Craps strategy focuses on selecting bets with the lowest house edge while managing your bankroll effectively. This guide provides actionable tactics for beginners to play intelligently and extend their table time.
Craps intimidates many casino newcomers with its complex table layout, rapid pace, and seemingly cryptic betting terminology. However, beneath the surface chaos lies a game with some of the best odds in the casino when you know which bets to make. Basic craps strategy is not about complicated systems or betting progressions but rather about consistently choosing wagers with the lowest house edge and managing your money intelligently.
The fundamental principle of sound craps strategy is simple: stick to bets where the casino advantage is minimal and avoid the tempting proposition bets that carry house edges exceeding 10 percent. This approach maximizes your playing time, gives you the best mathematical chance of winning, and protects your bankroll from rapid depletion.
Before diving into specific betting systems, you must understand what makes a craps bet good or bad. The house edge represents the casino's mathematical advantage expressed as a percentage of your wager. A bet with a 1.41 percent house edge means that over thousands of rolls, you can expect to lose $1.41 for every $100 wagered.
The craps table offers bets with house edges ranging from zero percent to over 16 percent. Your primary strategic goal is to focus your action on the low-edge bets while completely avoiding the high-edge traps scattered across the layout. This discipline alone separates winning players from those who donate their bankroll to the casino.
Another critical concept is variance, which measures how much your results will fluctuate in the short term. Two bets with identical house edges can have vastly different variance profiles. Higher variance means bigger swings in both directions, which affects your risk of busting out during a single session even when playing mathematically sound bets.
Only a handful of bets on the craps table deserve your attention. These wagers offer house edges below 1.5 percent and form the foundation of every legitimate craps strategy.
The Pass Line bet is the most fundamental wager in craps, with a house edge of just 1.41 percent. You win if the come-out roll is 7 or 11, lose if it is 2, 3, or 12, and any other number becomes the point. Once a point is established, you win if that number repeats before a 7 appears.
Come bets function identically to Pass Line bets but are placed after a point is established. They allow you to have action on multiple numbers simultaneously. Both bets pay even money and represent solid foundational wagers for any strategy.
These are the opposite of Pass and Come bets, and they actually offer a slightly better house edge of 1.36 percent. You are betting with the house rather than against it, which some players find psychologically uncomfortable since you win when most of the table loses. However, from a pure mathematics standpoint, these are marginally superior bets.
Odds bets are the only wagers in the casino with absolutely no house edge. After establishing a point on a Pass, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come bet, you can place an additional odds bet behind your original wager. These bets pay true odds: 2 to 1 on points of 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on 5 and 9, and 6 to 5 on 6 and 8.
Casinos limit odds bets to a multiple of your original flat bet, commonly 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x odds. Taking maximum odds reduces the combined house edge on your total action. For example, a Pass Line bet with 3x, 4x, 5x odds reduces the overall house edge to approximately 0.37 percent, making it one of the best bets in the entire casino.
Place bets allow you to wager directly on specific numbers. The 6 and 8 are the only place bets worth considering, with a house edge of 1.52 percent. These numbers have the highest probability of appearing after 7, making them relatively safe bets. Place bets on 6 and 8 pay 7 to 6, so you should bet in multiples of $6 to receive proper payouts.
With the best bets identified, you need a coherent system for deploying them. These strategies have been tested through millions of simulated rolls and represent practical approaches for players with typical bankrolls.
This is the simplest and most mathematically sound approach. Place a minimum Pass Line bet and back it with maximum odds once a point is established. Make no other bets. This strategy offers the lowest combined house edge possible in craps, typically between 0.37 and 0.18 percent depending on the odds multiple allowed.
The advantage of this system is mathematical purity and simplicity. The disadvantage is that you have action on only one number at a time, which some players find boring. Additionally, the high variance of odds bets means your bankroll will experience significant swings, and you face a meaningful risk of busting out even during winning sessions if you hit an unlucky streak early.
This classic strategy involves making a Pass Line bet followed by two Come bets, giving you action on three numbers simultaneously. Once all three bets are working, you maintain this coverage by making a new Come bet each time one of your numbers hits.
The Three Point Molly can be played with or without odds. Without odds, it offers moderate variance and extends playing time by spreading risk across multiple numbers. With odds, it becomes a higher-variance strategy with better mathematical expectation but increased bankroll requirements and bust-out risk.
Effective craps strategy begins with understanding the mathematical foundation of each bet. The house edge varies dramatically across the table layout, from zero percent on odds bets to over 16 percent on proposition bets. Strategic players focus exclusively on bets where the casino advantage is below one percent.
The second phase involves matching betting patterns to your bankroll size and risk tolerance. A $200 budget on a $10 minimum table requires different tactics than a $1000 bankroll on a $25 table. Simulation data shows that even optimal strategies carry bust-out risk, making proper bet sizing critical for session survival.
This hybrid approach combines a Pass Line bet with place bets on the 6 and 8 after a point is established. If the point is 6 or 8, you place the other number. If the point is 4, 5, 9, or 10, you place both 6 and 8. This gives you action on the three most likely numbers to roll before a seven.
This strategy offers good coverage with relatively low house edge across all bets. The variance is moderate, and many players find it more engaging than single-bet strategies. The downside is that you are putting more money at risk per roll, which can deplete your bankroll faster during cold streaks.
For players seeking to minimize variance and extend playing time, placing only Come bets with single or double odds provides steady action with controlled risk. After the come-out roll, make a Come bet. Once it travels to a number, back it with 1x or 2x odds, then make another Come bet. Maintain two or three Come bets working at all times.
This approach smooths out the volatility compared to Pass Line with maximum odds while still maintaining a low house edge. It is ideal for players with limited bankrolls who want to play for an extended period without risking rapid losses.
Even the best betting strategy fails without proper bankroll management. Craps is a negative expectation game, meaning the house edge ensures you will lose money over the long term. Your goal is to maximize entertainment value, extend playing time, and give yourself the best chance of walking away a winner in any individual session.
A fundamental bankroll principle is having 20 to 30 times your average bet per roll as your session stake. If you are betting $15 per roll on average across all your active bets, you should have $300 to $450 available. This cushion protects you from normal variance and reduces your risk of busting out during temporary cold streaks.
Before approaching the table, decide your maximum acceptable loss for the session. Once you reach this limit, walk away regardless of the temptation to chase losses. Similarly, set a win goal, such as doubling your buy-in. When you hit this target, either leave or set aside your original stake and play only with profits.
These psychological safeguards prevent the common trap of winning early, continuing to play, and eventually giving everything back to the house. Discipline in bankroll management often matters more than betting strategy selection.
Table minimums directly impact your required bankroll. A $5 table allows you to play with $100 to $150, while a $25 table demands $500 to $750 for the same relative safety margin. Never play at a table where the minimum forces you to bet more than 5 percent of your total bankroll per roll. Doing so exposes you to unacceptable bust-out risk even when making optimal bets.
Knowing what not to bet is as important as knowing the best bets. The craps layout is filled with sucker bets designed to separate uninformed players from their money quickly.
The bets in the center of the table, called by the stickman, carry house edges from 9 percent to over 16 percent. These include Any 7, Any Craps, Horn bets, and Hardways. While they offer large payouts, the odds are so unfavorable that they should never be part of a sound strategy. A single $5 Any 7 bet has the same expected loss as a $60 Pass Line bet.
These bets in the corners of the layout pay even money when 6 or 8 rolls before 7. They carry a 9.09 percent house edge, making them terrible wagers. The identical outcome can be achieved by placing the 6 or 8, which pays 7 to 6 and has a house edge of only 1.52 percent. There is never a reason to make Big 6 or Big 8 bets.
While place bets on 6 and 8 are acceptable, placing the 4, 5, 9, or 10 carries house edges between 4 and 6.67 percent. If you want action on these numbers, use Come bets with odds instead, which offer much better mathematical expectation.
Understanding what to expect from a typical craps session helps you evaluate your strategy and avoid disappointment. Simulation data from 200,000 sessions provides valuable insights into realistic outcomes.
With a $200 bankroll on a $10 table playing for approximately one hour, even optimal strategies result in losing all or most of your money in 15 to 25 percent of sessions. This is simply the reality of negative expectation gambling combined with normal variance. Another 40 to 50 percent of sessions end with modest losses between $50 and $150.
Winning sessions occur 25 to 35 percent of the time with basic strategies, with most wins in the $50 to $200 range. Large wins exceeding $400 happen in only 5 to 10 percent of sessions and require sustained hot rolls. These statistics underscore the importance of viewing craps as entertainment with a cost rather than a reliable way to make money.
Once you master fundamental strategy, a few advanced concepts can further optimize your play without adding complexity.
Some casinos offer 10x, 20x, or even 100x odds as a promotional feature. While this dramatically reduces the combined house edge, it also increases variance substantially. With limited bankrolls, taking maximum odds at these levels can lead to rapid bust-outs. Consider taking 5x to 10x odds as a practical maximum unless you have a bankroll exceeding 50 times your flat bet.
Casino player rewards programs rate your play based on your average bet and time at the table. Since craps has a low house edge, you receive relatively poor comp value compared to slots or other games. However, consistent play at rated tables still accumulates points for meals, rooms, and other benefits. Always use your player card, but never increase your bet size solely to earn comps, as the additional expected loss exceeds the comp value.
Some players believe they can influence dice outcomes through controlled throwing techniques. While theoretically possible, no credible evidence demonstrates that any player can consistently alter probabilities enough to overcome the house edge. Treat dice setting as a ritual or superstition if you enjoy it, but do not base your strategy on the assumption that you can control the dice.
Basic craps strategy is straightforward: make only the bets with the lowest house edge, take maximum odds when your bankroll allows, and manage your money with discipline. The Pass Line, Come bets, Don't Pass, Don't Come, odds bets, and place bets on 6 and 8 are the only wagers that belong in a sound strategy. Everything else on the layout is a trap designed to increase the casino's profit at your expense.
Remember that craps is entertainment, not investment. Even perfect strategy cannot overcome the house edge in the long run. Your goal should be maximizing enjoyment, extending playing time, and giving yourself the best mathematical chance of winning in any individual session. With the strategies outlined in this guide, you will play as intelligently as possible while avoiding the costly mistakes that plague most craps players.
Approach the table with realistic expectations, a predetermined bankroll, and the discipline to walk away when you hit your loss limit or win goal. Master these fundamentals before considering any advanced techniques, and you will enjoy craps as one of the most exciting and player-friendly games in the casino.
The odds bet is the best wager in craps because it has zero house edge. However, it can only be made after establishing a point on a Pass, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come bet. Among bets you can make independently, Don't Pass has the lowest house edge at 1.36 percent.
Bring 20 to 30 times your average bet per roll. For a $10 table where you will have $15 to $20 in action per roll, a bankroll of $300 to $500 provides adequate cushion against normal variance and reduces your risk of busting out during a single session.
Maximum odds reduce the combined house edge but increase variance significantly. With a limited bankroll, taking 3x to 5x odds balances mathematical optimization with bankroll preservation. Only take maximum odds if you have a bankroll exceeding 50 times your flat bet amount.
Both strategies have similar house edges. Three Point Molly spreads risk across multiple numbers, reducing variance and extending playing time. Pass Line with maximum odds has slightly lower house edge but higher variance. Choose based on your preference for action frequency versus mathematical optimization.
Experienced players sometimes make small proposition bets for entertainment value, to tip dealers, or out of superstition. These bets should never constitute a significant portion of your action. If you enjoy them, limit proposition bets to 5 percent or less of your total wagering.
No. All craps bets except odds carry a house edge, and odds bets can only be made in conjunction with house-edge bets. Over sufficient time, the house edge guarantees you will lose money. Craps should be viewed as paid entertainment, not a money-making opportunity.
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