How to Play Craps
Craps looks intimidating — a crowded table covered in bets with strange names, players shouting, chips flying. But underneath the chaos, craps has some of the best odds in any casino. You only need to understand three bets to play correctly.
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The Core Concept
One player (the shooter) rolls two dice. Everyone at the table bets on the outcome. You don't have to be the shooter — you can bet from the side.
The game revolves around the Pass Line bet. Everything else is either a variant of this or a side bet (most of which you should avoid).
The Pass Line Bet — How It Works
The Pass Line is the foundation of craps. Here's exactly what happens:
Come Out Roll (first roll):
• Roll 7 or 11 → Pass Line wins immediately (Natural)
• Roll 2, 3, or 12 → Pass Line loses immediately (Craps)
• Roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 → That number becomes the Point
After the Point is established:
• Shooter keeps rolling
• Roll the Point number again → Pass Line wins
• Roll a 7 → Pass Line loses (Seven Out)
• Any other number → keep rolling
The Pass Line has a house edge of 1.41%.
The Odds Bet — Zero House Edge
The Odds bet is unique in all of gambling: it has zero house edge. It pays true mathematical odds.
How to take it: After a Point is established, place chips directly behind your Pass Line bet. This is called 'taking odds'.
Odds bet payouts (true odds):
| Point Number | Odds Payout | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | Only 3 ways to roll 4/10 vs 6 ways to roll 7 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 4 ways to roll 5/9 vs 6 ways to roll 7 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 5 ways to roll 6/8 vs 6 ways to roll 7 |
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Combined House Edge with Odds
The more odds you take, the lower the combined house edge:
- Pass Line only: 1.41% house edge
- Pass Line + 1x Odds: 0.85%
- Pass Line + 2x Odds: 0.61%
- Pass Line + 3x Odds: 0.47%
- Pass Line + 10x Odds: 0.18%
More odds = lower house edge. Many casinos offer 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x odds. Always take the maximum allowed.
Don't Pass Bet — Betting Against the Shooter
The Don't Pass bet is the opposite of Pass Line. You're betting the shooter will lose.
- Come Out: 7 or 11 = lose. 2 or 3 = win. 12 = push (tie)
- After Point: 7 before Point = win. Point before 7 = lose
House edge: 1.36% (slightly lower than Pass Line). Socially awkward at live tables since you're rooting against everyone else — but perfectly legal.
You can also 'lay odds' behind Don't Pass, paying true odds in reverse.
Bets to Avoid Completely
| Bet | House Edge | Why It's Bad |
|---|---|---|
| Any Seven | 16.67% | Pays 4:1 but true odds are 5:1 |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | One-roll bet, terrible value |
| Hardways (4 or 10) | 11.11% | Rolling doubles is rare |
| Hardways (6 or 8) | 9.09% | Better than 4/10 but still bad |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 9.09% | Same as Place 6/8 but pays worse |
| Field Bet | 5.56% | Common bet but house edge too high |
| Horn Bet | 12.5% | Combination of bad bets |
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Simple Craps Strategy
Stick to this and you'll play with one of the lowest house edges in the casino:
1. Place a Pass Line bet (minimum table bet)
2. After a Point is established, take maximum Odds
3. Optionally: add a Come bet to cover more numbers
4. Never touch the centre of the table (proposition bets)
5. Set a session budget. Craps moves fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is craps hard to learn?
The table looks complex but you only need Pass Line + Odds to play intelligently. That's two bets. Everything else is optional.
What is the best bet in craps?
Pass Line + maximum Odds. With 10x odds, the house edge drops to 0.18% — one of the lowest in any casino game.
What does 'seven out' mean?
When the shooter rolls a 7 after a Point has been established, ending the round. Pass Line bets lose and the dice pass to the next shooter.
Can I play craps online?
Yes — online casinos offer both standard RNG craps and live dealer craps with real dice and real dealers streamed in HD.
What is the Come Out roll?
The first roll of a new round. It determines whether you win immediately (7 or 11), lose immediately (2, 3, 12), or establish a Point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10).
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