Quick Answer: What Should I Do Before Playing Craps?
Before you buy in, do five things:
- Pick a table that fits your bankroll
- Check key rules (field payouts, odds limits, buy bet commission)
- Set your session bankroll and exit rules
- Decide your bet plan and maximum exposure
- Commit to your “no chase” rules
Everything else is optional.
If you want the full big-picture guide first, start here: The Complete Guide To Craps.
Step 1: Choose A Table You Can Actually Afford
Start with the minimum.
If the table minimum is too high for your bankroll, everything becomes stressful.
Quick Bankroll Rule
Aim for at least 20–30 minimum units for a comfortable session.
Example:
- $10 table = $200–$300 session bankroll
- $15 table = $300–$450 session bankroll
If you want help choosing a table, read How To Pick The Best Craps Table In A Busy Casino.
Step 2: Do The 60-Second Table Rule Check
These quick checks save you money.
The Three Most Important Checks
- Odds limits: 2x? 3-4-5x? 10x?
- Field payout: does 12 pay 2x or 3x?
- Buy bet commission: on wins only or upfront?
If you want to learn why these rules matter, read How Payout Structures Change Across Casinos.
Step 3: Decide Your Session Bankroll (Not Your Total Wallet)
Your session bankroll is what you’re willing to lose tonight.
Not what you have in your bank account.
A simple method:
- bring your session bankroll in cash
- keep the rest away
- don’t “reload” if you bust
If you reload, you’re more likely to chase.
Step 4: Set Your Exit Rules Before You Start
This is the biggest discipline move.
Stop-Loss Examples
- down 20%
- down 30%
- down 10 units
Stop-Win Examples
- up 20%
- up 30%
- up 10 units
If you want session structure, read Session Length Strategies For Craps Players.
Step 5: Pick A Simple Bet Plan (And Write It In One Sentence)
Your plan should be simple enough to say out loud.
Examples:
- “Pass Line + small odds, no props.”
- “Don’t Pass + consistent lay odds, no side bets.”
- “Pass Line + odds + place 6/8 only.”
If your plan needs a full paragraph, it’s too complex.
If you want the Don’t style explained, read Understanding The “Don’t Strategy” In Depth.
Step 6: Set A Maximum Exposure Number
This is the hidden cheat code for discipline.
Maximum exposure means:
- the most total money you’ll have working at one time
Example:
- “I won’t have more than $80 working.”
This prevents:
- bet stacking
- emotional pressing
- and “cover everything” spirals
If you want why this matters, read Understanding Volatility In Craps Betting Sequences.
Step 7: Make A Side Bet Budget (Or Decide “None”)
If you like bonus bets or props, fine.
But they need a budget.
Two simple options:
- No side bets tonight
or - One side bet per shooter, max $X
If you want why props can drain bankroll fast, read The Hidden Dangers Of Center Table Betting.
Step 8: Watch One Shooter Before You Bet Big
This is a calm entry strategy.
When you arrive at a new table:
- watch one shooter
- observe pace and crowd energy
- confirm rules and dealer control
- then start with your base plan
If you want to know how to handle pressure better, read How To Handle High-Pressure Craps Situations.
Step 9: Have A “Cold Table” Response Plan Ready
If the table goes cold, you should already know what you’ll do.
Simple plan:
- stop adding bets
- reduce exposure
- take a break after three losing shooters
If you want the full guide, read How To React When The Table Suddenly Goes Cold.
Step 10: Commit To One Rule: No Chasing
Chasing is how a normal loss becomes a brutal loss.
Before you play, commit:
- “If I hit my stop-loss, I leave.”
No bargaining.
No “one more shooter.”
If you want why chasing is dangerous, read Why Chasing Losses Is Especially Dangerous In Craps.
A One-Page Pre-Session Checklist (Copy/Paste)
Use this every time:
- Table minimum fits my bankroll ✅
- Odds limit checked ✅
- Field payout checked ✅
- Buy bet commission checked ✅
- Session bankroll set ✅
- Stop-loss set ✅
- Stop-win set ✅
- Bet plan is simple ✅
- Max exposure set ✅
- Side bet budget set ✅
- Break rule set ✅
- No chasing rule committed ✅
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Most Important Craps Checklist Item?
A table minimum you can afford and a stop-loss you will actually follow.
Should I Always Take Odds?
Odds are priced fairly, but they increase volatility. Use odds only at a size you can handle.
How Do I Avoid Getting Sucked Into Props?
Set a side bet budget before you play, or choose “none” for the session.
What If The Table Is Too Crowded?
Crowded tables increase pressure and mistakes. Watch one shooter, keep bets simple, or choose another table.
Can A Checklist Really Help Me Win?
A checklist won’t change the dice, but it can stop the biggest bankroll killers: chasing, over-betting, and playing on tilt.
Where To Go Next
You’ve reached the end of this craps series with the most useful piece: a repeatable pre-session checklist. If you follow it—table rule check, bankroll limits, max exposure, and no-chase discipline—you’ll avoid the biggest mistakes that cost players the most money over time.
If you want to zoom back out and refresh the full foundation, revisit The Complete Guide To Craps.
