Craps Strategy for Beginners — Best Bets & Table Etiquette
Craps intimidates new players. The table is crowded, the language is unfamiliar, and the dealer is handling dice at dizzying speed. Yet craps is mathematically one of the best games in the casino, with some bets offering nearly 0% house edge. Once you understand the basic bets, craps becomes not just manageable, but thrilling—and profitable relative to other casino games.
The core appeal: craps combines relatively low house edge with high excitement. A single dice roll can swing multiple bets. The table community (everyone wins together) creates energy unmatched by single-player games.
The Basic Craps Framework
Craps revolves around a "point." Here's the flow:
1. The shooter rolls two dice (the "come out" roll)
2. If the roll totals 7 or 11, it's called "craps out" and pass line bets lose (called "crapping out"); don't pass wins. If 2 or 3, it's "craps"—don't pass bets win, pass line loses. If 12, it's a "push" (tie) on don't pass; pass line loses.
3. Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) becomes the "point." The shooter must roll this number again to win before rolling a 7.
4. Once a point is established, subsequent rolls either repeat the point (pass line wins) or roll a 7 (don't pass wins and the round ends)
This simple framework generates craps's entire strategy. The "pass line" is the most natural bet.
Pass Line Betting — The Foundation
The pass line bet is craps's most intuitive bet: you're betting WITH the shooter. On the come out roll, 7 and 11 win immediately, 2 and 3 lose immediately, and any other number establishes the point. Once the point is set, you win if the point repeats before a 7.
What's the house edge? Approximately 1.414%. This is respectable—better than roulette, baccarat, and many other games. But craps gets better with odds.
Odds Bets — The Game-Changer
Odds bets are the secret to craps's value. After a point is established, you can place an additional bet (called "taking odds") that pays true odds if the point hits. This is the only bet in any casino that pays true mathematical odds—no house edge.
Say the point is 4. The probability of rolling a 4 before a 7 is 3/9 (three ways to make 4: 2-2, 1-3, 3-1; nine ways to make 7). True odds for a 4 are 2:1. If you take $100 odds and win, the casino pays $200.
Different points have different odds:
Point 4 or 10: 2:1 odds (2 ways to make, 3 ways to bust with 7)
Point 5 or 9: 3:2 odds (4 ways to make, 6 ways to bust)
Point 6 or 8: 6:5 odds (5 ways to make, 6 ways to bust)
Here's the critical concept: always take odds. Most casinos allow 2x, 3x, or 4x odds. More aggressive players take 5x or even 10x. The reason: taking odds reduces your combined house edge on pass line plus odds.
Example: pass line $100 bet (1.414% edge) with $100 odds (0% edge). Combined edge: 0.707%. That's half the original edge. Take more odds (5x odds = $500 odds on $100 pass line), and the combined edge drops to 0.189%.
This is why craps is mathematically superior to most casino games. With 3x or higher odds, you're playing near house edge of 0.5% or lower—comparable to blackjack basic strategy.
Don't Pass Betting
Don't pass is the opposite of pass line: you're betting AGAINST the shooter. On come out roll, 2 and 3 win (you profit), 7 and 11 lose (you lose), 12 is a push. Once the point is set, you win if a 7 is rolled before the point.
Don't pass has a 1.364% house edge—marginally better than pass line (1.414%). The difference is negligible, and don't pass doesn't feel as intuitive because you're betting against the table.
Like pass line, don't pass bets can take "lay odds," betting money at true odds against the point being made. The math is identical: lay odds reduces your overall edge. With sufficient lay odds, don't pass becomes equally competitive.
Come and Don't Come Bets
Come and don't come bets are identical to pass and don't pass, except they're made AFTER the point is established. The next dice roll becomes a new "come out roll" for this bet specifically.
These bets create multiple concurrent action points. A sophisticated player might have pass line plus odds, and several come bets plus odds running simultaneously. This generates multiple winning opportunities per round, though it requires tracking.
For beginners, stick to pass line plus odds. Come bets add complexity without mathematical advantage.
Place Bets and Buying Points
Place bets let you directly bet on specific numbers after the point is established. You're betting that your chosen number hits before a 7. These pay 9:5 on 6/8, 7:5 on 5/9, and 9:4 on 4/10.
Place bets have higher house edges: 1.515% on 6/8, 4% on 5/9, and 6.67% on 4/10. These are worse than pass line with odds, so avoid them as primary bets.
One exception: "buying" the 4 or 10 with 5% commission. A buy bet on 4 or 10 pays true odds (2:1) instead of place bet odds (9:4). After the 5% commission, the house edge is 4.76%—still worse than pass line with odds, but sometimes used for specific situations.
Proposition Bets — Avoid Them
The middle of the table features proposition bets: any seven (4.19% edge), craps (11.11% edge), eleven (16.67% edge), and others. These are attractive sucker bets with massive house edges. The payout looks generous until you calculate the true odds.
An any-seven bet pays 4:1 but the true odds are 5:1 (one of six outcomes). The 16.67% swing is catastrophic. These bets are designed for desperate or drunk players making irrational decisions. Avoid them entirely.
Table Etiquette and Shooting
Craps has specific social customs:
The shooter: Everyone gets a turn to throw. You can decline. The shooter must hit the back wall of the table with both dice. No "controlled throws"—it's luck, not skill.
Language: Saying "seven" is considered bad luck during point play. Say "natural" or just avoid the number. Don't touch the dice with both hands or outside the approved throwing area.
Betting: Make bets before the roll. Say your bet clearly ("twenty pass") so dealers can confirm. Tip the dealer with occasional proposition bets or a chip on the dealer's side ("working for the dealers").
Winning and losing: Keep perspective. Other players win when you lose (on opposite bets). Congratulate winners. Complain about the house, not other players.
Table etiquette might seem superstitious, but it preserves the communal vibe that makes craps unique. Respect it.
Craps Bankroll Management
Craps moves fast—potentially 30+ rolls per hour. This speed compounds variance. Set strict bankroll limits:
Session bankroll: Set a maximum loss (e.g., 20% of session bankroll) and quit when reached.
Bet sizing: Use the 5% rule—never bet more than 5% of session bankroll per pass line bet. With $500 session bankroll, $25 pass line is reasonable.
Odds sizing: Take as much odds as comfortable. If taking 3x odds ($75 on a $25 pass line), your combined house edge drops to 0.35%. This is elite casino value.
Win goals: Set a target win (e.g., 25% of session bankroll) and quit with profit. Craps's excitement makes it easy to stay too long and give back winnings.
Common Craps Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not taking odds. This is the most costly error. Odds are 0% edge bets that directly reduce your overall house edge. Skipping them is leaving money on the table.
Mistake 2: Overvaluing proposition bets. The middle-table bets have edges of 11-16%. They're psychological traps. Discipline yourself to ignore them.
Mistake 3: Believing shooters affect outcomes. Dice throws are random. A "hot shooter" on a lucky streak isn't due to skill. Don't bet more aggressively just because someone's hot.
Mistake 4: Confusing social etiquette with luck. The "no seven" superstition is harmless fun. The betting math is all that matters. Respect customs socially, but don't let them influence strategy.
Mistake 5: Chasing losses with prop bets. After losing pass line bets, desperate players jump to 16:1 proposition bets hoping for a miracle. This accelerates losses. Stick to the plan.
Craps House Edge Comparison
Pass line: 1.414%
Pass line + 3x odds: 0.374%
Pass line + 5x odds: 0.227%
Pass line + 10x odds: 0.113%
These numbers are elite. Only blackjack basic strategy beats them. Craps with odds is a mathematically sound game choice.
Craps Strategy Summary
Master craps with these simple rules:
1. Always bet pass line (or don't pass)
2. Always take (or lay) odds, as much as comfortable
3. Never bet proposition bets
4. Manage bankroll strictly with 5% bet sizing
5. Respect table etiquette
6. Ignore superstition in decision-making (respect it socially)
Craps rewards discipline and knowledge. The odds bets are unique in casinos—true bets with no house advantage. Use them, and you're playing some of the best games the casino offers.
Related Reading: Learn about house edge comparison, master bankroll management, or find craps games online.