Craps terms sound intimidating because dealers, stickmen, and players use table language at speed. Most terms are not complicated. They name the roll stage, the bet location, the dice result, or the dealer procedure. Learn the words that control money first: come-out roll, point, Pass Line, Don’t Pass, odds, place bet, seven-out, and no-roll.
Quick Facts
- A shooter is the player rolling the dice.
- The come-out roll starts a new Pass Line cycle.
- The point is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 after the come-out roll.
- A seven-out ends the shooter’s hand after a point is on.
- Odds means a special true-odds bet, not just probability in general.
- Inside numbers are usually 5, 6, 8, and 9.
- Center-table terms like horn, yo, and hardways usually point to higher-edge action.
Plain Talk
Craps has its own language because the game moves quickly. The stickman calls totals, dealers book bets, players shout requests, and the boxman watches the layout. A beginner who does not know the words can still make a bet, but that player is also more likely to place the wrong chip in the wrong spot or misunderstand a payout.
This page is about table language. For the full game flow, use the craps guide and how to play craps. For probability, go to craps odds. For cost, go to craps house edge.
External references use the same basic vocabulary. The Wizard of Odds craps basics explains the main bet names, the Massachusetts craps rules use formal table-game language, and 205 CMR 146.17 describes physical craps table requirements in regulatory language.
How It Works
Craps terms fall into five useful groups.
| Term group | What it covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Game flow | Where the hand stands | come-out roll, point, seven-out, puck on/off |
| People | Who controls the table | shooter, stickman, base dealer, boxman, floor |
| Bets | Where money goes | Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, place, odds, field |
| Dice results | What the dice total means | craps, natural, yo, hardway, easy way |
| Procedure | What the crew decides | no-roll, late bet, working, off, capped bet |
Core Flow Terms
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shooter | Player rolling the dice | Controls the current hand, but not the math |
| Come-out roll | First roll of a new cycle | Decides instant wins/losses or sets a point |
| Point | 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 | Must repeat before 7 for Pass Line to win |
| Puck | ON/OFF marker used by dealers | Shows whether a point is active |
| Seven-out | Rolling 7 after a point is on | Ends the shooter’s hand and clears many bets |
| Natural | 7 or 11 on the come-out roll | Pass Line wins immediately |
| Craps | 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll | Pass Line loses immediately |
Bet Terms Beginners Hear First
| Term | What it means | Beginner note |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | Bet with the shooter | Common beginner bet, about 1.41% house edge |
| Don’t Pass | Bet against the shooter’s point | Slightly better math, socially unpopular sometimes |
| Come Bet | Pass Line-style bet after a point is on | Creates its own point number |
| Don’t Come | Don’t Pass-style bet after a point is on | Often confusing because it travels to a number |
| Odds Bet | Extra bet behind line/come bets | Paid at true odds, 0% house edge |
| Place Bet | Bet that a number hits before 7 | Dealer-controlled, different edge by number |
| Field Bet | One-roll bet on selected totals | Easy to make, rule-dependent cost |
| Proposition Bet | Center-table bet, often one-roll | Usually high house edge |
Dice Result Terms
| Term | Dice example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | 11 | Stick call for eleven, avoids confusion with seven |
| Ace-deuce | 3 | One die shows 1, the other 2 |
| Snake eyes | 2 | 1-1 |
| Boxcars | 12 | 6-6 |
| Hard 6 | 3-3 | Pair total that must hit before easy 6 or 7 |
| Easy 6 | 1-5 or 2-4 | Six made without a pair |
| Horn numbers | 2, 3, 11, 12 | Covered by horn-style bets |
Table Procedure Terms
| Term | Meaning | Casino-floor context |
|---|---|---|
| Working | Bet is active on the next roll | Some bets are off by default on come-out |
| Off | Bet is not active | Dealers may mark or announce it |
| No-roll | Roll does not count | Used for dice errors, interference, or improper roll |
| Late bet | Bet attempted too late | Crew may refuse it after dice are out |
| Press | Increase a winning bet | Common after place-bet wins |
| Same bet | Leave bet amount unchanged | Useful if you do not want to press |
| Take down | Remove a bet | Often used for place bets and buy/lay bets |
Craps Table Example
You buy in for $200 at a $10 table. The dealer gives you chips. You put $10 on the Pass Line.
The stickman pushes dice to the shooter and calls, “Coming out.” The shooter rolls 6. The dealer says, “Point is six,” turns the puck ON, and places it on the 6.
You put $20 behind your Pass Line bet and say, “Odds.” Another player says, “Place the six and eight.” A third player throws $5 to the center and says, “Yo.”
Three different terms are happening at once:
- Your odds bet is attached to your Pass Line bet.
- The other player’s place bets are dealer-controlled number bets.
- The yo bet is a one-roll proposition bet on 11.
Same dice. Different bets. Different prices.
From the Casino Side:
The crew uses short language because the game has to move. A stickman cannot give a classroom lesson every roll. “Yo,” “hard six,” “no roll,” “press,” “same bet,” and “coming out” are efficient table commands.
The boxman and floor supervisor care that the language matches the action. If a player says “odds” but throws chips into the wrong area, the dealer should clarify. If a player says “working” on a come-out roll, the dealer should confirm which bets are working. If a player calls a late prop bet after the dice are already moving, the crew protects the game by refusing or calling it no bet.
Good table language prevents disputes. Bad table language creates them.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking “odds” always means probability instead of the specific odds bet.
- Saying “place my point” when you actually mean “take odds.”
- Confusing Come bets with come-out rolls.
- Calling “hard six” when you mean any total of 6.
- Forgetting that “working” and “off” can change whether a bet is active.
- Treating stick calls as advice instead of announcements.
- Using slang before understanding the actual bet.
Hard Truth
The table does not slow down because you misunderstood a word. Learn the money words first, or craps will translate your confusion into action.
FAQ
What is the most important craps term for beginners?
Point. Once you understand the point, the Pass Line, Don’t Pass, odds, seven-out, and many other bets make more sense.
Why do dealers say “yo” instead of eleven?
“Yo” helps avoid confusion between “eleven” and “seven” on a noisy table.
What does “seven-out” mean?
It means a 7 rolled after a point was established. The shooter’s hand ends, and many right-side bets lose.
Is an odds bet the same as craps odds?
No. “Odds bet” is a specific wager attached to Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come. “Craps odds” can mean probability in general.
What does “working” mean?
A working bet is active on the next roll. Some bets are off by default on come-out rolls unless the player requests otherwise.
What does “same bet” mean?
It means keep the bet at its current amount after a win instead of pressing or reducing it.
What is a proposition bet?
A center-table bet, often resolved in one roll, such as Any Seven, Any Craps, Horn, Yo, or Aces.
Deeper Insight
Craps vocabulary is not just colorful language. It is a control system.
A blackjack player can point at one betting circle and wait. A craps player can have a line bet, odds, two come bets, place bets, a hardway, and a prop bet active at the same time. Without shared language, the crew could not book, move, pay, press, turn off, and remove bets cleanly.
The danger is that colorful words make bad bets sound like culture. “Horn high yo” sounds like table personality. Mathematically, it is still a group of long-shot center bets. “Any Seven” sounds direct. It is also one of the most expensive common bets on the layout.
Learn the word. Then price the bet.
Formula / Calculation
P(term result) = favorable dice combinations / 36Example:
P(yo / 11) = 2 / 36 = 5.56%
P(boxcars / 12) = 1 / 36 = 2.78%
P(seven) = 6 / 36 = 16.67%Formula Explanation in Plain English
Some terms name rare events. Rare events need large fair payouts to be worth the risk. If the table payout is smaller than the true probability deserves, the difference becomes house edge. That is why vocabulary should lead into math, not replace it.
Related Reading
After the terms, read Craps Bets Explained so the words connect to actual wagers. Use Craps Payouts when a term includes a payoff. Use craps odds and the craps odds calculator to test the probability behind common calls. For the long-term price of the action, compare those bets with craps house edge and the expected loss calculator.