The Ultimate Craps Strategies Guide: Expert Tips for Success

Mastering Craps: Keys to an Effective Strategy

Craps can seem complex at first, but the path to maximizing your potential at the table relies on a few core principles. Prioritize bets with the lowest house edge, manage your bankroll efficiently, and adopt a playing style that enhances your enjoyment without risking more than you can afford. This guide breaks down the top craps betting strategies, so you can approach the game confidently.

• Pass Line and Come Bet Approach
• Utilizing Odds Bets
• Targeting 6 and 8 Bets
• Taking Advantage of Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Wagers

Understanding Craps Odds: A Fast Overview

Knowing the odds is essential in craps. Each dice combination has a different chance of being rolled, which directly impacts your betting decisions.

Here’s how many ways each sum can occur:

• 2: 1 way
• 3: 2 ways
• 4: 3 ways
• 5: 4 ways
• 6: 5 ways
• 7: 6 ways
• 8: 5 ways
• 9: 4 ways
• 10: 3 ways
• 11: 2 ways
• 12: 1 way

A strong grasp of these probabilities, paired with knowledge of the payouts, helps you focus on bets that give you the best chances in the long run.

Essential Low House Edge Craps Bets

Not all craps bets are created equal. The most successful strategies focus on a select few wagers, noted for their low house advantage.

Pass Line Bet

At the heart of many craps strategies is the Pass Line bet. You place this bet on the come-out roll before the shooter establishes a point. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the Pass Line bet wins. Roll a 2, 3, or 12 and the bet loses. For other numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes “the point.” If it’s rolled again before a 7, your bet wins, otherwise, you lose.

A Pass Line bet has a strong position before the point is set, but once the point is established, the likelihood of winning decreases depending on what that number is—36 out of 216 possible dice combinations result in a win after the point.

Come Bet

The Come bet gives you new chances as the game progresses. You place a Come bet after the point is established. It works the same way as the Pass Line bet, but starts with the next roll. Once a number is rolled, that becomes your “come point.” Win or lose according to the same rules as the initial Pass Line bet.

Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Bets

These bets essentially allow you to bet against the shooter. Their win/loss outcomes are generally the opposite of the Pass Line and Come bets, with slight rules adjustments (such as 12 being a push on Don’t Pass). Don’t Pass and Don’t Come often attract players focused on maximizing their mathematical edge.

Strategy 1: Leveraging Pass Line and Come Bets

Even if you’re drawn to the quick action of Place or Prop bets, the most reliable approach for most players is to stick with the tried-and-tested basics. That means focusing on Pass Line bets during the come-out roll, then using Come bets to establish additional numbers. Ignore high-house-edge risks and stick to what works.

Image credit: Matt Apps/Shutterstock

Stick to these fundamentals to minimize losses and maximize your opportunity, especially when the table is “hot” and shooters are on a roll.

Strategy 2: Enhancing Bets with Odds Wagers

After a point is set on a Pass Line or Come bet, you can further increase your edge by backing up those bets with an additional Odds wager. Casinos typically allow you to place Odds bets at multiples of your original wager (2x, 3x, or sometimes higher). Odds bets are unique—they pay out at true odds, meaning there’s no house advantage on them.

Here’s how payouts on Odds bets work for each point:

By adding Odds bets, you tilt the long-term casino advantage further in your favor—even though it won’t help you win more frequently, it ensures your successful bets pay off more fairly.

Example: Step-by-Step Betting with Pass Line, Come, and Odds

Try this approach to get started with the basics and feel confident managing multiple numbers:

• Arrive with at least 15x the table minimum (for a $10 table, bring $150 or more).
• Start with a base unit (e.g., $10) on the Pass Line. If you lose on 2, 3, or 12, replace the bet on the next come-out roll.
• Once the point is set, immediately add the maximum Odds bet, and place a Come bet for another unit.
• If your Come bet wins, collect and place another Come bet—or keep two numbers working at a time for steady action.

This sequence gets you comfortable managing both standard and Odds bets, and keeps you focused on high-value wagers.

Strategy 3: The 6-8 Place Bet Advantage

Beyond the basics, you can slightly modify your approach to increase your action, especially when aiming to capitalize on the “6” and “8,” which are frequent outcomes.

Place bets allow you to bet directly on specific numbers without waiting for a come-out roll. Although Place bets on numbers like 4, 5, 9, and 10 have higher house edges, the 6 and 8 Place bets are relatively player-friendly, as long as you bet in the right increments for maximum payouts (multiples of $6).

Example: Expanded Play with the 6-8 Craps Strategy

If you want a bit more excitement but still prefer to make smart bets:

• Have at least 20x the table minimum as your bankroll for longer sessions.
• Bet a unit on the Pass Line, and add maximum Odds when the point is set.
• If the point is 4, 5, 9, or 10, Place bet two units (in $6 increments, like $12 or $18) on either 6 or 8.
• Make a Come bet and back it with Odds. Maintain three numbers at once: your Pass Line/point, the Placed 6 or 8, and the Come bet.
• As numbers resolve, replace lost bets to keep three positions working as often as possible.

*Remember: Place bets on 6 or 8 pay 7:6, so always bet in increments of $6. Ask the dealer if you’re unsure how much to bet.

As you gain experience, you might expand this—keeping both 6 and 8 Placed and using Come bets to cover other numbers, potentially having five or six numbers “working” during a hot shooter’s streak.

Strategy 4: Focusing on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Bets

Some players prefer to “bet against the dice” by using Don’t Pass and Don’t Come wagers, which offer a slight statistical advantage over traditional approaches.

The primary benefit of Don’t bets is, once several numbers are working, a roll of 7—a nightmare for most—pays you on all Don’t bets at once. Only one bet at a time is lost if the shooter hits points, so it’s a lower-variance approach.

However, betting “the dark side” isn’t always popular on crowded, social craps tables, as you’re profiting on outcomes that most players don’t want. Consider etiquette if you choose this method in person.

Example: Advanced Sequence for Don’t Bettors

To take advantage of this approach:

• Arrive with at least 20x the table minimum for sufficient risk management.
• Start with a unit on Don’t Pass. Once a point is set, back it by laying the appropriate Odds (exact reverse of the standard Odds payout: lay $6 to win $5 on 6/8, or $2 to win $1 on 4/10, etc.).
• Add a Don’t Come bet, also laying full Odds, and repeat until you have three numbers active.
• If a shooter hits a point and removes one of your numbers, replace it—do this at most twice during a shooter’s roll. If points continue to hit, pause until the next shooter.

*Note: When laying Odds on Don’t bets, you’re betting more to win less, because the math is reversed. Check payout details with the dealer if you’re unsure.

Conclusion: Playing Craps with Strategy and Enjoyment

No system or sequence can entirely overcome the casino’s edge, but by sticking to low-house-edge bets and smart bankroll management, you give yourself the best shot at enjoying the game—and potentially walking away a winner. Choose the craps strategy and playing style that aligns with your goals and risk tolerance, and remember that a successful session is about both fun and smart betting.