Craps has always been a popular casino game and, with the right craps strategy, it can be extremely enjoyable, even profitable. But it’s not a game you can go into without the right attitude, knowledge and skill, and that’s where we come in.
If you already know the basic guidelines, this blog is the opportunity to perfect your skills and broaden your knowledge as we’re about to discuss the best bets and odds to make you the most experienced player at the table.
Craps terminology comes hand in hand with the game, which you may already be familiar with (depending on your level of experience), but we’re going to be looking at them all in a moment (just in case you’re a beginner).
We’re going to be looking at the best craps strategy for advanced players but don’t worry if you’re new to the game, as we’ll be looking at the best strategy for beginners too, because we all have to start somewhere, don’t we?
How to Choose the Best Craps Strategy?
Being good at craps takes time and a lot of understanding, you can’t just jump straight into the deep end; it takes a fair amount of failing, a degree of skill and a winning craps strategy. How to win at craps will depend on which strategy you have chosen and this entirely relies on bets that minimize the house edge to give you better odds of winning.
The best strategy for craps depends on your level of experience and how much bankroll you have. Being a pro takes time and commitment but it also takes money. Sure, being a pro is fun but it isn’t fun if you’re betting with money you can’t afford.
This is why we're going to show you how to win at craps using the most basic craps strategies right through to the most advanced craps strategies.
Seeing you landed here probably means that you have tried playing craps before. However, if you're a newbie to the game, we have a handy beginners guide to how to play craps, with all of the essential information needed to get you started.
What to Consider when Choosing the Winning Craps Strategy?
Craps is a very complex game, there are many aspects of it and to a beginner it can be confusing to say the least. This is why there are a number of things you need to consider before choosing your strategy which include:
- Experience - Do you understand the game? If you don’t then you need to consider spending some time researching the game and reading all of the best craps strategies that we’ve mentioned below.
- Bankroll - Some craps strategies require big bets and will see you go through losing periods before you get a win but, when you win, you win big. Meaning that the amount of money you need to lose before you start winning can be substantial, you should adjust preferred strategy to your budget. On the flip side, some of the strategies we’ve mentioned below will be more suited to you if you prefer more frequent wins to keep a steady balance.
- Are you a risk taker? - As you read in more detail below, you’ll see that some of the craps strategies we’ve mentioned involve a degree of risk. You should consider whether or not this is for you and remember taking risks usually involves the chances of losing money but winning more if the risk pays off.
These are the three most important things you need to consider before attempting any craps strategy. The good news is that, whatever your personal preferences are, there’ll be a craps strategy mentioned below to suit you! Alternatively, if you feel that Craps is not up your alley, why not check out different types of online gambling that may be more suitable.
Understanding Craps Odds
Calculating odds can seem daunting at first but once you get the hang of it it's easy. The beauty of craps is that it has a lower house edge than most other casino games but, more vitally, it is essential that you know how each bet works in order to pass across the board.
Each craps strategy we have listed below will have different odds and a different house edge and there are certain strategies that will give better odds than others. The range of bets and odds is expansive and it can be overwhelming.
We suggest that you take some time to read each strategy we have mentioned to get a better understanding of the kinds of odds you’ll be playing with. The kind of odds you can expect are:
- 1:1
- 8:1
- 6:5
- 5:4
- 15:1
However, try not to worry if you are new because you don’t need to know all the odds off the top of your head to play. There are safe craps strategies you can use to get started and, as you become advanced and learn the odds, you can start to move onto the more advanced strategies.
Low Risk Craps Strategy - Best for Beginners
If you’re wondering how to win at craps with a small bankroll or you’re new to the game, a low risk craps strategy may be best. This utilizes a specific system that involves the don't pass bet with place bets on the 6 and 8. By using this system, players can protect their bankroll and have a better chance of winning. You can place a bet on don’t pass and you will win on a 2 or 3 but lose on a 7 and 11.
However your main aim is to make follow up bets on the 6 and the 8, which are less than your bet on the don’t pass.
You want to protect your bankroll, and this is the best mathematical craps strategy to do that. After the initial roll, the don’t pass bet will protect you against the 7 and, if it rolls, instead of losing, the don’t pass will pay 1:1 and you’ll lose on the other two bets (which were less). Frequent rolls of 6 and 8 can bring in some decent winnings with this system of strategies.
Craps Strategy Don’t Pass
If you’re not afraid of making some enemies in the game, this can be a great wager. A lot of players will base their strategy on the pass line so everyone wins or loses together, essentially this is the opposite bet. It’s also a great wager to use if you’re playing alone.
The don’t pass strategy wins even money on a roll of 2 and 3 and 12 will result in a tie, preserving the casino's house edge. An ultimate craps strategy to remember here is to look at the dice combination on the ‘Don’t Pass’ betting area which will confirm the current situation.
You will lose if a 7 or 11 is rolled but, once a point is established, you will win on a roll of 7 instead. However, you will lose if the point number appears before it. A don’t pass wager has a low house edge of 1.37%.
Don’t Pass, Don't Come Craps Strategy
The idea of this strategy is that if a 12 is thrown, the Don’t Pass turns into a Push and you will receive your bet back. If a point is then thrown you can make a Don’t Come bet. Just like the Pass Bet, this will pay out if the shooter lands a 2 or a 3 on the next roll and once again a 12 will result in a Push. This kind of bet involves expertise and you should consider your experience before using it.
Pass Line Explained
The craps strategy pass line is an essential wager you need to understand. This will serve in the most basic craps strategy and is a fantastic move to use on its own as it comes with a very low house edge of 1.41%.
You would place this on the ‘Pass Line’ before the initial roll and if you’re a more advanced player, the little puck on the table shows ‘Off’ before the come-out roll (the initial roll).
If the shooter then rolls a 7 or 11 you will receive a 1:1 payout based on your stake; however in the case of a 2, 3 or 12 it will lose, resulting in a Craps out.
In case any other number is rolled, the puck will turn on and the goal becomes to roll the number in question to win; however, a 7 will make you lose.
Best Mathematical Craps Strategy
It is important to understand the basic mathematics that lies in craps. After all it’s a game of chance and probability where the winning combinations of two dice depend on the losing combinations of the dice. Whether these are winning or losing numbers, depends on the kind of bets you have placed.
You can lose a lot of money if you don’t understand the relationship between these numbers.
Each strategy has a different mathematical edge but in the long run they usually balance out, and the best ones for you will depend on how much you can bet and your experience. You will need to consider the house edge of each bet and, instead of trying to predict an outcome of every roll, it is better to vary your bets to find the best mathematical craps strategy for you.
Popular Craps Strategies for More Advanced Players
Craps can be suited for all kinds of players, beginners and advanced. The great news is that there are strategies to suit everyone. However, if you are a more advanced player you may be willing to make riskier decisions which can result in large profits.
Advanced players may be able to use some of the strategies we’ve listed below that could initially result in long losing streaks and repeated bets after losing but, in the long run, these bets can certainly pay off.
For example, a Yo Bet (see below) would be more suited to advanced players as you risk a loss before a win, but as you read through the strategies you should be able to see which ones are suited for your level of experience and knowledge.
6/8 Strategy
If you’re looking to perfect your skills, the 6/8 strategy can help you achieve this. These bets are popular as they usually have a lower house edge and you can use this strategy over other place bets because 6 and 8 have the second-biggest odds of landing on the dice (not including 7).
The best way to win at craps using this strategy is to make a $6 place bet on both 6 and 8. If the dice lands on either number you win and make the same bet again.
However if you lose, you make the bet again but increase it to a bet you can afford. If you have a small budget, this betting strategy may not work as you can go on a relentless losing streak and you should only bet what you can afford to lose.
Pass and Come with Odds
A ‘Come’ is a bet you can make after the point is established and when you place this wager it will travel to the box number which is rolled next. To win this bet, the number the wager must have travelled to must roll a second time before a 7.
You can use this bet to your advantage and increase your payout by placing ‘true odds’ on the bet. The come bet has the same rules as the pass line coming out.
Hedge Bets Strategy
Hedge bets are intended to fire up your imagination, you can bet on any possible combination and you should know that some bets take more than one roll to settle. This begs the question: can some bets be used to cover up the weakness in others?
Hedge bets don’t reduce the house edge but there is some logic around it. There are a couple of hedge bets that could work, and hedging with any craps is typically done on a come out roll. For example, you bet $5 on pass and $1 on any craps.
If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win $5 on pass, lose $1 on craps and make a $4 profit. However, there are plenty of ways you will lose which should be considered before you use this strategy. You can also place hedge bets with any 7 depending on how you prefer to play.
3 Point Molly Craps Strategy
The main goal behind the craps strategy 3 point molly is to make multiple big wagers on bets that have a low house edge. This could potentially increase your payout odds with bets across half the place positions.
Using the 3 point molly would include the bet on a pass line, place a come bet with max odds on the point, adding a bet onto a third number and keep playing until the point 7 or 11 is thrown.
Using these craps betting strategy tips could offset your losses with lots of small wins.
However, this is an aggressive strategy which could see you accumulating lots of big losses if you don’t fully understand the wager. This advanced craps strategy should only be used by players who fully understand the game and who have a bankroll that could take multiple losses.
Iron Cross Craps Strategy
How to play craps and win depends on which strategy works best for you but the iron cross craps strategy is definitely suited to players who prefer frequent wins. However, the 7 will become your arch enemy as the Iron Cross sets it up to hit a win on any number other than the 7.
Also known as the Field Strategy, you can deploy this after the comeout roll and when the point has been established. This strategy does not have one of the lowest house edges in the game and essentially you are making wagers on all numbers except the 7 and what you must remember is that the 7 is the most frequent number thrown.
Lay Bet Strategy
This is a darker craps strategy and again should be best used by more experienced players. It’s not the safest craps strategy to use if you’re a beginner.
However, with that being said there are six craps lay bets available if you want to step over to the dark side. You can lay the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. These then became the same numbers that become points if the shooter rolls them out on the comeout, and the same numbers available to right bettors as place bets.
This means, if the shooter rolls a 7 before your number you win the bet and vice versa, you lose if your number is rolled first. The only numbers that matter are your number and the number 7.
Basically, if a 7 turns up you win and if the roll is 6, you lose.
Yo Bet
This is another name for betting on the shooter to roll an 11. The dice will consist of a 5 and 6 and the odds of rolling a yo are the same as rolling a 3. An 11 is the second most infrequent number to appear but when it does come up it has some big winnings attached if you’ve used this strategy.
The house pays out odds of 15:1 giving this wager a big house edge of 11.11%. This strategy is again for more advanced players as naturally you should expect to lose more but when you win, you win more, $15 for every $1 wagered in fact. When you bet on rolling a yo, you are essentially betting on the next roll being an 11
Put Bets
This kind of wager is often forgotten about but, quite simply, a put bet is a pass line bet that you put up without going through the come-out roll, after the point has been established.
For example, let’s say you have not passed a pass line bet and the shooter rolls a six. If you use a ‘put bet’ it allows you to bet on the pass line using appropriate betting odds that can go in your favour.
It is important to check that the casino allows you to make a pass line bet with full odds after the point is established. The best casinos to use this wager are in those that offer 100x or unlimited odds and this kind of bet is more commonly used by experienced players.
Craps 4 10 Strategy
This is often the lesser known strategy which is why it is aimed more at advanced players. Most craps players will be confident that the best place bet is the 6 or 8 but if you’re a pro you may be able to use this strategy to get better odds.
The four and ten can be bought for a 5% commission which some casinos only charge the “vig” if you win. The commission is usually $1 on a $25 bet obtaining odds of 2:1 instead of 9:5. If you buy the four or ten and win either number you’ll get $50 at 2:1 instead of $45 at 9:5 thus resulting in the better odds.
The next time you want to place bets on 6 and 8, if you’re feeling confident and have a bankroll to play with try the four and ten instead and see if it works for you.
Choose the Best Craps Strategy and Increase Winning Chances
By now, we hope you’ve furthered your knowledge on the kind of craps strategies and systems that can be used and you’ve probably guessed that what works for one player, may not work for you.
If you go into this game blind, it could be detrimental to your finances. Start with low bets, build up your knowledge and experience and you’ll soon learn how to use each strategy to your advantage.
If you’re already a pro, then why not try some of the more advanced strategies or come up with your own systems and you’ll soon become an elite. Either way, it is important to remember that if you are betting outside of your financial means, it’s time to stop.
