People who are just getting started with craps have a hard time understanding all the available craps bets. The truth is that the process is rather simple if you understand that out of all the possible craps bets there are only a few that’s worth the effort when playing craps. This means that you won’t have to learn or remember all of them.
The Best Craps Bets
It is possible to bet on any two dice combo but if you’re a newcomer to the game you should limit your bets to those listed below.
Pass Line Bet: This is a basic crap bet that is placed prior to the game’s first roll (come out). In games where the shooter rolls 7 or 11 you’ll win money if you placed a pass line bet but you’ll lose the bet if he rolls 2, 3 or 12. Likewise when the shooter throws the point number you’ll win on this bet and lose if he rolls a 7 before he rolls the point. Pass line bets are popular because players generally like to root for the shooter.
Don’t Pass Bet: The don’t pass bet is the exact opposite of the pass line bet. In this case players are betting against the shooter. The result is that you’ll win the don’t pass bet if the game’s shooter rolls a 2 or 3 or if he rolls 7 before rolling a second point. You’ll lose if he manages to roll the point before the 7 a second time around. If the come out roll is 12 the don’t pass bet neither wins or loses.
Odds Bet: This bet comes in just behind the pass bet if there is a point set in the game’s first roll. The bet is paid out at true odds which mean that there is no house edge on this bet. In the casino craps table there is no room for odds bets and a lot of casinos allow odd bets to be placed as much as 100 times the bet placed for pass line. An example would be, if you place a pass line bet of $10 your odds bet can be $20 or up to 100 times that which will be $1000.
For point numbers of 6 or 8 the odds bet pays 6 to 5. It pays out 3 to 2 for point numbers of 5 or 9 and 2 to 1 when the points are 4 or 10. Odds betting should always be placed on a point.
Laying Odds Bet: The laying odds bet is a stark contrast of the odds bet. It is a bet that is made to say that the shooter will throw a 7 before he rolls a second point. It also has a zero house edge.
Come Bet: Similar to a pass line bet the craps come bet is wagered on the outcome of point rolls. There is a designated area on the table that is marked for come bets. You’ll win the bet if the forthcoming roll is either 7 or 11 and lose if it’s a 2, 3 or 12. A point is set up for any roll other than those numbers.
Come Bet Odds Bet: Come bet odds are very similar to odds bet the only difference being that it must be used on a come bet rather than on a pass line bet.
Don’t Come Bet: The odds for this bet are the same as the don’t pass bet and is very similar to this bet except that it is wagered on a point number.
The bets listed above are the basic craps bets that you should be familiar with and use especially if you are a beginner. The smallest possible house edge is available on these best craps bets and they cannot be eliminated from the table until resolved. These are the only bets you need to play craps betting strategy using odds bets and decrease casino advantage to minimum.
Craps Bets With High Casino Edge
For those with a greater risk appetite, there are opportunities to win more on each roll through alternative bets. While these do pose a more aggressive house edge, players can use these bets to their advantage in order to win more substantially with each successful shoot.
Place Bet: The place bet pays slightly less than true odds, but allows players the chance to profit from rolling a place number before they roll a 7, and are associated with a particular place number depending on the bet.
Place To Lose Bet: Similar to the place bet, the place to lose bet wagers that a 7 will be rolled before the relevant place number, providing players with inverse odds to the place bet.
Buy Bet: Players can choose a place bet or a buy bet for particular numbers. The buy bet pays out at true odds, but usually attracts an additional commission of 5% from the casino on winning amounts.
Big 6 and 8 Bet: A big 6 or 8 bet pays out when the die total 6 or 8, depending on the bet, before they total 7. These bets are often avoided because they pay out at even odds, versus a place bet on either the 6 or the 8 which will pay out in a ratio of 7:6.
Hard Ways Bet: The hard way bet is a wager that the shooter will roll a 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 with exact match even die before rolling a 7, or the same number the easy way (i.e. with an odd and even die). For example, 3-3 is a hard way 6, whereas 5-1 is an easy way 6. These bets pay out at 7:1.
Single Roll Bets:These bets are resolved in one roll, as opposed to running, multi-roll bets which can continue to pay on more than one roll. There are a number of single roll bets, or proposition bets, that can be placed, as follows:
Snake Eyes – where the shooter rolls 1-1. Pays at 30:1.
Ace-Deuce – where the shooter rolls 1-2. Pays at 15:1.
Yo-Leven – where the shooter rolls 11. Pays at 15:1.
Boxcars – where the shooter rolls 12. Pays at 30:1.
Hi-Lo – where the shooter rolls 1-1 or 6-6. Pays at 15:1.
Big Red – where the shooter rolls a 7. Pays at 4:1.
The Horn – effectively four distinct bets on 2, 3, 11 and 12, paying out after a three-parts deduction for the losing three bets depending on the number rolled. Pays at 27:4 on 2/12 and 3:1 on 3/11.
World – effectively five distinct bets on 2, 3, 11, 12 and 7. Pays at 26:5 on 2/12, 11:5 on 3/11 or 0:1 on 7.
On The Hop – a bet on two particular die being rolled, i.e. 3 and 5. Pays at 15:1 for singles and 30:1 for a pair (e.g. 4-4).
While each of these bets will offer more significant returns, these bets are positioned at less favorable odds to the shooter, and as such command a much more significant house edge. As a result, these wagers should only really be placed by more experienced or more confident players.