Skill matters most
Blackjack
The one game where your decisions change the odds. Learn when to hit, stand, double and split, then drill it until it's automatic.
Learn the rules · Know the odds · Practice for free
Learn the table before you sit down.
Plain-English rules, honest odds, and free practice tables for blackjack, craps and roulette. Show up to your next casino trip, in person or online, knowing exactly what you're doing.
Play money only. Nothing to buy, nothing to deposit, no sign-up.
Practice table · Blackjack$1,000 play chips
Dealer shows
You have
6
♣♣
♣♣
10
♠♠
♠♠
2
♥♥
♥♥
Hard 12 against a dealer 6.
Basic strategy says stand and let the dealer take the risk of busting. The coach tells you why.
Three things, done well.
When a friend says "teach me how to play craps," this is the page you send them. Every game on the site gets the same treatment.
Learn how to play
Step-by-step rules in plain English. What each bet means, what the dealer does, and what you actually need to know to sit down.
Understand the odds
Every bet has a house edge. We show you the real numbers, so you know which bets are smart and which ones only look exciting.
Practice for free
Built-in practice tables with play money. Make mistakes here, where they cost nothing, and get a hint when you're unsure.
The table games
Start with one. Master all three.
Looks scary, isn't
Craps
The loudest table in the casino. Most of the layout is bets you can ignore. Learn the handful that matter, and you're ready.
Easiest to start
Roulette
Pure chance, simple rules, lots of ways to bet. The big lesson: which wheel you sit at matters more than which numbers you pick.
Practice table coming soonOdds & tips
Odds & tips, game by game
Jump to the game you're playing.
The house edge is how much of every dollar you bet the casino expects to keep over time. Lower is better. Every bar below uses the same scale, so you can compare across games too.
Smart bets (under 2%)
Fair (2–6%)
Sucker bets (over 6%)
Blackjack
Your decisions change the odds more than in any other game.The odds
Basic strategy, 3:2 table~0.5%
Basic strategy, 6:5 table~1.9%
Insurance~7.4%
Assumes perfect basic strategy at a typical 6-deck table. Playing by gut feel costs noticeably more.
At the table
- Read the felt. "Blackjack pays 3 to 2" is what you want; skip tables that say 6 to 5.
- Buy in by laying cash on the felt between hands.
- Use hand signals: tap the table to hit, wave your hand flat to stand.
- At shoe games, don't touch your cards. The dealer handles them.
Playing online
- Check the game rules screen for the 3:2 payout before you play.
- Decline insurance, even when the game prompts you for it.
Craps
The best bet in the casino lives here, next to some of the worst.The odds
Free odds (behind your bet)0%
Don't pass / don't come1.36%
Pass line / come1.41%
Place 6 or 81.52%
Place 5 or 94.00%
Field (pays 2x on 2 and 12)5.56%
Place 4 or 106.67%
Hard 6 or hard 89.09%
Hard 4 or hard 1011.11%
Any seven16.67%
Standard rules. The odds bet can only be placed after you have a pass or come bet working.
At the table
- Buy in by setting cash on the layout between rolls and saying "change, please."
- When you shoot, throw with one hand and hit the far wall.
- Keep your hands out of the way when the dice are in the air.
Playing online
- Check how much odds the game lets you take behind your bet. More is better.
- Ignore the flashy one-roll bets in the middle of the layout.
Roulette
Which wheel you pick matters more than which numbers you play.The odds
French wheel, red/black with la partage1.35%
European wheel (single 0)2.70%
American wheel (0 and 00)5.26%
American five-number bet7.89%
On a given wheel, nearly every bet has the same edge. Red, a single number or a column all cost the same over time.
At the table
- You'll get chips in your own color. They only work at that table, so cash them in with the dealer before you leave.
- Stop betting when the dealer says "no more bets."
- Don't touch any chips while the marker is on the winning number.
Playing online
- Online casinos usually offer both wheels. Always choose European.
- If you see French roulette with "la partage," it's even better for red/black bets.
Trip prep
No matter which game you play
- Decide your budget before you leave, and think of it as the price of a night out.
- Check each table's placard for its minimum and maximum bet before you sit.
- Online casino games are legal in only some states. Check yours first, and try demo mode before depositing.
- Practice here first. Every game has a house edge, so practice helps you play smarter, not win guaranteed.
A learning site, the way they used to be.
Remember when gambling guides just taught you the game? That's this site. Clear rules, honest math, and a place to practice. We're starting with three table games and adding more as we go.
- Play money only, always
- Nothing to buy
- No sign-up needed
- More table games coming