the craps term, “die in the woods” refers to a die that has landed in the chip rack.  my question is what happens after the die lands in the chip rack?  does the shooter re-roll?  i have never played craps, or even stepped into a casino, but i am trying to learn all about it before i go spending money!

Every shot counts even when a die or dice strikes ones hand, the stickman’s stick, the surrounding chip trays or even a light fixture; as long as the die or dice return to the felt on the table.  In the case of a die or dice coming to rest in a chip tray the shooter would be granted a re-roll.  I have even seen a die stike a woman in the breast and return to the table counted as a good shot.

dustedone - 01 September 2010 11:58 AM

Every shot counts even when a die or dice strikes ones hand ... as long as the die or dice return to the felt on the table.

I know of one exception: a two-party roll.  This occurs when a die strikes a player’s hand or arm, and the struck player makes a motion with the struck body part, such as swatting a die that is about to leave the table, such that it lands on the felt.  Of course this also includes catching a die and throwing it back onto the table, which may be the situation this rule addresses since it avoids a dispute as to whether the catcher actually closed his/her hand around the die (i.e. caught it).  So long as the target simply takes the hit without making any move that could influence the roll, it’s a roll.

Thomas - 01 September 2010 10:53 AM

the craps term, “die in the woods” refers to a die that has landed in the chip rack.  ...  i have never played craps, or even stepped into a casino, but i am trying to learn all about it before i go spending money!

Well, well.  From the mouths of babes (and I refer to your craps career, not you personally).  40 years at the tables and I have never heard that term.  Calls that I have heard:
    In the wood, no good.
    In the cedar, can’t read ‘er.
    It’s a lumber number.  (This one not so much since 4-2 is also called the lumber number, 2x4.)
And my favorite (at what was then Flamingo in Reno, NV), a little off topic perhaps since the die was not in the chip rack:
    The cube’s in the boobs and too tall to call.

you would be surprised, but a die going down ones open shirt or even into ones pocket happens quite often.  And a good call on the second party shooter.

dustedone - 01 September 2010 09:30 PM

you would be surprised, but a die going down ones open shirt or even into ones pocket happens quite often.

The one time I have had a die go into my pocket I was at the end of a table with a line of people waiting to get into the showroom behind me.  A die flew past and I heard it slap against the arm of one of those waiting.  When I didn’t immediately see the die on the floor I felt my pocket but detected no die.  After the showroom line had cleared I and a pit suit conducted a thorough search of the area to no avail and concluded the die had been kicked under some slot machines some distance away.  It was not until I left the table and actually put my hand in my pocket to retrieve some cheques I had salted away that I discovered the die under them.  Somewhat embarrassed I turned the die in to another suit on my way to the cage.

Did you happen to see whether the table continued playing with the four dice or broke out an entirely new set?

Sancho Panza - 02 September 2010 11:42 AM

Did you happen to see whether the table continued playing with the four dice or broke out an entirely new set?

I stayed at the table for quite a while after the die was “lost” and do not recall a new set being introduced.  I do not know if the die I returned to the super was put back into play or not.

BTW, and a bit off topic to this thread, I know of at least one house, Red Lion (I think) in Elko (I know), NV, uses sets of seven dice.  I just happened to think, I wonder if that is to relieve pit suits from having to check dice that leave the table as often.

How long can the shooter remain the shooter?  if he/she’s on a hot streak or something, can the rest of the players just bet while he/she rolls the whole night?

There is no official “Rules of Craps”, however I have compiled on pg183,  rules on “The Throw of the Dice” and “Invalid Throws”.

The following answers your question and is in “Throw of the Dice ” section. It provides more than you asked for but might answers other questions you were thinking about.

1. The dice travel to each person around the table in a clockwise direction.

2.  To be eligible to throw the dice a player must have a wager on the Pass Line or the Don’t Pass Line. Note: During the hand, the shooter may remove the Don’t Pass line bet, but if he does he must bet the Pass Line; once he bets the Pass Line, as it is a contract bet, it cannot be removed.

3.  Upon selection of the dice, the player shall throw the 2 selected dice (the come out roll) so they leve his hand simultaneously
and in a manner to cause them to strike the end of the table furthest from him.

4.  Following the come out roll, a wager must remain on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line for the player to continue as the shooter.

5.  The dice must be handled with only one hand and must be in full view at all times.

6.  When the stickman places all the dice in front of the next person after a 7 out, that person may elect not to shoot the dice and wave them on the the person to his immediate left.

7.  The person shooting the dice may elect to stop shooting in the middle of his roll; if he does this, the person to his immediate left will shoot the dice and finish out the hand. Upon completion of the hand the shooter can shoot the dice again as it would have been his turn.

8.  When the dice come to rest from a valid throw:

    *  the stickman shall at once call out the total.

    *  only one face on each die shall be considered uppermost, which will be the face opposite the obstruction.

    *  in the event of a dispute as to which face is uppermost, the decision of the boxman shall be final.

    *  after calling the throw, the stickman shall collect the dice and bring them to the center of the table. All wagers decided by that throw shall be settled, following which the stickman shall pass the dice to the shooter for the next throw.

777

basicstrategy777 - 07 September 2010 05:21 AM

There is no official “Rules of Craps”, however I have compiled on pg183,  rules on “The Throw of the Dice” and “Invalid Throws”.

Wow, don’t know how I missed this when you posted it.  I would add to the list, “The trajectory of both dice must keep them below the eye level of the stickman,” and, “The dice cannot be thrown so hard, in the opinion of the boxperson, as to create a situation hazardous to others at the table.”

Thomas - 06 September 2010 01:13 PM

How long can the shooter remain the shooter?  if he/she’s on a hot streak or something, can the rest of the players just bet while he/she rolls the whole night?

The shooter keeps the dice until sevening out or voluntarily giving them up, although he/she must have a pass or don’t pass bet on every comeout roll. No shooter has ever held the dice “the whole night”. I think the record was just set at 154 rolls, but don’t quote me on that. The average hand is 8.52 rolls.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA

Alan is correct; 4 hours and 18 minutes at the Bortaga, by Patricia Demauro is the record. She was not a “dice influencer” but she probably would have helped the ‘cause’ if she said she was. If she said “Mr. So and So taught me” , he probably would have made a few extra bucks as his dice setting school would have had a spike up in attendence.

Also, the shooter can keep rolling if everyone at the table decides not to shoot and passes the dice to the shooter to the left until it gets back to the original shooter.

777