Craps Table Bets Explained

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There are many different bets you can make on the craps table. This often confuses new players but in actual fact craps is not that complicated. In this section we outline all of the possible betting options and show you where those bets go on the table. The Craps Table. Below is an example of a craps table. The craps table is a good key to help players understand the various bets. Betting on craps can be broken down to three main betting methods. Pass line, don’t pass line and field bets. There are additional craps bets which we will explain further.

Craps is a much easier game to learn than most people think. The basic premise is simple: you are betting on the outcome of the roll of two dice. The only thing that makes the game confusing is all the different types of bets you can place.

Most of these bets are straightforward, but it’s just the fact that there are so many of them that make the game a little complicated. You don’t need to know how each one works to enjoy playing the game, so it’s not like you have to learn them all before you start playing.

The bets we would say you absolutely must understand are the pass line and don’t pass wagers, the come and don’t come wagers, and the odds bets. We explain these in detail below, and also provide information on all the types of bets. Here is a list of the bets we discuss below:

  • Pass Line & Don’t Pass Wagers
  • Come & Don’t Come Bets
  • Odds Bets
  • Place Win
  • Place Lose
  • Buy
  • Lay
  • Big 6 and Big 8
  • Hardways
  • Field
  • Proposition Bets

The pass line and don’t pass wagers are the most commonly placed bets in craps and also the most straightforward. A shooter will usually have to place one of them before making their come-out roll; and in some casinos, players must make one of them if they also want to place other wagers. These bets have to be placed before the come-out roll, and they both pay out at even money (1:1) when they win.

A pass line bet wins if the value of the come-out roll is 7 or 11 and loses if it’s 2, 3, or 12. If it’s any other value, then a point is established at that value, and the pass line wager remains on the table until the point is rolled again or 7 is rolled. If the point is rolled, the wager wins; if 7 is rolled, the wager loses.

A don’t pass wager wins if the value of the come-out roll is 2 or 3 and loses if it is 7 or 11. If the value is 12, then the bet is pushed, neither winning nor losing. Just like the pass line bet, it remains on the table if a point is established. The don’t pass wager loses if the point is rolled again and wins if a 7 is rolled.

Come & Don’t Come Bets

These wagers are very similar to the pass line and don’t pass bets, the main difference being that they are placed after the point is established rather than before. They can be a little confusing, so please make sure you fully understand the concept before placing them.

If the first roll after you have placed a come bet is a 7 or 11, then you win your wager. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, then you lose. If any other number is rolled, this is the point for your come wager. So if a 5 is rolled, for example, then 5 becomes your point. Your wager stays in place and will win if a 5 is rolled again, and lose if a 7 is rolled. A come bet may be thought of as a personalized pass line bet, where the point number is established on the first roll after it has been placed.

By the same token, a don’t come bet is like a personalized don’t pass bet. It will lose if a 7 or 11 comes up on the first roll after you place it, and win if a 2 or 3 is rolled. Any other number establishes the point for your don’t come wager, which will then stay in place until it either wins or loses. It will win if a 7 is rolled, and lose if the point is rolled.

Both of these bets are paid out at even money (1:1) when they win.

Odds bets are a bit like side bets that can be made after a point is established. They are essentially extensions of each of the four bets mentioned above. There are four different types:

  • Pass Line Odds
  • Don’t Pass Odds
  • Come Odds
  • Don’t Come Odds

You would place a pass line odds bet to complement your pass line bet following a point being established. It pays if the point is then rolled before a seven, and loses if a seven is rolled. The big advantage of this type of bet is that it’s paid out at true odds when it wins i.e. there’s no house edge. The payouts vary, depending on what the point is.

When you place a pass line odds bet, you are said to be “taking the odds.” Because there’s no house edge, the amount you can stake is limited. Typically, you can stake up to three times the amount on your original pass line wager, but some casinos allow more.

A don’t pass odds bet is placed to complement a don’t pass bet. It pays if a seven is rolled before the point, and loses if the point is rolled first. Bets of this type are also paid out at true odds with no house edge and, again, the payouts vary depending on what the point is.

PointPayout
4 or 101:2
5 or 92:3
6 or 85:6

You are said to be “laying the odds” if you place a don’t pass odds bet. The amount you can stake is limited in the same way as a pass line odds bet. Come odds and don’t come odds bets are based on exactly the same principle. They just use the point that is established following a come or don’t come bet.

Place win bets can be made after a come-out roll when a point has been established. They can be on any of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, and they win if the number chosen is rolled before a 7. The payouts vary depending on which number you have chosen.

Number ChoosenPayout
6 or 87:6
5 or 97:5
4 or109:5

These are basically the opposite of place win bets. They can be on the same choice of numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), but with a place lose, you win if a 7 is rolled before the number you have chosen. The payouts again vary depending on which number is chosen.

Number ChoosenPayout
6 or 84:5
5 or 95:8
4 or105:11

A buy bet is largely the same as a place win in that you are betting on a specific number to be rolled before a 7. The difference is that the payouts are higher, with the trade-off that you have to pay a 5% commission. At some casinos, this commission is payable when you place your stake, and at others it’s only payable if you win. The payouts once again vary based on which number has been chosen.

Number ChoosenPayout
6 or 86:5
5 or 93:2
4 or102:1

A lay bet is the opposite of a buy bet, and also comes with a 5% commission. With this wager, you are betting on a 7 being rolled before a specific number, in the same way as a place lose. It offers higher payouts than a place lose, which vary depending on the number chosen.

Number ChosenPayout
6 or 85:6
5 or 92:3
4 or 101:2

These bets are very straightforward, and both pay even money (1:1) if successful. A big 6 wins if any 6 is thrown before a 7, and a big 8 wins if any 8 is thrown before a 7.

Hardways

When a number is rolled as a double, it’s said to have been rolled the hard way. A hard 8, for example, is a double 4. That is how wagers of this type get their names. They are pretty simple and are based on certain doubles being rolled before a 7.

You can bet on any of a hard 4, a hard 6, a hard 8, or a hard 10. If the relevant hard number is rolled before a 7, you win the bet. As with some other wagers, the payouts are determined by the number bet on.

Field

A field bet is always settled on the next roll. It will win if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 is rolled and lose if 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled. It pays 1:1 unless a 2 or 12 is rolled, in which case it pays double (2:1).

There are several different proposition bets available in craps, all of which are settled on the next roll. We explain each of these below.

Craps Table Bets ExplainedExplained

It’s worth mentioning that proposition bets come with higher payouts than previously mentioned options. The house edge is also higher, however, and players are generally advised to avoid them for this reason. However, there’s nothing wrong with using them if you’re willing to accept more risk in exchange for potentially bigger rewards.

  • Any 7 (Payout 4:1). Wins if 7 is rolled next.
  • Any 11 (Payout 15:1). Wins if 11 is rolled next.
  • Any Craps (Payout 7:1). Wins if any of 2, 3 or 12 is rolled next.
  • Ace Deuce (Payout 15:1). Wins if 3 is rolled next.
  • Aces (Payout 30:1). Wins if 2 is rolled next.
  • Boxcar (Payout 30:1). Wins if 12 is rolled next.
Craps are a classic game that represents the true essence of casino entertainment. When a player throws dice across the table surrounded by other bettors hoping for their number to be rolled, there is no doubt that craps are one of the most exciting casino games. Moreover, the house has a really small edge in this game.

Although Craps are among the most popular and most often played gambling games, craps rules can often seem quite complicated to new players and many people can’t make heads or tails of them. Before you go and bet your hard-earned cash in the casino for the first time, try the game without any risk in a free online version using virtual currency. That way you can at least make sure that you really understand the rules. If you lose there, it doesn’t affect your finances.

Knowing the craps rules definitely pays off. Some bets have the lowest house edge by far of all table games.

Craps rules

Craps is a game that can be simple or complicated – depending on how you want to bet. Craps is a table game played by several players. One of them (the one who throws the dice) is called the “Shooter”. Very simply put: When playing craps, the shooter throws the dice and all other players bet on numbers that may or may not be rolled. Players place their bets before the shooter throws the dice.

The game starts with the Shooter (one of the table players) betting at least the minimum of the table on one of the bets:

  • Pass Line
  • Don’t Pass Line

The player then receives from Stickman (casino employee) several dice (usually five) from which he/she chooses two to play with. The remaining dice are taken back by the casino worker and are not used in this game anymore.

The game is played in rounds and each player has the right to throw dice. But if you do not feel like it, you can deny and pass this honour to another player.

Each round has two phases:

  • Come Out
  • Point

Come Out Phase

At the start of the round, the Shooter shoot one or more Come Out rolls. If the number 2, 3 or 12 falls on this first throw (called Craps and the player continues no longer), the round ends and players lose their Pass Line bets. If the Shooter hits 7 or 11 (Natural), all Pass Line bets win.

If neither happens. The Shooter continues to throw another Come Out roll until one of the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 numbers are played.

Point Phase

After that, this number becomes Point. The dealer then visibly marks this number and continues phase two. When Point number reappears, all Pass Line bets win. If the Shooter throw Seven-out, the pass line bets lose and the round ends.

The new round then begins with the new Shooter. The new shooter is then the first player on the left hand of the previous thrower. The game then goes clockwise.

A player who approaches the table should always check first the phase at which the game is. If there is no number marked, the table is in the Come Out phase. If there is the token on the table, the point is already set and most casinos allow to make Pass Line bets. All Proposition Bets can be bet in any phase of the round.

Between each bet is the part when the dealer pays wins and collects lost bets. Stickman oversees the entire game, the table and decides when the Shooter can play.

Craps Rules – All Craps Bets

As you can on the picture below, there are many types of bets in craps. But don’t worry, we will discuss them all in a very easy way.

Come Out Bets

Pass Line

As mentioned above, these bets win if the sum of 7 or 11 is rolled in the come-out roll, and they lose out if the sum of 2, 3, or 12 is rolled in the come-out roll. If another sum is rolled, it will become the Point. The Pass Line bet wins if the following shooter’s throws reach a Point number before reaching the sum of 7, and loses if the sum of 7 appears before the Point is reached.

Craps Table Bets Explained Against

Possible win: 1:1.

Don’t Pass Line

This is the opposite of the Pass Line bet. The Don’t Pass Line bet wins if the sum of 2 or 3 is rolled in the come-out roll and loses if come-out yields a sum of 7 or 11. If the come-out roll reaches a total of 12, such bet is called “Push” and the player gets his money back. If a number other than 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 is rolled, it becomes the Point. Don’t Pass Line bets win if the shooter rolls a total of 7 before reaching the Point and lose if the opposite occurs. It is important to know that Don’t Pass Line bets can be reduced or even removed before the shooter’s the second throw.

Possible win: 1:1.

“Come” bets

Come bets are almost the same as the Pass Line bets. Consider them Pass Line bets that are repeated in the same game round. The players place the Come bets after establishing the Point in the come-out roll. Just like the Pass Line bets, Come bets win if the shooter rolls 7 or 11 and lose if the shooter rolls 2, 3 or 12. If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number is established as the Point for Come (“Come Point”). Come bets win if the shooter rolls the Come Point again before rolling the sum of 7, and lose if the opposite occurs. Come bets cannot be reduced or removed.

Possible win: 1:1.

“Don’t Come” bets

It must be clear by now that Don’t Come bets are almost the same as Don’t Pass Line bets. These bets are also placed after the come-out roll. Once the Point is set, Don’t Come bets win if the shooter rolls 2 or 3, lose if he rolls 7 or 11, and Push if he rolls 12. If a sum of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, it becomes the new Come Point. Don’t Come wins if the shooter rolls 7 before the Come Point, and loses if the opposite occurs. Don’t Come bets, just like Don’t Pass Line bets, can be reduced or even removed.

Possible win: 1:1.

Bets after the Point

Odds

Odds are a side bet in craps that you can only place if the Point is established. The win will be paid out if the Point is rolled before the sum of 7. Chances of Odds are completely equal, the house edge is therefore zero. To clarify, Odds have the following payouts:

  • 2 to 1 at point 4 and 10
  • 3 to 2 at point
  • 6 to 5 at point 6 and 8

Craps Table Bets Explained Game

If we want to place the Odds after a Pass Line bet, we place the chips of the Odds bet behind the Pass Line bet, outside the marked area for Pass Line closer to us.

Because Odds bets are absolutely free of house edge, you can always bet only as much as your original Pass bet. Most casinos allow players to bet for example “3-4-5x Odds”. This means that the player can bet three times the bet if Point is 4 or 10, four times the bet if it’s 5 or 9 and five times if it’s 6 or 8.

But some casinos may offer more, like 5x, 10x, 20x, or 100x Odds for all points. So if you see a 10x Odds offer in a casino, that means you can place Odds in the amount of ten times the original bet.

Place Bets

In craps, the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are known as Place numbers and the player can bet on any of these numbers. If this number is rolled before 7, the player wins. Place bets are something like Odds, but they can only be placed if you have placed a No Pass Line bet and their payouts are not so profitable. To be precise:

  • Place the bet on 6 and 8 pays 8 to 7
  • Place the bet on 5 and 9 pays 7 to 5
  • Place the bet on 4 and 10 pays 9 to 5

Field Bets

Craps rules allow to place bets only for one roll. These are called Field Bets and Proposition bets. In Field Bets you win when a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 strike. Field Bets are paid out in the following proportions:

  • 2 is paid 2: 1
  • 12 is 3: 1
  • All other numbers are paid as straight bets, ie with a payout ratio of 1: 1.

Big Six, Big Eight Bets

You can bet these bets at any time during the game and win if the number 6 or 8 hit before number 7. Both bets are paid at 1: 1.

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets can be placed at any time. Almost all of them (besides the Hardways bet) are only for one roll.

Any Craps

  • Wins when 2, 3, or 12 are rolled. The payout ratio is 8: 1.

Any Seven

  • Wins when thrown 7. The payout ratio is 5: 1.

Eleven

  • Wins when thrown 11. The payout ratio is 16: 1.

Ace Duece

Craps Table Bets Explained Results

  • Wins when thrown 3. The Payout ratio is 16: 1.

Aces or Boxcars

  • Wins when thrown 2 or 12. The payout ratio is 30: 1.

Horn Bet

  • It works like a bet on numbers 2, 3, 11 and 12. Wins if one of these numbers falls. The payout is by the number that fits. The other three losers are losing.

Hardways

The player wins if the sum of pairs 4 (2-2), 6 (3-3), 8 (4-4) and 10 (5-5), is thrown before 7. The payout ratio is

  • hard 4 and 10 – 8: 1
  • hard 6 and 8 – 10: 1

Even the craps rules may seem to be really confusing, it should discourage you to try this game. You can always try craps for free online and practice craps rules without any risk or money loss. You also do not need to bet all the possible bets. Many advanced players only use the bets with the lowest house edge.

Craps Table Bets Explained Two

House Edge of the Craps Bets

Craps Table Bets Explained For Today

BetHouse edge
Pass/Come1,41 %
Don´t Pass/Don´t Come1,40 %
Field bet (2:1 on 12)5,56 %
Field bet (3:1 on 12)2,78 %
Any Craps11,11 %
Big 6, 89,09 %
Hard 4, 1011,11 %
Hard 6, 89,09 %
Place bet (on win) 6, 81,52 %
Place bet (on win) 5, 94 %
Place bet (on win) 4, 106,67 %
Place bet (on loss) 6, 81,82 %
Place bet (on loss) 5, 92,50 %
Place bet (on loss) 4, 103,03 %
Proposition bet on 2, 1213,89 %
Proposition bet on 3, 1111,11 %
Proposition bet on 716,67 %