Shooting dice, also known as Street Dice or Street Craps, is a relatively simple gambling game that bears striking similarities to the casino game, Craps. The key difference between Craps and Shooting Dice is that you can shoot dice outside without using a conventional Craps table.
While shooting dice may not be on offer at the best crypto casino, it sure is a great option when you are outdoors and want to gamble with some friends. The name – Shooting Dice – originated from the 1900s street gambling scene where dice were rolled on the sidewalks and streets for entertainment.
This street version of Casino Craps is much faster and only requires a solid outdoor surface and a pair of dice to get started. The game’s goal is for players to predict the outcome after rolling the dice or Shooting. Participants of the game place their bets on whether the shooter – the person in control of the dice – will roll a specific number. Let’s discover how to shoot dice and go through some rules!
Basics Of How To Shoot Dice
As mentioned earlier, shooting dice is similar to Casino Craps, although the rules are slightly different. With that being said, knowing the more complicated Craps rules doesn’t necessarily mean that you can shoot dice.
When it comes to shooting dice, you play with two dice that a single player shoots at any given time. There can be an unlimited number of other participants who choose to bet on the outcome – the more, the merrier!
Before the game starts, the players will roll the dice to decide who the shooter will be. After that, the other participants will start betting on whether that shooter can pass or crap out. Rolling a 7 or 11 is a pass, while rolling a 2,3 or 12 is crap out. If the shooter happens to crap out, the game ends and the other participants get a payout.
The first person to place a bet is the shooter, and all other participants must match that bet for the game to proceed. If the bet cannot be matched, the shooter must lower his bet and then proceed.
Know The Lingo
Whether you’re playing Craps or Shooting Dice, it can be quite a bother when people constantly ask what things mean in the middle of your gameplay. To avoid bothering other players when learning to shoot dice, it is important to know the essential terms.
- Come-out – the first roll in the game
- Crap out – rolling a 2, 3, or 12 in the come-out
- Pass – rolling a 7 or 11 in the come-out
- Seven-out – rolling a seven before rolling the point value
- The Point – rolling any number between 4 and 10 in the come-out
- Shooter – the person who rolls the Dice
- Bounce – there must be a barrier like a wall that allows the dice to bounce before stopping
- Fingers – there must not be any part of the body, such as fingers, in the shooting area
- Side bet – an additional bet made at the beginning of the round
Learn The Point Value
That roll number becomes a point when the shooter doesn’t crap out or pass on the first roll. Under these circumstances, all the dice numbers become irrelevant except for seven and the point value.
At this stage, the shooter has to keep rolling the dice until it reaches either number. The pass bets here are based on whether the shooter will roll the point value again before rolling a 7 – the Don’t Pass bets are the exact opposite.
With reference to a point, the game ends once the shooter rolls a seven or the point value.
Starting The Game
The game begins when the players throw some money into the pot – known as ante up. At this stage, the players are paying to be considered the shooter.
Once this is done, the next step is to roll the dice to discover who the shooter will be. All those players who chose to ante up will roll the dice, and the person who rolls the highest number will be declared the shooter.
After this, the shooter will bet to either pass or crap out. The other players – now considered the participants – must now match the shooter’s bet and can then choose to place side bets. Any players who ante’d up earlier can bet on the side or throw in to match the shooter.
With that out, it’s finally time for the shooter to roll the come-out – the game’s first roll. The game ends if the come-out is a crap-out or pass, and the bets are distributed accordingly. If it happens to be a point, all crap-out bets are considered bets on whether the shooter will 7-out. All pass bets made will then be converted into point bets.
Understanding Dice Control
If you happen to be the shooter or have plans to be the shooter, it is crucial to understand how to control your dice. Gamblers who play Craps or Shoot Dice can become impatient, and nobody wants to get bored while the shooter sets his Dice – the faster, the better for everybody!
When learning how to shoot dice, a common habit with dice controllers is to start with the number 3 on top of both the dice – not necessary, but an unwritten code amongst shooters so nobody gets suspicious and thinks that you are controlling the dice.
Besides the numbers you show, the dice can be positioned in diagonal lines showing the three spots forming in the same direction. This takes some practice, so it’s best to try that out many times at home instead of mastering that art during a live gambling session.
When it comes to the actual Shooting of the dice, you should hold the dice between your thumb and forefinger and then swing your arm in a pendulum motion before releasing the dice. The dice are shot into an arc, and the fewer rotations the dice make are considered better. It is wise not to add any spin to the dice.
Both the dice should be close together as they approach the arc. Dice that move far apart will likely bounce in different directions when they land – displaying you as a novice amongst the more seasoned gamblers.
Ideally, the dice must hit the back wall and bounce on the table or surface. It is not recommended for the dice to have multiple bounces, and the perfect shooter will ensure that the Dice hits the wall, jumps once on the table, and stops with a fuss.
Shooting Dice Etiquette
The shooter always selects the betting amount they want to wager and has a choice of two betting options, i.e. pass or crap-out. It’s up to the shooter to offer the other participants odds during the game.
This method will remain consistent after the players have placed their bets on the options opposite of the shooter’s bet. The shooter can lower the betting amount if the other participants cannot cover the starting bet that was selected. Once the shooter has thrown the dice, all bet placing must stop immediately.
Shooting Dice Tricks And Tips
Learning The Probability Of Rolling A Specific Number
When mastering the art of shooting dice, you will discover that some numbers come up more often than others. Out of all the number combinations, 7 is the most likely number you will roll, with a 17% chance of hitting that number – just incredible!
Out of the 36 possible roll combinations between the two dice, there are six ways that a shooter can roll a 7 – meaning that you are likely to roll a seven more often during your gambling session.
The next most popular numbers rolled are 6 and 8 – these numbers being achieved in 5 possible combinations across the sum of the two dice.
Intriguingly, the least likely numbers to be rolled are 2 and 12.
Roll The Dice Correctly
We’ve touched on dice control earlier, and this is so important that it must be reiterated. As a shooter, you must know how to roll the dice correctly and how they should hit the back wall. In Casino Craps, for example, the shooter has to roll the dice in a way where it hits the back wall of the table – or that roll won’t count.
The same principle applies to shooting dice and is why players who choose this street version play against a wall. When holding your Dice with both number 3’s upright, it should resemble a V shape – commonly referred to as “set” in the traditional game version.
By showing the other participants that you are not doing any tricks to manipulate the outcome, it shows respect and transparency to all players involved.
Make sure not to throw the dice so hard that it repeatedly bounces off the wall before settling. That can hold up the game if the dice go in all directions, leading to a frustrating experience for all players. A good technique is to toss the Dice smoothly so it hits the surface before bouncing off the wall and settling quickly.
Also, while many players have their superstitions before throwing the dice, make sure not to waste time with your lucky orientations making ridiculous moves while delaying the game in the process.
Shooters Must Bet Big
When it comes to shooting dice outdoors, the status quo is that the shooter bets that he will pass while the other participants bet that he will crap out.
Since we have already discussed the probabilities of landing certain numbers after your roll, a pass bet will be the best option considering the chances of landing 7. That said, it only makes more sense for the shooter to bet big on a pass bet that is more likely to land.
In essence, you should wait until you become the shooter to throw in big bets with a greater chance of winning.
The Difference Between Shooting Dice and Casino Craps
Although Shooting Dice and Casino Craps are played in almost the same way, there are slight differences between the two games.
With Casino Craps, there’s a table on a casino floor where you can place your bets. A banker or dealer is stationed at the table and coordinates all the bets and the game itself. One of a banker’s or dealer’s main tasks is to focus on the bets being made, as that requires immediate attention.
With Shooting Dice, no banker or dealer can coordinate the bets or gameplay. No player assumes the role of a banker or dealer. Moreover, there is no casino table as this game is played outside on the street. All players rely on that wall to bounce the dice.
Final Thoughts
Shooting Dice, like Casino Craps, is a great gambling game that lets you have some fun outdoors with friends. While playing at a crypto casino may be fun, it’s sometimes great to take a break from online activities and get your entertainment fix outdoors.
Make sure to practice your rolls and learn the rules to avoid disturbing the other players with questions and queries mid-game. Although it may appear to be easy rolling dice, it’s a task that must be learned and practised, especially when you are rolling two dice.
A great way to practice your Shooting Dice game is to enjoy Craps sessions at established crypto casinos like BC.GAME. Getting the hang of the gameplay and betting patterns will go a long way to familiarise yourself with how to shoot dice.
Ultimately, have fun and don’t commit more funds than your budget allows. Good luck!
