2. The Good from the Bad Bets
The vast number of bets at the craps table can be confusing. However, the way to
come out a craps winner is to stick to bets with low house advantages.
These bets have a maximum casino advantage of 1.4%, and are therefore
"good bets:"
- Pass Line
Payoff Odds -
1 to 1
- Don’t Pass Line
Payoff Odds -
1 to 1
- Come
Payoff Odds -
1 to 1
- Don’t Come
Payoff Odds -
1 to 1
- Place Win 6 or 8
Payoff Odds -
1 to 1
So now take a look at the other odds
Pass Line, Come Odds
2 to 1 on 4 or 10
3 to 2 on 5 or 9
6 to 5 on 6 or 8
Don't Pass Line, Don't Come Odds
1 to 2 on 4 or 10
2 to 3 on 5 or 9
5 to 6 on 6 or 8
Field
1 to 1 on 3,4,9,10, or 11
2 to 1 on 2 or 12
Place Win
9 to 5 on 4 or 10
7 to 5 on 5 or 9
7 to 6 on 6 or 8
Place Lose
5 to 11 on 4 or 10
5 to 8 on 5 or 9
4 to 5 on 6 or 8
Any 7
4 to 1
Any 11
15 to 1
Any Craps
7 to 1
Horn
30 to 1 on 2 or 12
15 to 1 on 3 or 11
Hardway
7 to 1 on 4 or 10
9 to 1 on 6 or 8
The Odds Chart
The chart below is the math behind craps. Notice that 7 is the most
likely number to be rolled at any given time. The last column
shows the true odds of rolling the point numbers (4,5,6,8,9,10) before a
7.
| Number |
Possible
combinations
of two dice |
Chance
of rolling,
single roll |
Odds
of rolling before a 7 (after point is established) |
| 2 |
1-1 |
1 in 36 |
n/a |
| 3 |
1-2
2-1 |
1 in 18 |
n/a |
| 4 |
1-3
2-2 3-1 |
1 in 12 |
2 to 1 |
| 5 |
1-4
2-3 3-2 4-1 |
1 in 9 |
3 to 2 |
| 6 |
1-5
2-4 3-3 4-2 5-1 |
1 in 7.2 |
6 to 5 |
| 7 |
1-6
2-5 3-4 4-3 5-2 6-1 |
1 in 6 |
n/a |
| 8 |
2-6
3-5 4-4 5-3 6-2 |
1 in 7.2 |
6 to 5 |
| 9 |
3-6
4-5 5-4 6-3 |
1 in 9 |
3 to 2 |
| 10 |
4-6
5-5 6-4 |
1 in 12 |
2 to 1 |
| 11 |
5-6
6-5 |
1 in 18 |
n/a |
| 12 |
6-6 |
1 in 36 |
n/a |
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3. Beginner Strategies
Start on the Pass Line
A good beginner strategy is to start with a minimum pass line bet,
backed by single odds.
If the bets win, place a new pass line
bet with double odds. Keep the amount of your original pass line bet
(flat bet) the same, but increase the odds bet.
If those bets win, go for triple odds.
Don’t increase your minimum flat bet
on the pass line until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of
your previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum flat bet.
Add a Come
Bet When you are comfortable playing the pass line, you can add a
minimum come bet with single odds. If you win, double and then triple
your come odds.
Don’t increase your minimum come bet
(flat bet) until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of your
previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum bet.
Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come
Bets
When you have gained experience by placing pass line and come bets, you
can try don’t pass line and don’t come bets with odds.
Use the same betting strategy: wager
the minimum bet with steadily increasing odds. After a win, you can
increase your next flat bet by 50%. After a loss, you can wager a
minimum flat bet.
Taking Odds vs. Laying Odds
You "take" odds on a pass line or come bet, but
"lay" odds on a don’t pass line or don’t come bet. Laying
odds on don’t bets means that you have to wager more to win less since
don’t betters have an advantage once the point has been established.
Place Win on 6 or 8
Although the house advantage is relatively low on this bet, you should
really only consider it when you are winning your pass line (or don’t
pass line) and come (or don’t come) bets with odds, and the number 6
or 8 is not already covered by your bets.
Remember easy into craps, get comfortable and have fun.
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