What Is Craps?
Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcome of one roll or a series of rolls. It has a reputation for being complicated, but the core game is simple. Two bets, Pass Line and Free Odds, give you one of the lowest house edges in the entire casino. Everything else on the table is optional, and most of it is a bad deal.
The shooter throws two dice. Everyone at the table bets on what happens. That is the whole game. The complexity comes from the number of betting options available, not from the mechanics of play.
Craps Table Trainer
Click any betting area on the table to place your bet, then hit Roll. Pass Line with Free Odds is always the correct play.
How a Round of Craps Works
The Come-Out Roll
Every round starts with a come-out roll. Before this roll, you place your bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
On the come-out roll, Pass Line bets win immediately on a 7 or 11, and lose immediately on a 2, 3, or 12 (called craps). Don’t Pass bets are the mirror image: they lose on 7 or 11, win on 2 or 3, and push on 12. Any other number rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the Point.
The Point Phase
Once the Point is established, the dealer places a puck on that number. The shooter now rolls repeatedly until one of two things happens. If the Point number is rolled again before a 7, Pass Line bets win. If a 7 is rolled before the Point, Pass Line bets lose and the shooter’s turn ends. This is called sevening out.
The round is over either way, and the next come-out roll begins.
Dice Combinations and Probabilities
There are 36 possible outcomes when rolling two six-sided dice. Understanding the distribution is fundamental to understanding every bet on the table.
| Total | Ways to Roll | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1-1 | 2.78% |
| 3 | 2 | 1-2, 2-1 | 5.56% |
| 4 | 3 | 1-3, 2-2, 3-1 | 8.33% |
| 5 | 4 | 1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1 | 11.11% |
| 6 | 5 | 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, 5-1 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 | 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1 | 16.67% |
| 8 | 5 | 2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, 6-2 | 13.89% |
| 9 | 4 | 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 6-3 | 11.11% |
| 10 | 3 | 4-6, 5-5, 6-4 | 8.33% |
| 11 | 2 | 5-6, 6-5 | 5.56% |
| 12 | 1 | 6-6 | 2.78% |
Seven is the most frequently rolled number, which is why it ends the point phase. It will appear on average once every six rolls.
Every Craps Bet Explained
Pass Line
The standard bet in craps. Win on 7 or 11 on the come-out. Lose on 2, 3, or 12. If a point is established, win by rolling the point before a 7. House edge: 1.41%. This is where most of your money should go.
Don’t Pass Line
The opposite of the Pass Line. Wins when the shooter loses, loses when the shooter wins, pushes on 12. Slightly lower house edge at 1.36%, but you are betting against the shooter which makes it socially unpopular at live tables. Mathematically the better bet.
Free Odds (Pass Line Odds)
The most important bet in craps. After a point is established, you can place an additional bet behind your Pass Line wager called the Odds bet. It pays at true odds with zero house edge. This is one of the only bets in any casino game with no built-in advantage for the house.
| Point Number | True Odds | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 against | 2:1 |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 against | 3:2 |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 against | 6:5 |
Most casinos allow 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x odds on top of the Pass Line bet. Some offer 10x or even 100x. Always take the maximum odds allowed. It does not eliminate the house edge on the Pass Line bet, but it dilutes it significantly when combined. At 3-4-5x odds, the combined edge drops to around 0.37%.
Don’t Pass Odds (Laying Odds)
The equivalent of Free Odds on the Don’t Pass side. You lay odds against the point being rolled before a 7. Also zero house edge. The payout is reversed: you bet more to win less, since you are on the favored side of the bet.
Come Bet
Works exactly like the Pass Line bet, but placed after the come-out roll. The next roll becomes your personal come-out roll. Wins on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and establishes its own point on any other number. You can take odds on Come bets just like Pass Line bets. House edge: 1.41%.
Don’t Come Bet
The mirror of the Come bet, placed after the come-out roll, operating under Don’t Pass rules. House edge: 1.36%.
Place Bets
Bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7, without going through the come-out process. Paid at slightly reduced odds, which is where the house edge comes from.
| Number | True Odds | Place Pays | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
Place bets on 6 and 8 are acceptable with a 1.52% edge. Place bets on 5, 9, 4, and 10 are considerably worse and should generally be skipped in favor of Come bets with odds.
Field Bet
A one-roll bet that the next number will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Pays even money on most numbers, 2:1 on 2 and 12 (some casinos pay 3:1 on 12). House edge: 2.78% to 5.56% depending on the table rules. Not the worst bet on the table but not worth your money when better options exist.
Big 6 and Big 8
A bet that 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. Pays even money. This is a straight-up sucker bet. The Place bet on 6 or 8 wins the exact same thing and pays 7:6 instead of even money. Never bet Big 6 or Big 8 when you can Place the 6 or 8 instead.
Proposition Bets
One-roll bets in the center of the table managed by the stickman. High payouts, very high house edges. Avoid all of them.
| Bet | Pays | True Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 5:1 | 16.67% |
| Any Craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% |
| Yo (11) | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% |
| Snake Eyes (2) | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% |
| Boxcars (12) | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% |
| Hard 4 or Hard 10 | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% |
| Hard 6 or Hard 8 | 9:1 | 10:1 | 9.09% |
These bets exist to generate revenue. The house edge on proposition bets ranges from 9% to nearly 17%. None of them are worth placing.
Craps Strategy
There is no system that overcomes the house edge in craps. The dice have no memory. Previous rolls have zero effect on future rolls. Any strategy based on streaks, patterns, or “due” numbers is mathematically unsound.
What you can control is which bets you make. The correct approach is straightforward.
Start with Pass Line or Don’t Pass. Both carry roughly 1.4% house edge. Either is fine. Pick one and stay consistent.
Always take maximum Free Odds. This is the single most impactful decision you can make at the craps table. The Odds bet costs you nothing in expected value terms and significantly dilutes the overall edge of your combined position. If the table offers 5x odds, take 5x odds every time a point is established.
Add Come bets with odds if you want more action. Two or three Come bets with maximum odds running simultaneously is the optimal way to play if you want multiple numbers working. It keeps you on the best bets without moving into worse territory.
Ignore everything else. Proposition bets, Hardways, Field bets, and Big 6 and Big 8 all carry house edges that are materially higher than the core bets. The stickman will encourage you toward the center of the table. That is their job. Yours is to stay on the Pass Line with Odds.
Dice Setting and Controlled Shooting
Some players attempt to set the dice in a specific orientation before throwing to influence which faces land up. The theory is that reducing the randomness of the throw reduces the frequency of certain outcomes, particularly sevens.
Casino countermeasures make this extremely difficult. The dice must be thrown hard enough to hit the back wall, which disrupts any controlled trajectory. Whether skilled controlled shooting produces a measurable edge is genuinely debated. There are players with documented long rolls, but distinguishing skill from variance in a small sample of throws is nearly impossible. Treat it as an interesting concept rather than a reliable strategy.
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Craps Glossary
Come-Out Roll The first roll of a new round. Determines an immediate win or loss, or establishes the point.
Point The number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established on the come-out roll that the shooter must repeat before rolling a 7 for Pass Line bets to win.
Pass Line The primary bet in craps. Wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and wins if the point is rolled before a 7. House edge 1.41%.
Don’t Pass Line The opposite of the Pass Line. Betting against the shooter. House edge 1.36%.
Free Odds An additional bet placed behind the Pass Line after the point is established. Pays at true odds with zero house edge.
Come Bet Functions like a Pass Line bet placed after the come-out roll. Establishes its own point on the next roll.
Sevening Out When the shooter rolls a 7 during the point phase. Pass Line bets lose and the dice move to the next shooter.
Natural A come-out roll of 7 or 11. An immediate win for Pass Line bettors.
Craps A come-out roll of 2, 3, or 12. An immediate loss for Pass Line bettors.
Snake Eyes A roll of 2 (both dice showing 1). Also called Aces.
Boxcars A roll of 12 (both dice showing 6).
Hardway Rolling a number as a matching pair (e.g., 4-4 for Hard 8). Hardway bets lose on a 7 or a non-pair version of the number.
Stickman The casino dealer who controls the dice with a stick, announces results, and manages proposition bets in the center of the table.
Shooter The player currently throwing the dice.
Place Bet A bet that a specific number will be rolled before a 7, placed directly without going through the come-out process. Pays at slightly reduced odds.
Proposition Bets One-roll bets in the center of the table on specific outcomes. High payouts and very high house edges. Generally not worth placing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet in craps?
Pass Line with maximum Free Odds is the best bet available. The Pass Line itself carries a 1.41% house edge. The Odds bet behind it carries zero edge. At 3-4-5x odds, the combined house edge on your total money at risk drops to around 0.37%, which is lower than any other table game bet except certain video poker hands.
What bets should I avoid in craps?
Avoid all proposition bets (Any 7, Any Craps, Hardways, Yo, Horn), Big 6 and Big 8, and Place bets on 4, 5, 9, and 10. Their house edges range from 4% to nearly 17%. The Field bet is borderline at best. Stick to Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come, and Free Odds. Everything else costs you significantly more per dollar wagered.
What does sevening out mean?
When the shooter rolls a 7 during the point phase, before rolling the point number again, it is called sevening out. Pass Line bets lose, Don’t Pass bets win, and the dice pass to the next shooter. It does not mean the shooter did anything wrong. Seven is simply the most probable outcome on any given roll.
What is the come-out roll?
The come-out roll is the first roll of a new round. It determines whether the round ends immediately (on a 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12) or establishes a point number for the remainder of the round. All Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets must be placed before the come-out roll.
Can you win consistently at craps?
No system or strategy produces a long-term edge over the house in craps. The dice are independent on every throw. The best you can do is minimize the house edge by staying on the core bets with maximum Free Odds, which keeps the combined edge under 0.5%. Over a short session anything can happen, but the math does not change.
What is a hardway bet?
A hardway bet wins if a specific number (4, 6, 8, or 10) is rolled as a matching pair (2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5) before either a 7 or a non-pair version of that number is rolled. For example, Hard 6 wins only on 3-3, not on 1-5 or 2-4. Hardway bets carry house edges of 9% to 11% and are among the better-paying but still poor-value proposition bets.
Is online craps fair?
At licensed casinos, yes. RNG craps games are certified by independent auditing labs to confirm that each dice outcome is genuinely random and matches the stated probability distribution. Live dealer craps uses real dice thrown on camera. Always play at licensed, regulated operators where the math is independently verified.
