The 3-4-5 rule is a common guideline used in many casinos to simplify the odds. You can bet 3x odds if the point is 4 or 10, 4x odds if the point is 5 or 9, and 5x odds if the point is 6 or 8. This system keeps payouts even and easy to calculate.
Craps traces its roots back to an old English game called “Hazard,” where players bet on the outcome of dice rolls. As the roll is random, no system can guarantee a win. However, understanding the odds and knowing which bets give the best chance of success can significantly reduce the house edge.
This craps strategies guide will walk you through basic to advanced techniques for beating the odds and becoming more profitable.
The craps table has a large felt surface marked with several sections for different types of bets. Since craps is a highly popular game, the table is quite large and both sides have a betting section of their own, allowing more players to join in.
The betting area is divided into these sections:
The game starts with a buy-in where players place their bets on the table. This is the time to decide on the pass or don’t pass line. Once all the bets are placed, the shooter rolls the come-out roll.
This will have four outcomes:
There are several types of bets suitable for both beginners and advanced players:
These are simple bets where you have to predict whether the shooter will roll a 7 or 11 in case of pass line, or do the opposite in case of don’t pass line bets.
These bets are made after the point is established. Come bet wins if the point is rolled before rolling a 7. This bet loses if 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. Don’t come bet wins if craps (2 or 3) is rolled.
This is an additional bet that players can take to wager that the point will be rolled before a 7. These are the most common odds bet on the craps table.
After the point is established, players can take place bets and bet that a specific number – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 – will be rolled next.
Bets on a big field of numbers. Unlike the place bet, which bets on a particular number, field bets win if the next number rolled is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Players lose the bet on the remaining numbers. Field bet pays even money on all numbers except 2 and 12. The odds for these two numbers vary depending on the casino, but generally, 2 pays 2 to 1, and 12 pays 3 to 1.
Bet that the dice will roll a double. For example, if you bet on a hard 6. This bet wins only if both dice roll 3-3. If the outcome is 5-1, 4-2, 2-4, or 1-5, your bet loses.
These are side bets like:
If you are just starting out, keep your wagers simple and bet on the most favourable outcomes. This table shows which bets have the lowest house edge:
| Bet Type | Payout | House Edge |
| Pass Line | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass Line | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Odds (Pass/Come) | 4/10 = 2:1 5/9 = 3:26/8 = 6:5 | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| Field Bet | 3/ 4/ 9/ 10/ 11 = 1 to 1 2 = 2 to 1 12 = 3 to 1 | Varies |
| Any Craps (2, 3, 12) | 7 to 1 | 11.10% |
| Any Seven | 4 to 1 | 16.90% |
| Yo (11) | 15 to 1 | 11.10% |
| Horn Bet (2, 3, 11, 12) | 2/ 12 = 27 to 43/ 11 = 3 to 1 | 12.5% |
As you can see, line bets are the safest for beginners. These are the most basic bets, where players wager that the shooter will roll a 7 or 11 (pass line wins) or craps numbers 2, 3, 12 (don’t pass line wins). The house edge is one of the lowest for these bets.
Similarly, come and don’t come bets have one of the lowest house edges. Taking these bets will protect your bankroll and will allow you to stay in the game longer.
Once a point is established, players can make a side bet known as the odds bet. In this bet, players wager that the point will be rolled before rolling a 7. The house edge here is 0%, and the payout matches the actual odds of the dice rolling your number. The casino doesn’t have a built-in advantage here.
The payout depends on the point number:
For example, you bet £10 on the pass line, and the point becomes 4. You can then place an odds bet of another £10. If the shooter rolls a 6 before hitting a 7, both your bets win – £20 on the odds bet (2:1 payout) and £10 on the pass line (1:1 payout).
Proposition bets have high payouts, but they also come with high risk and terrible odds. Most of these bets, like any 7, horn, and hard ways, are one-roll, which means you have only one chance to win. These short-term bets are stacked in the house’s favor. They may look exciting, but they can quickly drain your bankroll.
After you become comfortable with the basic bets like pass, don’t pass, and taking the odds, try stepping up your game with these intermediate strategies:
Place bets are used to bet on specific point numbers – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 – after a point has been established. Place bets wager that a specific number will be rolled before a 7. For example, placing a bet on 6 means you win if a 6 is rolled before a 7 shows up.
These are the payouts that most casinos offer on place bets:
Place 6 and 8 bets have the lowest house edge because the probability of rolling these numbers is slightly higher.
Buy bets are similar but have better odds. Buy 4 or 10 pays 2:1, buy 5 or 9 pays 3:2, and buy 6 or 8 pays 6:5. In buy bets, players are required to pay a 5% commission, often only on winning bets, depending on the casino.
So, when to use which? For numbers 6 and 8, both buy and place bets pay out almost similarly. Choose place bets on these numbers to avoid commission. For numbers 4 and 10, buy bets offer a better value despite the commission.
Let’s say you have a £6 place bet on 6. The shooter hits it, and you win £7 (payout 7:6). Instead of collecting the chips, you “press” the bet by adding a part of your winnings to the original bet. Increase the next bet to £12 on the number 6. If it hits again, you win £14. Pressing your bet can give incremental results without digging deeper into your bankroll. However, you should try this strategy on a lower house edge, like field betting.
Wait to press your bets after building up some profit. This will give you leeway to experiment with bigger bets. Also, make sure you press only with your winnings and don’t use your bankroll for it. Press with half your winnings and add the other half to your bankroll. It’s a safer way to grow your capital.
Don’t press if you are short on chips and trying to recover losses quickly. That is a quick way to go broke.
A lay bet is the opposite of a buy bet. In buy bets, players wager that the point will be rolled before a 7. In lay bets, players bet against the shooter, predicting that a 7 will be rolled before the point. Lay bets cover the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Craps number 2, 3, 12 along with 7 and 11 are left out.
Note that players are required to pay a 5% commission when placing a lay bet. This bet requires a large bankroll, since players take on more risk for a low winning amount. Use this only if you believe that the shooter is on a cold streak and unlikely to hit the point.
While craps is a game of chance, you can still walk away a winner by playing smartly. Below, we tell you two popular advanced craps strategies that players who have a bigger risk appetite can try.
The idea behind the 3-Point Molly system is that a player should have bets on 3 point numbers at any given time. First, is the initial point from the pass line bet, plus two more from come bets.
Start with a pass line bet. Once a point is established, say 5, back up your bet by taking the odds. This lowers your overall house edge. Now place a come bet. The shooter rolls an 8, and that becomes your second point. Back it up again with odds. Then make another come bet. If the shooter rolls yet another point, say 6, back it up with odds.
Now you’ve got three bets working on 5, 6, and 8. Any time one of these numbers hits, you get paid. However, if the shooter rolls a 7, all bets lose. The 3-point molly balances the risk by spreading your chances across multiple numbers.
The iron cross strategy covers almost every number on the board (except for 7).
Start by placing a field bet, which covers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Then, take place bets on 5, 6, and 8. With this setup, any number that’s not a 7 is going to pay you in some way. But remember that one roll of a 7 will wipe out all those bets.
The game of craps moves fast and can be addictive. You may find yourself playing for hours at the craps table. And if you’re not careful with your bets, you might just have to walk out with an empty wallet. Here are a few simple ways to help you stay in control at the table:
Physical crap games tend to move slower. You have to wait for everyone to place their bets and for the dealer to manage payouts. This gives some time to think about the next move. This gives offline players a slight advantage because they have some time to rein in their emotions and manage their bankroll more thoughtfully. You’re also playing slightly fewer rolls per hour, which means your money can last longer in offline games. Also, the in-person experience feels more engaging, which is a huge part of the fun.
Online casinos, on the other hand, offer speed and convenience. You can play anytime, anywhere, without waiting for a table or dealing with crowds. The speed is also the downside, though. Since the game moves fast, players tend to bet more, which gives them a bigger exposure to the house edge. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to lose money in online games simply because you’re playing more rounds. Stick to low-risk strategies in online games and set a time to take breaks often.
An advantage of online betting is that players can practice in demo mode to familiarize themselves with various betting options. You can also test advanced craps strategies like the 3-point molly or iron cross in demo.
So, if you love the energy and vibe of physical casinos, offline craps is the better choice. And, if you prefer convenience and speed, online craps is great. Whichever casino you choose, always remember to pace yourself.
Craps is an exciting game, so approach it with an aim to enjoying your gaming session. Bet small and conservatively to keep your bankroll in check. The key is to play smart and always be in control of your game.
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The 3-4-5 rule is a common guideline used in many casinos to simplify the odds. You can bet 3x odds if the point is 4 or 10, 4x odds if the point is 5 or 9, and 5x odds if the point is 6 or 8. This system keeps payouts even and easy to calculate.
It is mostly a game of luck, but with a little bit of skill, you can reduce the house edge. The skill is knowing which bets to make, which to avoid, how to manage your bankroll, and keep your emotions in check. So while you can’t control the dice, you can control how you play the game.
The don’t pass line has a house edge of 1.36% while the pass line has a house edge of 1.41%. The difference is not huge, but the odds are slightly better for the don’t pass line.
Some players try to grip and throw the dice in a way that reduces randomness. It’s completely possible to influence a single roll occasionally by using this technique. However, casinos require that the dice hit the table’s back wall. In some casinos, the rule is that the dice should roll halfway down the table. This increases the chances of a random outcome.
Any 7 pays 4 to 1 but has a huge house edge of 16.67%. Hardways has a house edge that varies from 9–11%. Similarly, one-roll bets like the proposition bets also have a bigger house edge. These are some of the worst bets to take as they favour the house. If you are a beginner, stick with simple bets like the pass line, don’t pass, and taking odds.
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