Craps Strategy Guide: How to Play and Win at Online Craps

The best craps strategy uses pass line or don’t pass with odds, while avoiding high-edge proposition bets in the center of the table. Pass line carries a house edge near 1.41%, don’t pass about 1.36%, and the odds portion pays at true mathematical odds with no built-in house advantage.

Craps Strategy at a Glance

Bet	Approximate house edge	Expected loss per $1,000 wagered	Strategy rating
Don’t pass	1.36%	$13.60	Best simple base bet
Pass line	1.41%	$14.14	Best beginner-friendly base bet
Don’t come	1.36%	$13.60	Strong after a point is established
Come	1.41%	$14.14	Strong after a point is established
Place 6 or 8	1.52%	$15.20	Good flexible alternative
Field with favorable 12 payout	About 2.78%	$27.80	Short-term use only
Place 5 or 9	4.00%	$40.00	Weaker than 6 or 8
Place 4 or 10	6.67%	$66.70	Avoid as a regular wager
Hard 6 or hard 8	9.09%	$90.90	High-edge proposition
Hard 4 or hard 10	11.11%	$111.10	High-edge proposition
Any 7	16.67%	$166.70	One of the worst common bets
Odds behind pass or come	0% on odds portion	$0 theoretical edge	Best add-on when bankroll allows

Expected loss is a long-run mathematical estimate, not the result of one session. Odds bets reduce the blended house-edge percentage across the total money at risk, but they also increase the number of dollars exposed on the table.

Craps Table Basics

Craps is played in two phases: the come-out roll and the point phase. The result of the first roll determines what happens next.

Come-out roll

For a pass line player:

• 7 or 11 wins.
• 2, 3, or 12 loses.
• 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 becomes the point.

For a don’t pass player:

• 2 or 3 wins.
• 7 or 11 loses.
• 12 normally pushes.
• 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 becomes the point.

The exact bar number can vary, so check the table layout. “Bar 12” means a don’t pass wager ties rather than wins when 12 appears.

Point phase

After a point is established, the shooter continues rolling.

• Pass line wins when the point repeats before 7.
• Pass line loses when 7 appears first.
• Don’t pass wins when 7 appears before the point repeats.
• Don’t pass loses when the point repeats first.

The puck displays ON over the active point. A seven after the point is established is called a seven-out and ends the shooter’s turn.

Best Beginner Strategy: Pass Line Plus Odds

The pass line is easy to follow and carries a low 1.41% house edge. After a point is established, the player can place an odds wager behind the original pass line bet.

The odds bet pays at true odds:

Point	Pass line odds payout
4 or 10	2:1
5 or 9	3:2
6 or 8	6:5

A $10 pass line wager with 2x odds adds $20 after the point, creating $30 total exposure. The pass line portion still carries its normal edge. The $20 odds portion has no mathematical edge for the casino.

Step-by-step pass strategy

1. Bet one unit on pass line before the come-out roll.
2. Wait for a point.
3. Add odds only if the total exposure fits the session budget.
4. Make no center-table proposition bets.
5. Repeat with the same base unit after the decision.

This approach does not create a player advantage. It concentrates play in two of the lowest-cost wagers and avoids rapid stake escalation.

Lowest Base Edge: Don’t Pass Plus Odds

Don’t pass has a slightly lower house edge at approximately 1.36%. The player wins when the shooter sevens out before repeating the point.

Once a point is set, the player can lay odds. Because 7 is more likely than any individual point, the player risks more than the potential odds profit.

Point	Common don’t pass odds payout
4 or 10	1:2
5 or 9	2:3
6 or 8	5:6

The payout is the inverse of pass line odds. A player laying odds against 4 risks two units to win one because 7 has more combinations than 4.

Don’t pass strategy

1. Place one unit on don’t pass for the come-out roll.
2. Accept that 12 normally pushes.
3. Lay a conservative odds amount after a point.
4. Avoid increasing the base wager after a loss.
5. Stop at the predetermined loss or time limit.

Some players dislike betting against the shooter, but table etiquette does not alter the mathematics. Keep chips clear of the shooting area and avoid celebrating another player’s loss.

Come and Don’t Come Bets

Come and don’t come wagers work like new pass and don’t pass bets after the main point is established.

A come bet wins on 7 or 11 and loses on 2, 3, or 12 during its first roll. A box number then becomes that individual bet’s point. The wager wins if its number repeats before 7.

A don’t come bet uses the opposite structure, with 12 usually treated as a push during its first roll.

Both can receive odds after moving to a number. Come carries approximately 1.41%, while don’t come is about 1.36%.

Multiple come bets create action on several numbers but also increase total exposure. A player with a $10 pass line, $20 odds, and two come bets with odds can place a large portion of a $200 bankroll on one roll. Limit the number of simultaneous wagers.

Place 6 and Place 8

Place bets allow the player to select a box number without waiting for a come bet to travel.

Place 6 and 8 are the best standard place bets, each carrying a house edge near 1.52%. They normally pay 7:6, so wagers should be made in multiples of $6.

A $12 place 6 wins $14. A $12 place 8 also wins $14. The bet remains active until it loses to 7, the player removes it, or table rules turn it off.

Place 5 and 9 carry a higher 4% edge. Place 4 and 10 are higher again at about 6.67%. Players wanting action on 4 or 10 should compare the table’s buy-bet commission rules rather than automatically placing those numbers.

Simple place strategy

• Place 6 and 8 only.
• Use correct $6 units.
• Avoid pressing after every hit.
• Remove or reduce wagers when the planned profit or session limit is reached.

This strategy has slightly more edge than pass line but provides control over when the bets are added or removed.

Odds Limits Explained

Casinos advertise 1x, 2x, 3-4-5x, 10x, 20x, or higher odds.

Under 3-4-5x odds:

• Up to 3x may be allowed behind point 4 or 10.
• Up to 4x may be allowed behind point 5 or 9.
• Up to 5x may be allowed behind point 6 or 8.

This structure often produces the same maximum win relative to the pass line stake across all points.

Higher odds lower the blended edge as a percentage of total money wagered, but expected dollar loss on the original line wager remains. The player also needs a larger bankroll to survive ordinary variance.

A beginner does not need to take the maximum. One unit of odds provides true-odds pricing with less exposure.

Bets to Avoid

Any 7

Any 7 wins when the next roll totals 7. It commonly pays 4:1 despite six winning combinations out of 36, producing an edge of 16.67%.

At $1,000 in repeated wagering, the theoretical loss is $166.70. This is far more expensive than $14.14 on the same pass line turnover.

Hardways

A hardway wins when a pair makes the selected total before 7 or the easy version of that number.

• Hard 4 and hard 10 carry an edge around 11.11% under common payouts.
• Hard 6 and hard 8 carry an edge around 9.09%.

The bets can stay active for several rolls, but duration does not improve their price.

Horn bets

A horn divides one wager among 2, 3, 11, and 12. The individual outcomes have different probabilities and payouts. The combined wager carries a high edge and requires enough chips to divide across four numbers.

One-roll propositions

Any craps, yo, ace-deuce, snake eyes, boxcars, and similar center bets resolve on the next roll. Fast resolution and large payouts encourage repetition, increasing hourly cost.

Big 6 and Big 8

Big 6 and Big 8 commonly pay even money. Place 6 and 8 normally pay 7:6 for the same winning condition, making the place version superior where standard rules apply.

Field Bet Rules

The field wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 and loses on 5, 6, 7, or 8. Its edge depends on special payouts.

A field table paying 2:1 on both 2 and 12 carries a higher edge than one paying 2:1 on 2 and 3:1 on 12. The more favorable version is about 2.78%.

Read the printed layout before betting. The same field label can have different mathematics across casinos and software providers.

The field should not be used as a hedge against place bets. Combining losing propositions does not create a positive expectation.

Craps Betting Systems

No progression changes the probability of the dice.

Martingale

Martingale doubles the stake after each loss. It creates frequent small recoveries and occasional large losses when a sequence reaches the bankroll or table limit.

Iron Cross

The Iron Cross combines field with place 5, 6, and 8 to cover many totals. A roll of 7 loses every component, while repeated field and place action creates more total wagering. Coverage is not the same as a player advantage.

Three Point Molly

Three Point Molly uses pass line, come bets, and odds to maintain action on up to three points. The underlying wagers are mathematically sound, but total exposure can become large.

Regression systems

A regression system starts with larger place bets and reduces them after a hit. It can lock in part of a short win, but starting exposure is high and a seven can arrive before any reduction.

The best strategy is wager selection and bankroll control, not a sequence promising guaranteed profit.

Craps Bankroll Management

Use units rather than changing the base stake after every result. A $200 session bankroll divided into 20 units creates a $10 base unit.

A conservative plan might use:

• $10 pass line.
• Up to $10 or $20 odds after a point.
• No proposition bets.
• $50 loss limit before a break.
• A fixed session timer.

Odds should be included in the exposure calculation. A $10 line bet with $20 odds has $30 at risk, not $10.

Do not use credit, borrowed funds, or money assigned to bills. A win target cannot guarantee a winning exit, but a loss limit can prevent the entire available balance from entering play.

Online Craps vs Live Craps

Online RNG craps resolves rolls through software. Live craps uses streamed physical equipment or a live studio format. The house edge depends on the rules and payouts rather than the delivery method.

Check:

• Minimum bet.
• Odds multiple.
• Field payouts.
• Buy and lay commission timing.
• Ability to turn place bets off.
• Game speed.
• Bonus contribution.
• Roll history and transaction record.

RNG games can run much faster than a physical table, increasing hourly turnover. A low house edge applied to many more decisions can still produce a high expected hourly cost.

Live dealer craps availability was not confirmed in the supplied casino brand data. Check the current lobby rather than assuming that a casino with other live tables offers live craps.

Bonus Play and Craps

Craps often contributes less than slots toward casino wagering requirements. Some promotions exclude it entirely.

Before using bonus funds, verify:

1. Craps contribution percentage.
2. Eligible craps variants.
3. Maximum bet including odds.
4. Whether odds wagers count.
5. Prohibited opposite betting.
6. Bonus expiry.
7. Maximum cashout.

A 10% contribution means $10,000 in actual craps bets provides only $1,000 of wagering credit. The low edge does not compensate for a large increase in required physical turnover.

Do not combine pass and don’t pass to manufacture low-risk bonus progress. Terms may classify opposite betting as prohibited play.

Best Craps Strategy by Player Type

Player type	Suggested approach	Main risk
Beginner	One-unit pass line plus one-unit odds	Adding too many bets after the point
Lowest base-edge player	Don’t pass plus conservative lay odds	Larger amount risked to win less on odds
Number-focused player	Place 6 and 8	Pressing after wins
Experienced multi-point player	Pass, come, and odds	High total table exposure
Small bankroll	Flat pass or don’t pass without maximum odds	Faster game can create excess turnover

The appropriate strategy is the one whose total exposure fits the bankroll. Maximum odds are not mandatory.

Craps Strategy Checklist

• Table minimum fits the session bankroll.
• Field and proposition payouts have been checked.
• Base unit is fixed before play.
• Odds are included in total exposure.
• Pass, don’t pass, come, or don’t come forms the core strategy.
• Place action is limited to 6 and 8 where used.
• Any 7, hardways, horn, and one-roll bets are avoided.
• Loss and time limits are set.
• Bonus contribution is confirmed.
• Play stops when either limit is reached.

Conclusion

Pass line and don’t pass are the best standard craps bets, with house edges near 1.41% and 1.36%. Adding conservative odds gives true-odds pricing on the additional wager, while place 6 and 8 provide flexible alternatives at approximately 1.52%.

Avoid any 7, hardways, horn bets, and most one-roll propositions. Use a fixed unit, count odds in the total amount at risk, and limit simultaneous wagers so one seven-out cannot consume the session bankroll.

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Guide last updated: July 2026. GamblersScore explains craps rules and strategy for US players.