Craps strategy encompasses the mathematical principles, betting systems, and bankroll management techniques that help players minimize the house edge and make informed decisions at the table. While no strategy can overcome the mathematical advantage the casino holds, proper strategy significantly improves your odds and extends playing time.
Craps offers some of the best odds in the casino when played with proper strategy, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood games on the floor. The table layout displays dozens of betting options, but only a handful provide favorable mathematical conditions for players. Understanding which bets to make, how to leverage odds betting, and how to manage your bankroll separates informed players from those simply hoping for luck.
The foundation of any effective craps strategy rests on mathematical reality. Every bet on the craps table carries a house edge, which represents the casino's statistical advantage over time. While short-term variance can produce winning or losing sessions regardless of strategy, long-term results inevitably trend toward these mathematical expectations. Strategic play focuses on minimizing this edge through bet selection and proper odds utilization.
Before diving into specific betting systems, players must grasp the basic structure of craps and why certain bets offer better value than others. The game revolves around the shooter rolling two dice, with outcomes determining wins and losses across various betting areas. The most fundamental distinction separates right betting, where you wager with the shooter, from wrong betting, where you bet against the shooter.
The pass line bet serves as the most common starting point for right bettors. This wager wins immediately if the come-out roll shows 7 or 11, loses immediately on 2, 3, or 12, and establishes a point on any other number. Once a point is set, the pass line wins if that number repeats before a 7 appears. The house edge on pass line bets stands at 1.41 percent, making it one of the better options available.
Conversely, the don't pass bet takes the opposite position, winning when the shooter fails. It wins immediately on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and pushes on 12 during the come-out roll. After a point is established, don't pass wins if a 7 appears before the point repeats. This bet carries a slightly lower house edge of 1.36 percent, though many players avoid it due to the social dynamics of betting against the table.
Odds betting represents the single most important strategic element in craps because it is the only bet in the casino that pays true odds with zero house edge. After a point is established on a pass line or don't pass bet, players can place an additional odds bet behind their original wager. This supplemental bet pays at true mathematical odds rather than the slightly reduced payouts that create the house edge on other wagers.
For pass line odds, the payouts vary based on the point number. Points of 4 or 10 pay 2 to 1, points of 5 or 9 pay 3 to 2, and points of 6 or 8 pay 6 to 5. These payouts precisely match the probability of rolling the point before a 7 appears, creating a mathematically fair bet. Don't pass odds work inversely, with players laying odds at these same ratios to win a smaller amount.
Casinos limit odds bets as a multiple of the original pass line or don't pass wager. Common offerings include 3x, 4x, 5x odds, though some casinos provide 10x, 20x, or even 100x odds. The more odds you can take relative to your flat bet, the lower your overall house edge becomes. A pass line bet with 3x, 4x, 5x odds reduces the combined house edge to approximately 0.374 percent, while 10x odds drops it to around 0.184 percent.
Understanding how odds betting reduces the effective house edge requires examining the weighted average across your total action. The flat bet portion always carries its standard house edge, but the odds portion carries zero edge. As the odds bet grows larger relative to the flat bet, the zero-edge component dominates the calculation, pulling down the overall percentage.
For example, with a 10 dollar pass line bet and 50 dollars in odds at a 5x table, you have 60 dollars in total action. The 10 dollar flat bet contributes 1.41 percent house edge on that portion, while the 50 dollar odds bet contributes zero. The effective house edge across all 60 dollars equals approximately 0.24 percent, a dramatic improvement over the flat bet alone.
Come and don't come bets function identically to pass line and don't pass bets but can be placed after a point is established. These wagers allow players to have action on multiple numbers simultaneously, effectively creating additional point bets beyond the initial pass line. Each come bet establishes its own point on the next roll, then wins or loses based on whether that number or a 7 appears first.
Strategic players often place one or two come bets after a point is established, then back each with maximum odds. This approach creates multiple opportunities to win while maintaining the favorable house edge of the basic pass line strategy. The key is backing each come bet with full odds rather than simply placing additional flat bets, which would increase total action without improving the mathematical position.
Don't come bets work similarly for wrong bettors, establishing points that win when a 7 appears. Players can lay odds on don't come bets just as they would on don't pass, creating multiple positions that benefit from a seven-out. This strategy proves particularly effective during cold tables where shooters fail to hit points consistently, though it requires sufficient bankroll to weather the volatility of having multiple bets at risk.
Successful craps strategy begins with understanding the mathematical foundation of each bet available on the table. The house edge varies dramatically across different wagers, from as low as 1.36 percent on certain don't bets to over 16 percent on some proposition bets. Strategic players focus exclusively on bets with favorable odds while avoiding sucker bets that drain bankrolls quickly.
Implementation requires disciplined bankroll management, proper bet sizing relative to your total funds, and consistent application of low house edge betting patterns. Advanced players combine pass line or don't pass bets with maximum odds backing to achieve the lowest possible house advantage, often reducing the effective edge to below 0.5 percent when casinos offer high odds multiples.
Place bets allow players to wager directly on specific numbers, winning if that number appears before a 7. Unlike pass line or come bets, place bets can be made at any time and removed at will. The house edge varies significantly by number, with 6 and 8 offering the best value at 1.52 percent, 5 and 9 at 4 percent, and 4 and 10 at 6.67 percent.
Many players incorporate place bets on 6 and 8 into their strategy because these numbers appear frequently and carry a reasonable house edge. The optimal approach involves placing these numbers in multiples of 6 dollars to receive proper payouts of 7 to 6. Some strategies combine pass line bets with odds and place bets on 6 and 8, creating action across the most commonly rolled point numbers.
Buy bets function similarly to place bets but pay true odds in exchange for a 5 percent commission on the wager. For 4 and 10, buying the number instead of placing it reduces the house edge from 6.67 percent to approximately 4.76 percent when commission is charged on wins only. Some casinos charge commission upfront, which slightly increases the edge. Buy bets on 5, 6, 8, and 9 generally offer no advantage over place bets due to the commission structure.
Place betting fits into strategy when players want immediate action on specific numbers without waiting for a come bet to travel. The trade-off involves accepting a higher house edge in exchange for control and immediacy. Conservative strategies avoid place bets entirely, focusing exclusively on pass line or don't pass with odds, while more aggressive approaches incorporate place bets on 6 and 8 as a calculated compromise between edge and action.
Various betting systems attempt to manage wins and losses through structured bet sizing. The most common include positive progressions, where bets increase after wins, and negative progressions, where bets increase after losses. While these systems can affect short-term variance and playing experience, they cannot overcome the mathematical house edge over extended play.
Positive progression systems like the Parlay or Press strategy involve increasing bets after wins, attempting to capitalize on hot streaks while protecting initial bankroll. A common approach involves pressing place bets after each hit, letting winnings fund larger wagers. This method can produce substantial profits during favorable runs but returns to baseline quickly when the inevitable 7 appears.
Negative progression systems like the Martingale involve doubling bets after losses, theoretically recovering all previous losses plus a small profit when a win eventually occurs. These systems face two critical problems: table maximum limits prevent infinite doubling, and bankroll requirements grow exponentially. A modest losing streak can quickly exhaust available funds or hit betting limits, making negative progressions extremely risky despite their theoretical appeal.
Coverage systems attempt to win on most rolls by betting multiple numbers simultaneously. The Iron Cross places bets on 5, 6, and 8 along with a field bet, covering every number except 7. While this creates frequent small wins, the house edge on each component bet remains unchanged, and the inevitable 7 wipes out all positions simultaneously. Coverage systems increase action and volatility without improving mathematical expectation.
Proper bankroll management forms the foundation of sustainable craps play. A common guideline suggests having at least 10 times your average total bet for a session, and 30 to 50 times for a trip bankroll. This cushion helps weather normal variance without exhausting funds during temporary downswings. Players betting 15 dollars on pass line with 50 dollars in odds should bring at least 650 dollars for a session and 2000 to 3000 dollars for a weekend trip.
Session strategy involves setting win goals and loss limits before play begins. A reasonable approach might target a 30 to 50 percent profit goal while accepting a 50 percent loss limit. These boundaries prevent the common trap of winning early then giving back profits, or chasing losses beyond reasonable limits. Discipline to walk away at predetermined points separates recreational players who occasionally profit from those who inevitably return all winnings to the casino.
Bet sizing should remain consistent with bankroll rather than chasing losses or pressing luck. Increasing bets after losses accelerates bankroll depletion, while increasing after wins can protect profits if done systematically. A balanced approach maintains base bet levels appropriate to total bankroll, with any increases funded by accumulated winnings rather than original stake.
Certain craps bets carry such unfavorable house edges that no strategic player should consider them. Proposition bets in the center of the table, including any 7, any craps, horn bets, and hardways, feature house edges ranging from 9 to 16 percent. These bets exist primarily to attract uninformed players with large payouts that inadequately compensate for their low probability.
The Big 6 and Big 8 bets pay even money when these numbers appear before a 7, carrying a 9.09 percent house edge. These bets are strictly inferior to placing 6 or 8, which pay 7 to 6 on the same outcome for a house edge of only 1.52 percent. No rational strategy includes Big 6 or Big 8 when the superior place bet option exists.
Field bets win on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, typically paying double on 2 and 12. Despite covering seven numbers, the field carries a house edge of 5.56 percent in most casinos, or 2.78 percent when one of the doubles pays triple. While not as egregious as proposition bets, the field offers poor value compared to pass line, don't pass, come, and don't come options.
Effective craps strategy centers on mathematical reality rather than superstition or betting systems. The core approach involves making only the lowest house edge bets, backing them with maximum odds, and managing bankroll to sustain normal variance. Pass line or don't pass bets with full odds, supplemented by come or don't come bets similarly backed, provide the optimal mathematical position available to players.
No strategy can guarantee winning sessions or overcome the house edge over time, but proper play significantly improves your position compared to uninformed betting. The difference between a player making pass line bets with 10x odds and one scattering chips across proposition bets amounts to hundreds or thousands of dollars over extended play. Understanding the mathematics, maintaining discipline, and focusing on favorable bets transforms craps from a game of pure chance into one where informed decisions meaningfully impact results.
Success at craps requires accepting that the house maintains an edge on nearly every bet, then working to minimize that edge through optimal play. Combined with realistic bankroll management and the discipline to walk away at appropriate times, this approach provides the best possible framework for enjoying craps while giving yourself a legitimate chance at profitable sessions.
The best bet in craps is the don't pass line with maximum odds, which carries a house edge of approximately 1.36 percent on the flat bet and zero percent on the odds portion. For players who prefer betting with the shooter, pass line with maximum odds is nearly equivalent at 1.41 percent on the flat bet.
You should always bet the maximum odds allowed by the casino, as odds bets carry zero house edge and reduce your overall effective house edge significantly. If bankroll constraints prevent maximum odds, bet as much as you can comfortably afford while maintaining proper session bankroll requirements.
Betting systems cannot overcome the mathematical house edge in craps. While progression systems may affect short-term variance and playing experience, they do not change the expected value of your bets over time. Proper bet selection matters far more than any betting system.
Place betting 6 and 8 can be incorporated into strategy as these bets carry a relatively low house edge of 1.52 percent. However, they are mathematically inferior to come bets with odds. Place bets on 6 and 8 make sense when you want immediate action on these frequently rolled numbers without waiting for a come bet to travel.
Wrong betting carries a slightly lower house edge than right betting, with don't pass at 1.36 percent versus pass line at 1.41 percent. The difference is minimal and most players choose based on personal preference and social comfort rather than this small mathematical advantage.
A conservative guideline suggests 10 times your average total bet for a single session and 30 to 50 times for a trip bankroll. For example, if you bet 10 dollars on pass line with 50 dollars in odds, bring at least 600 dollars for a session and 1800 to 3000 dollars for a weekend trip.
Play craps at reputable online casinos offering fair odds and secure gaming environments.
Deep dive into odds betting mechanics, payout calculations, and how to maximize this zero house edge opportunity to reduce overall casino advantage to minimal levels.
Comprehensive guide to sizing your bankroll appropriately, setting session limits, managing variance, and protecting profits through disciplined money management principles.
Major casino resort announces expansion of odds betting limits from 10x to 20x, allowing strategic players to reduce effective house edge below 0.1 percent.
New statistical study validates that pass line with maximum odds combined with selective come betting produces lowest long-term house edge for recreational players.
Leading online casinos introduce 100x odds options on digital craps tables, providing unprecedented opportunities for advantage-focused players to minimize house edge.