Understanding the Come Bet in Craps: Rules and How It Works
The come bet is an essential wager in craps and is often favored by both new and experienced players. After the “point” is set on the table, you can place a come bet. In this scenario, you’re predicting that the next dice roll will yield a total of 7 or 11. If this happens, your come bet pays out immediately. However, there’s more to this bet than meets the eye, making it a fundamental concept for those looking to master craps.
Locating the Come Bet Area on the Craps Table
When playing craps, you’ll find the area for the come bet clearly designated on the table surface. This space is labeled “Come” and is centrally situated below the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, directly above the “Field” section. The positioning allows for easy access to players and indicates where to place your chips for this specific wager.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Come Bet
Before the action begins, the shooter—meaning the player rolling the dice—initiates the round with what’s called the “come out roll.” If the roll produces a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that outcome is marked as the “point.” The dealer visually indicates the point by placing a white, puck-like marker on the corresponding number.
With the point established, you can now make a come bet by placing your chips in the marked “Come” section, directly in front of your position at the table. Here’s what happens next:
– Win instantly if the next roll is a 7 or 11.
– Lose instantly if the next roll is a 2, 3, or 12.
– If another box number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) appears, your bet moves to the corresponding number and becomes active on that spot.
– From this position, your come bet now wins if the designated number is rolled again before a 7.
– Should a 7 appear before your new number, the bet is lost.
Once the come bet transitions to a numbered space, you’re permitted to support it with an additional “Odds” wager—placing extra chips behind your initial bet, similar to the odds bet that can follow a pass line wager. The critical distinction between come bets and pass line bets is timing: come bets are placed after the point, while pass line bets must occur before the point is established.
Come Bet Versus Pass Line Bet: Key Differences
Both pass line and come bets are core components of craps gameplay, sharing many similarities with subtle but important differences.
The pass line bet is placed before the come out roll and tracks whether the shooter can roll the point number again before a 7. In contrast, the come bet is only available after the point is set, giving players a way to start new “mini-games” even as a round progresses.
Players can add “free odds” bets behind both pass line and come bets once they are attached to box numbers. These odds bets pay at true odds with no house advantage, thereby reducing the average house edge of your overall wager. For instance, making a single odds bet drops the house edge for your combined wager to about 0.85%, while double odds can lower it further to around 0.65%.
Come Bet Payouts, Odds, and House Edge
By default, the come bet in craps holds a house edge of approximately 1.4% when placed without odds. Once you add free odds behind your come bet after it moves to a point number, the house edge decreases significantly:
– Single Odds reduce the house edge to around 0.85%.
– Double Odds bring it down to roughly 0.65%.
Some casinos allow much larger odds multiples on your come bet—sometimes as high as 100x. At this level, the house edge can shrink to just about 0.02%, making come bets with high odds one of the smartest choices for players pursuing long-term value.
Evaluating the Value of the Come Bet
Is the come bet a solid move for craps players? Statistically, yes, it’s regarded as one of the best bets you can make at the craps table—especially when combined with odds.
Keep in mind, however, that all gambling outcomes balance out over many games due to statistical probability. There will be runs when the table is “hot,” favoring players, and other times when the losses pile up. Regardless, using come bets with odds aligns with professional strategies for minimizing the house advantage.
Popular Strategies for Using the Come Bet
Your overall approach to the come bet will depend on your situation at the table, the shooter’s streak, and your risk tolerance. Here are two widely recognized tactics:
Strategy 1: Hedge with the “Any Craps” Bet
To offset the risk of losing your come bet when a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled (which happens about 11.2% of the time), some players use a hedge strategy by pairing their come bet with a small wager on the “Any Craps” prop bet.
For example:
– Place a $5 come bet and a $1 bet on Any Craps.
– If a 7 or 11 appears, your come bet wins, and the hedge bet loses (but the overall effect is positive).
– If a 2, 3, or 12 lands, your come bet loses, but the $1 Any Craps bet pays $7, creating a net gain of $2.
This strategy provides a kind of insurance, but because most rolls favor box numbers (about 66.7% of the time), regular use may ultimately reduce your winnings. Many experienced players use this tactic sparingly, based on their assessment of the current game mood.
Strategy 2: Always Place Odds Behind Your Come Bet
Boosting your potential payout and slashing the house advantage, always placing the maximum allowable odds behind your come bet is widely considered the sharpest play. For most casinos:
– A 3x odds bet is possible if your come bet shifts to 4 or 10,
– Up to 4x for 5 or 9,
– And up to 5x for 6 or 8.
Because these odds bets pay out at true probabilities, there’s no house edge on the odds portion, making this an effective way to maximize your potential returns.
Summary: Why the Come Bet Matters for Craps Players
Mastering the come bet can transform your craps experience, equipping you with one of the most player-friendly wagers on the table. When used with free odds and in conjunction with smart strategies, the come bet minimizes the house edge while delivering engaging, dynamic gameplay. Whether you’re aiming to keep your exposure low or chase bigger returns, understanding the mechanics and strategies behind the come bet gives you a real edge every time you step up to the craps table.
Lead image credit: JustAFewThings/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
