blowing on the dice can also cause condensation build-up and make your rolls harder to control.
Also, not drinking excessively will make it easier to stay sober. If you are intoxicated, you will have a harder time controlling your dice roll. Plus, sticking to your bankroll and following other parts of your craps betting strategy will be harder too.
Stand Closer to the Dealer
Some casinos will allow you to shoot craps next to the dealer or ‘closest to the stick.’ This way, you’re not throwing the dice as hard to make it to the back wall of the table, as you’re closer to it. This softer roll can give you more control over the dice overall.
It is important to try and shoot from the same spot every time. This will make it easier to be consistent with your roll. So, if you like shooting on a shorter table, look for casinos that let you stand next to the dealer.
If you cannot stand near the dealer, that is okay too. You will just need to adjust to shooting on a longer table than normal. Most of your process will stay the same, but the force of your roll will need to change.
Avoid the Corners of the Table
The corners of the craps table can be a shooter’s worst enemy. If the dice hit the corner, then they will be even harder to control. The corners are curved, which can cause your dice to roll along them, hitting the wall multiple times.
As a result, your dice will be more likely to tumble, making it harder to control the outcome of your roll. This is why the corners on a craps table are often called the “mixing bowl”. You should aim for the middle of the back wall and avoid the corners at all costs.
Don’t Take Too Long to Shoot
Part of the allure of playing craps is the social aspect of the game. All of the players around the table are betting on the outcome of a single shooter. Many of the superstitions about craps involve supporting the shooter at all times.
There is money on the line, though, so it does not take a lot to turn your fellow players against you. Taking too long to shoot is one of the quickest ways to lose the support of the other players.
Players want to see their bets play out and are also waiting for their turns to shoot. So, having a quick and fluid shooting routine can help the game move along at a pace that is fun for everyone.
Throwing Dice Is Just One Part of Becoming a Better Craps Player
Learning how to control the dice in craps can make you a better shooter. You can master how to roll dice in craps using the helpful guide above. However, if you want to become a better overall craps player, then playing craps from home is a great way to improve your overall skills.
We recommend checking out Bovada Casino for all of your craps gaming needs. This online gambling site allows you to practice playing craps before competing for real money.
The gameplay is smooth, the interface is sleek and Bovada does a good job listing pertinent rules, payouts and other information related to the game of craps.
Lastly, you can also receive a welcome bonus of up to $3,000 for joining Bovada and making your first deposit. Casino bonuses are a great way to extend your craps gaming experience as you will have bonus funds to gamble with and hopefully build a bigger bankroll with.
