The importance of the come out roll in the outcome of a craps game should not be underestimated. The come out roll determines the pattern of the game.

The Importance of the Come Out Roll

In a game of craps, until the first roll is thrown, no-one knows which direction the game will follow.  The pattern of the game is shaped on the outcome of the first roll.  Before the come out roll is thrown, bets can be placed on the pass line.  Most other bets are placed after the initial throw, as the initial throw will indicate which numbers are needed to place a winning bet.

Who Rolls the Come Out Roll?

The players/betters take turns in being the shooter.  The shooter is the player who is throwing the come out roll, and all other rolls in that round, until they crap out.

Rules and Etiquette Surrounding the Come Out Roll

It is important to know the rules and etiquette of shooting at a craps table. Two dice are used. Shooters may only handle the dice with one hand. Both the dice should hit the wall at the opposite end of the craps table from the shooter. Should both, or even only one dice fall off the table when the shooter throws them, they will be inspected by a casino employee before returning the dice to play. Casinos will inspect the dice fairly often for any damage as the dice should not have a tendency to land on any specific numbers. The dice are changed to new dice after they have been used for around eight hours.

The Come Out Roll - Possibilities

There are a number of possible outcomes for the come out roll.  The come out roll is thrown with two dice.  All the possible combinations or totals of numbers from rolling two dice can be the ones to start the game off.

The following list shows what the result of each possible number means:

Two - The pass line bet is lost.  Play moves into another round with a new shooter.
Three - The pass line bet is lost.  Play moves into another round with a new shooter.
Four - This becomes a point number.
Five - This becomes a point number.
Six - This becomes a point number.
Seven - The pass line bet is won.
Eight - This becomes a point number.
Nine - This becomes a point number.
Ten - This becomes a point number.
Eleven - The pass line bet is won.
Twelve - The pass line bet is lost.  Play moves into another round with a new shooter.

The players who have bet on don't pass line will be hoping that either a two, three or twelve is thrown, or that a number becomes a point.  After that, the don't pass line betters will be hoping for either a seven or eleven as the next throw, as the bet they have placed is one in which they want the point to lose.  It is the opposite of the pass line bet.

The importance of the come out roll in a craps game should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to the tense excitement just before a shooter shoots the first roll.  After that, players can place further bets, increasing the excitement of the game.