How to Win at Craps: Discover the Smartest Bets for Success
Understanding the Most Advantageous Craps Bets
Craps offers a dynamic gaming experience where your choice of bets directly affects your odds of winning. By focusing on wagers with the lowest house edge, you significantly enhance your success at the craps table. The cornerstone bets for any craps strategy are:
- Pass Line Bet: A straightforward wager placed before the come-out roll. It boasts a minimal house edge and is a staple among both new and experienced players.
- Come Bet: Functionally similar to the Pass Line, but made after a point has been established. It can be placed at any stage of play.
- Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Bets: These bets are the opposite of Pass and Come wagers, offering equally low house edges but betting against the shooter’s success.
- Place 6 and Place 8 Bets: Pick the numbers 6 or 8 directly, benefiting from some of craps’ lowest house advantages after the basic line wagers.
- Free Odds Bets: Add-on wagers that can be placed behind your Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come bets after a point is set. These offer true odds with no house edge, maximizing your payout potential.
By prioritizing these options, you’ll avoid the costly traps set by common high-edge bets. Combining strong bet selection with robust casino bonuses can further increase your bankroll.
The Best Bets to Place in Craps
While it may be tempting to cover the table with multiple bets, the most successful craps players are selective and disciplined. Focusing on optimal bets greatly improves your outcomes, while straying into less favorable bets can quickly drain your chips. Many wagers on the craps table have steep house advantages of 5% or greater; it’s wise to steer clear of these if you aim for sustainable winnings.
Below is a summary of the most player-friendly wagers, including house edge and projected long-term loss per $100 wagered:
| Top Recommended Craps Bets | House Edge | Expected Loss per $100 Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t Pass | 1.36% | $1.36 |
| Don’t Come | 1.36% | $1.36 |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | $1.41 |
| Come Bet | 1.41% | $1.41 |
| Place 6 or Place 8 (for $6) | 1.52% | $1.52 |
Note: The examples above are based on $100 total wagered per bet. Adjust expected losses accordingly for smaller wagers. Place 6 and Place 8 bets are often made in multiples of $6.
Tip: When betting Don’t Pass or Don’t Come, you’re wagering against the shooter’s ability to make the point, essentially rooting for a 7 after the point is established.
Tip: Pass Line, Come, Place 6, and Place 8 bets are in favor of the shooter making the point (or rolling a 6/8), and against a 7.
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Leveraging Odds Bets for Maximum Value
One often overlooked yet highly advantageous strategy in craps is making use of “odds bets.” After placing a Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come wager and once a point is established, you can enhance your initial wager with an odds bet. This supplemental bet pays out at true odds, meaning it offers no house edge.
For instance:
– If your point is 4 or 10, odds bets pay 2:1.
– For 5 or 9, you receive 3:2.
– On 6 or 8, payout is 6:5.
This advantage makes odds bets the strongest follow-up to your main bet. The key is to back your original wager with as much allowed by the table, as casinos typically permit odds multipliers such as 2x, 5x, or even more.
Tip: Odds bets are calculated based on the probability of rolling your point before a 7. The payouts mirror these odds exactly, erasing the casino’s usual mathematical advantage.
On the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come wagers, the logic is reversed. Since the probability of rolling a 7 is higher once a point is set, you bet more to win less–for example, to win $10 against a point of 4 or 10, you must risk $20 because a 7 will roll twice as often as 4 or 10.
How to Properly Place Odds Bets at the Table
To make an odds bet, simply put your chips directly behind your original Pass Line wager after a point is set. For Come bets, place additional chips next to your Come wager, and the dealer will move them appropriately. Similarly, odds can be added to Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets after a shooter establishes the point.
Remember:
– Odds bets are tied to your initial wager. You cannot place them alone.
– The more you maximize your odds bet, the less impact the house edge of your flat bet has on your overall play.
– Payouts vary by point, so always check the table minimums and odds multipliers allowed at your casino.
Conclusion: Focus On the Best Bets for Long-Term Craps Success
The path to beating craps over time lies not with scattered bets, but with smart, focused wagering. Limit your play to Pass Line, Come, Don’t Pass, Don’t Come, Place 6, and Place 8 bets, and always supplement these with the largest odds bet you can responsibly afford. Steer clear of the tempting but high-risk proposition and one-roll bets, as they carry much steeper house advantages.
By mastering these betting strategies, you’ll position yourself for the most rewarding experience at the craps table.
Title Image Credit: Juan Roballo/Shutterstock
