Hey? What did he say? What does that mean? Like a newbie standing by the table watching, too nervous to jump, you give up trying to figure out this crazy game. Your Chinese language class in college was easier to understand than all this dice jargon. So instead of partying at the craps table, you take your $100 and piss it into a slot machine. Twenty minutes later, you look at the machine thinking, “That was stupid. Why am I so afraid to play?”
It should not be like that. Craps is so easy and so much fun. Trust me; You don’t have to be a neurosurgeon or a math teacher to play. Don’t let your fear of the unknown keep you away.
You don’t have to be fluent in craps to play. You just need to know a few basic words and phrases. As you play, your command of the language will develop rapidly. Don’t waste time trying to memorize each term before you decide to play. Always remember, if you don’t understand something, just ask the dealer for help.
The following terms cover the letters A through B in alphabetical order. Craps terms beginning with other letters are defined in my other articles.
Aces = Two ones. Known as snake eyes or eyeballs.
Action = Bets that are in play or live. Also, how busy a table is.
Any Craps = A bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12.
Any Seven = A bet that the next roll will be a 7.
Apron = The outer edge of the table design. The flat, unmarked area closest to the player.
At Risk = Checks (money) that are at stake or live.
Australian self = The number 3. When a 3 comes up, the opposite number (ie the number at the bottom of the dice) is 11, which is “down”. In dice, 1 is opposite 6, 2 is opposite 5, and 3 is opposite 4. So when a 1-2 comes up, the opposite side (i.e., the bottom of the dice, “down “) is 6 -5.
Back Line = The Don’t Pass line.
Back Wall = The inside edge of the table against which the shooter must roll the dice for the roll to count.
Bank = All stacks of casino checks on the table in front of the boxman.
Barber Pole A stack of checks with a variety of denominations mixed up. Checks should be stacked with the highest denominations on the bottom and the lowest denominations on top.
Big Eight = An even money bet that an 8 will appear before a 7.
Big Red = A bet that the next roll will be a 7 (same as Any Seven).
Big Six = An even money bet that a 6 will appear before a 7.
Black = $100 checks.
Bones = The dice.
Bowl = The plastic, wooden, or metal bowl that the stickman uses to store unused dice.
Box number = The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 that can be converted into a point on the come out roll. All other numbers (ie 2, 3, 7, 11 and 12) are called naturals because they result in a decision on the come out roll. Also, called point number.
Boxcars = The number 12. A bet that the next roll will be a 12. Also called midnight.
Boxman = The person overseeing the game who sits between the two dealers and faces the stickman.
Guys, the = The traffickers.
Bankrupt Money = Money the casino gives to a bankrupt person for transportation home.
Brooklyn Forest = Two Three. A hard 6.
Buffalo = A bet on all Hardways and Any Seven.
Buffalo Yo = A bet on all Hardways and the number 11.
Bump = An extra break for a dealer because the shift is overstaffed relative to the number of tables/games in play.
Buy = A bet and the payment of a 5% vigorish (or tax) for the privilege of getting real odds that a number will come up before a 7.