Craps Strategy Guide

 

Introduction

Craps is an exciting and fast-paced dice game played in casinos. Players wager money against the casino on the outcome of one roll, or a series of rolls of two dice. Craps can seem intimidating because of the variety of bets and the unique table layout, but understanding the fundamentals can make the game much more approachable.

 

The Basics of Craps

The Table: Craps is played on a specially-designed table that features a betting layout where players can place their wagers. The layout has sections for different types of bets, like the Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, Don’t Come, and Field, as well as individual numbers.

The Players: In Craps, one player – the “shooter” – rolls the dice. All other players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls. Everyone is betting against the house.

The Gameplay: A round of Craps begins with the come-out roll, which is the shooter’s first roll. If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line bets lose. Any other number establishes the “point.” After a point is established, the objective is to roll the point again before rolling a 7.

 

Understanding Bets

Pass Line Bet: This is the most basic bet in Craps. It’s placed before the come-out roll and wins if the come-out roll is a 7 or 11.

Don’t Pass Bet: This is essentially the opposite of the Pass Line Bet. It wins if the come-out roll is a 2 or 3, and ties if the roll is a 12.

Come Bet: This bet is like a Pass Line Bet, but it’s made after a point has been established. It wins if the next roll is a 7 or 11.

Don’t Come Bet: This bet is like a Don’t Pass Bet, but it’s made after a point is established. It wins if the next roll is a 2 or 3, and ties if the roll is a 12.

Other Bets: These include bets on specific outcomes like a particular number will be rolled before a 7, or that a 7 will be rolled next. Some of these bets have a high house edge and should generally be avoided.

  1. Place Bets:

Place bets allow you to bet on a specific number being rolled before a 7. You can make a place bet on any point number: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. If your chosen number is rolled before a 7, you win.

  1. Field Bets:

Field bets are one-roll bets that can be made at any time. They win if the next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 (some casinos also include 5). They lose if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled. Field bets offer even money unless a 2 or 12 is rolled, which typically pays 2:1 or 3:1 depending on the casino’s rules.

  1. Proposition Bets:

Proposition bets, or prop bets, are one-roll bets placed in the center of the table. They have high payouts but also high house edges. Some examples of prop bets include:

  • Any 7: Wins if a 7 is rolled.
  • Any Craps: Wins if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled.
  • Ace Deuce: Wins if a 3 is rolled.
  • Aces or Boxcars: Wins if a 2 or 12 is rolled.
  1. Big 6 and Big 8 Bets:

Big 6 and Big 8 bets are bets that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. They’re typically not recommended because they pay even money while a place bet on 6 or 8 pays 7:6.

  1. Hardways:

A hardway bet is a bet that a particular pair will be rolled before a 7 or before that number is rolled in any other combination. For example, a Hardway bet on 8 wins if a 4-4 is rolled before a 7 or before an 8 is rolled in any other combination (such as 2-6 or 3-5).

As you can see, there are many bets in craps, each with its own risk and potential reward. It’s essential to understand how each one works before you decide to place it. Additionally, the house edge for some of these bets can be high, so it’s important to choose your bets wisely.

 

Craps Odds and House Edge

Understanding the house edge and odds in Craps is essential to building a good betting strategy. Here’s a breakdown of the house edge and odds for some common craps bets:

  1. Pass Line/Come Bets: These bets have a house edge of 1.41%. This means that for every $100 wagered, you can expect to lose about $1.41 over the long run. These bets pay even money, so the odds are 1:1.
  2. Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Bets: These bets have a slightly lower house edge of 1.36%. These bets also pay even money.
  3. Odds Bets: These bets have no house edge, making them some of the best bets in the casino. The payout depends on the number bet on:
    • 2:1 on points of 4 and 10.
    • 3:2 on points of 5 and 9.
    • 6:5 on points of 6 and 8.
  4. Place Bets: The house edge on place bets depends on the number you’re betting on:
    • 6.67% on 4 or 10. The payout is 9:5.
    • 4.00% on 5 or 9. The payout is 7:5.
    • 1.52% on 6 or 8. The payout is 7:6.
  5. Field Bets: These bets have a house edge of 5.56% if the payout on 12 is 2:1, or 2.78% if the payout on 12 is 3:1. Field bets pay even money on 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, and double (or triple) on 2 or 12.
  6. Proposition Bets: These bets have very high house edges:
    • Any 7: House edge of 16.67%. The payout is 4:1.
    • Any Craps: House edge of 11.11%. The payout is 7:1.
    • 2 Craps or 12 Craps: House edge of 13.89%. The payout is 30:1.
  7. Hardway bets: Hardways are among the most difficult bets to win in craps, hence their name, but they do offer large payouts if you can roll a hard number before rolling a 7 or that number in any other combination. Here’s the breakdown for each Hardway bet:
    1. Hard 4 or Hard 10: These bets win if a 2-2 (Hard 4) or 5-5 (Hard 10) is rolled before a 7 or any other combination of 4 or 10. The payout is 7:1, and the house edge is quite high at 11.1%.
    2. Hard 6 or Hard 8: These bets win if a 3-3 (Hard 6) or 4-4 (Hard 8) is rolled before a 7 or any other combination of 6 or 8. The payout is 9:1, and the house edge is slightly lower but still high at 9.09%.

The odds represent the likelihood of an event happening while the house edge represents the advantage that the casino has over the players. The lower the house edge, the better the bet is for the player. The best strategy in Craps is to make the bets with the lowest house edge, and then take the odds, as these are the only bets in the casino that have no house edge.

 

Basic Craps Strategy

The Pass Line Bet: Your first bet in craps will most likely be a pass line bet. This is the most fundamental bet in craps, and it’s made before the come out roll (the first roll in a round of craps). If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, you win the bet. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number establishes the “point” that needs to be rolled again before a 7 for you to win.

The Don’t Pass Bet: This is the opposite of the pass line bet. You’re betting that the shooter will “craps out” (rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll) or fails to make their point before rolling a 7. This bet can be a bit unpopular since you’re betting against the shooter and other players, but it has a slightly lower house edge than the pass line bet.

The Come Bet: The come bet is similar to the pass line bet but can be made after a point has been established. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, you win. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number becomes your own point, separate from the pass line point, and your come bet wins if your point is rolled before a 7.

The Don’t Come Bet: Like the don’t pass bet, the don’t come bet is the opposite of the come bet. It wins if a 2 or 3 is rolled (12 is usually a tie), and loses if a 7 or 11 is rolled. Any other number becomes your point, and you win if a 7 is rolled before your point.

Odds Bets: After a point has been established, you can make an additional bet called an “odds bet.” This bet is unique because it’s the only bet in the casino with no house edge. It’s a bet that the shooter will make their point, and it pays at true odds. The catch is that you can only make an odds bet after a pass, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet. The pass/don’t pass and come/don’t come bets have a small house edge, but adding the odds bet can lower the overall house edge.

Place Bets: A place bet is a bet that a particular number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7. The payouts for place bets are lower than the true odds, so they have a higher house edge than the bets above. However, they can still be a good option if you have a strong feeling that a particular number will be rolled.

Avoid Proposition Bets: Proposition bets are bets on a specific outcome of the next roll. While they offer high payouts, they also have a high house edge and are generally not recommended for players trying to maximize their chances of winning.

Buy bets: Buy bets are a type of bet in Craps that can be made on a specific point number: the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Similar to a place bet, you win if the number you placed your bet on is rolled before a 7.

However, buy bets differ in terms of their payouts. While place bets pay less than the true odds, buy bets pay out at true odds, making them potentially more profitable.

For example, the true odds of rolling a 4 or 10 (before a 7) are 2:1. With a place bet, the casino might pay you at 9:5. With a buy bet, however, the casino would pay you at the true odds of 2:1.

The catch with buy bets is that you must pay a commission to the house to get the true odds. This commission is usually 5% of the bet and is typically taken when the bet is made. Some casinos only take the commission on winning bets. Despite the commission, buy bets can still have a lower house edge than place bets on the same numbers.

Keep in mind that the decision between place and buy bets depends on the specific rules of the casino. In some cases, the commission on buy bets can make them less attractive than place bets. It’s also worth noting that while buy and place bets have a lower house edge than some other craps bets, the best strategy for minimizing the house edge is usually to stick with pass/don’t pass and come/don’t come bets, especially when you can back them up with odds bets.

 

Advanced Strategies

All but One Betting Strategy:

  1. Start with a Pass Line Bet: At the beginning of a new round, you’ll first make a pass line bet. This is the most fundamental bet in craps and it’s necessary to establish a point.
  2. Wait for the Point to be Established: After the come-out roll, if the shooter doesn’t roll a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12, the number rolled becomes the point.
  3. Place or Buy Bets on Other Numbers: After the point is established, you’ll place or buy bets on all the other point numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10) except for the current point. Whether you choose to place or buy depends on the rules of the casino and the specific number. As a general rule, buying the 4 and 10 and placing the 5, 6, 8, and 9 is the best option if the casino only takes a commission on winning buy bets.

The goal of this strategy is to have a bet on every possible point number except for the one that the shooter is trying to roll. That way, you’ll win on each roll that results in a point number until the shooter rolls a 7, which ends the round. The downside is that if the shooter rolls the point before rolling a 7, you don’t win anything on that roll.

This strategy can make the game more exciting because you have a stake in a wider range of outcomes. However, it’s important to remember that every bet you make has a house edge, and making multiple bets simply increases your exposure to that edge. The more bets you make, the more the house edge is working against you.

It’s also worth noting that this strategy requires a larger bankroll than simpler strategies like the pass line bet or the come bet, as you’re making multiple bets of potentially large amounts. As always, make sure to gamble responsibly and only bet amounts that you’re comfortable with.

One way you can modify it is after you win a bet on a number, take half the winnings and press the bet on the same number. If that number hits again, you continue to add half the last bet to it. If the point is hit before a 7, you can take back all the extra bets and go back to your default bet size. If the shooter is having a good run, you can really increase your winnings this way.

Iron Cross Strategy:

The Iron Cross strategy uses a combination of place and field bets to cover every possible roll except for 7. Here’s how it works:

  1. Wait for a Point to be Established: The Iron Cross strategy begins after a point has been established.
  2. Place Bets on 5, 6, and 8: You place bets on the numbers 5, 6, and 8. These are the most frequently rolled numbers after 7.
  3. Make a Field Bet: In addition to the place bets, you also make a field bet, which covers the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

With this strategy, any roll of the dice (except for a 7) will result in a win. The downside is that when a 7 is rolled, all bets lose.

5-Count Strategy:

The 5-Count strategy is not a betting system, but a method for choosing which shooters to bet on. The idea is to avoid betting on random rollers and only bet on shooters who are statistically likely to have a long roll. Here’s how it works:

  1. Wait for a New Shooter: The count starts over each time a new shooter takes the dice.
  2. Count to Five: For each roll, you count:
    • Count 1: The shooter’s first roll (only if it’s not a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12)
    • Count 2-3: The next two rolls (regardless of the outcome)
    • Count 4-5: The next two rolls that are not 7

After reaching a 5-count, you can begin making bets on that shooter. The idea is to limit your betting to shooters who are likely to roll the dice a lot before hitting a 7.

3-Point Molly Strategy:

The 3-Point Molly strategy is designed to protect your pass line bet with come bets, backed by free odds bets. The goal is to always have three points (numbers) established that are working for you on each round. Here’s how the strategy works:

  1. Start with a Pass Line Bet: You start the game by placing a bet on the pass line.
  2. Wait for the Point to be Established: The shooter rolls the dice, and if the come-out roll is 7 or 11, you win your pass line bet. If it’s 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number becomes the point.
  3. Make a Come Bet: Once the point is established, you place a bet on the come. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, you win your come bet. If it’s a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number that is rolled moves your come bet to that number. This number is a secondary point for you.
  4. Back Up Your Come Bet with an Odds Bet: If a point number is rolled, you then make an additional bet behind the come. This is called “taking odds” and it’s the only bet in the casino with no house edge.
  5. Repeat for Third Point: After your first come bet is established and backed with odds, you place another come bet, followed by another odds bet when the second come point is established. This leaves you with three points working: your pass line point and two come points.
  6. Keep Three Numbers Working: You always want to have three numbers working for you, so if one of your points is hit, you make another come bet to replace it. Keep repeating this process until the shooter rolls a 7 or fails to make a point.

The advantage of the 3-Point Molly strategy is that it protects your pass line bet with two come bets, backed up with odds. This can potentially lead to multiple wins on a single roll. However, it can also mean larger losses if the shooter rolls a 7 early in the round, since you lose all your bets at once.

This strategy requires a decent bankroll, as you’ll need to fund multiple bets at once.

Betting Systems: The Martingale and Paroli systems are two popular betting strategies that some Craps players use. The Martingale system involves doubling your bet after every loss, while the Paroli system involves doubling your bet after every win. I don’t recommend these, especially the Martingale system unless you have a large bankroll and are willing to risk it.

 

Craps Etiquette

Handling the Dice: When you’re the shooter, you should only handle the dice with one hand and avoid taking the dice past the edge of the table.

Placing Bets: Most bets can be placed yourself, but some must be placed by the dealer. Always make sure to place your bets before the shooter has the dice.

Interactions: Be respectful to the dealer and other players, avoid excessive celebration, and don’t criticize other players’ bets.

 

Conclusion

Understanding the rules and strategy of Craps can significantly improve your odds and enhance your enjoyment of the game. However, it’s important to remember that Craps, like all casino games, has a built-in house edge. Always gamble responsibly and within your means.

 

FAQs

1. What is Craps?

  • Answer: Craps is a popular dice game typically played in casinos. Players bet on the outcomes of the roll of two dice. It’s known for its excitement and community spirit, with players often betting together against the house.

2. How do you play Craps?

  • Answer: In Craps, one player, the “shooter,” rolls the dice, and players bet on the outcomes. The first roll, called the ‘come-out roll,’ determines how the round proceeds. Players can bet on various outcomes and numbers.

3. What are the basic rules of Craps?

  • Answer: The shooter’s first roll, the come-out roll, aims to establish a point (if they roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). Players bet on whether the shooter will successfully roll the point again before rolling a 7. There are also various side bets available.

4. What are the best bets to make in Craps?

  • Answer: The ‘Pass Line’ and ‘Don’t Pass Line’ bets are commonly considered the best bets due to their low house edge. ‘Come’ and ‘Don’t Come’ bets are also good options.

5. What does it mean to ‘shoot craps’?

  • Answer: ‘Shooting craps’ is a colloquial term for playing the game of Craps. It refers to the act of rolling the dice, which is the central component of the game.

6. Can you explain what a ‘hardway’ bet is in Craps?

  • Answer: A hardway bet is a wager that a hard number (4, 6, 8, or 10) will be rolled as a pair (2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5) before it is rolled in any other combination or before a 7 is rolled.

7. What is the ‘house edge’ in Craps?

  • Answer: The house edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over the players. It varies between bets in Craps, with the Pass Line bet typically having one of the lowest house edges at around 1.41%.

8. Is there a strategy to win at Craps?

  • Answer: While there is no guaranteed strategy to win at Craps, players can improve their chances by sticking to bets with a lower house edge, managing their bankroll wisely, and understanding the odds of each bet.

9. Are online Craps games fair?

  • Answer: Yes, online Craps games at reputable casinos use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to ensure fair and random outcomes. It’s important to play at licensed and regulated online casinos.

10. What is the difference between ‘street craps’ and casino craps?

  • Answer: Street craps is a more informal version of the game, typically played without a table and with simpler betting options. Casino craps is played at a craps table with a more extensive range of bets.