What Exactly is "The Point" (in Craps)
Ok, let’s get to the point…
And what IS our point? Well, it’s THE Point – one of the most important aspects of Craps.
In Craps, “The Point” is any number rolled in a Come Out Roll that is not an automatic winner (7 or 11), loser (2, 3), or push (12). This means anytime a 4,5,6,8,9,10 are rolled on the Come Out Roll, well, that becomes the point. In fact, the general goal of the Come Out Roll is to establish the Point. The rest of the game is spent rolling until the point is hit again, or a seven is rolled (either will end the game.)
Now you may find yourself saying, “I don’t understand! I’ve been watching the table and that guy won on 7 but this time he lost on 7! It’s so confusing!”
Don’t worry! You’re not the first person to get confused at which number to want. To be honest, Craps, with its busy layout and different bets, gives the appearance of being a complicated game. But that’s all it is: An appearance. So let’s dig deeper and tackle the mystery of the point and what it means for you when you bet.
First off, the point can only be a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. This is because the other numbers are automatic winners, losers, or pushes on the Come Out Roll. Where it gets confusing (where 7’s can be winners or losers) are on two common Come Out Roll bets - “Pass Line bets” and “Don’t Pass bets”. Each bet is considered the flip side (opposite) of the other.
First off, we have Pass Line bets where a 7 or 11 is an automatic winner on a Come Out Roll. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, some people win, and the shooter continues to try and establish a point. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, the round ends in a loss and no point is set because the round ended early. Any other number rolled becomes the point. So if you made a Pass Line bet you want the point number to be rolled again before a 7 is rolled. When a 7 is rolled after the point, you lose (but if it’s rolled before, you win.)
Don’t Pass bets win on 2 or 3, lose on 7 or 11, and give your money back on 12. Assuming you don’t get an automatic win, lose or push, you’re betting against the point number. Here you want Lucky 7 to show up before the point number comes again. While in both bets you’re hoping for something to happen, most gamblers will say you’re betting with the dice in Pass Line bets and against the dice in Don’t Pass bets (to note: Come and Don’t Come bets are similar to Pass and Don’t Pass bets, except they are made after the Come Out Roll – we’ll discuss those in separate articles.)
So what’s the point? Why, to win big, of course. That’s the WHOLE point!
