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A strong craps strategy is essential to take advantage of the game’s low house edge, which is as low as 1.36% on certain bets. But to truly maximize those odds, you’ll need a solid grasp of the game and an effective betting approach.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best craps strategies for players at all levels. We’ll also dive into the various betting options, explain their odds, and share valuable tips to help you elevate your gameplay and increase your chances of success
Choosing a Craps Strategy: Where To Start?
Playing this game is not solely about choosing the best craps strategy and the right online casino to play at. There are a plethora of other factors that can help you prepare and which may also influence the path you’ll follow strategy-wise. Therefore, remember to:
Check Your Budget
Whether a beginner or a veteran player, every craps table strategy will require you to secure a healthy bankroll. Evaluate your budget, and decide what proportion of your funds you are willing to devote to multiple sessions. Experts suggest that 5-10% of your income should be allocated to entertainment and no more than 30%. Once you’ve set the budget, don’t deviate from it.
Don’t forget that some real money craps strategies are progressive and will require you to increase your wagers as you play. With a solid bankroll and proper money management, your funds are bound to grow.
Joe YarnoldCasino & Betting Expert
Define Your Goals
Before playing craps at online casinos, it’s important to define your purpose and set clear, achievable goals for each session. Whether you’re aiming to master the different types of bets, test a new strategy, or simply enjoy the excitement of the game, knowing your motivation will help guide your decisions and keep your gameplay intentional.
If your main goal is to make a profit, then it’s essential to set both a realistic winning target and a firm loss limit. For example, if your session bankroll is $100, expecting to walk away with $1,000 is not practical. A more reasonable profit goal for most players is between 10–20% of your starting bankroll. As you gain experience and confidence, or if you’re comfortable with higher risk, you can gradually aim for bigger wins.
Understand Your Risk Level
Playing craps is gambling, and gambling is always a risk. This is why you must have a thorough understanding of the game and its bets so that nothing can surprise you. Some bets are more lucrative than others in terms of payouts, but the risk of losing is higher.
Joe YarnoldCasino & Betting Expert
Various Craps Strategies for Every Player
After mastering how to play craps, it is time to learn what craps betting strategies you can implement in your gameplay. They will not only help you increase your profit potential but also reduce the house edge, make smart bets, and manage your bankroll.
Additionally, not all craps strategies suit all players. Some are aimed at beginners, while others are more suited for intermediate and advanced players. We’ll discuss each of them in more detail below.
Craps Come Bet Strategy
You can also resort to craps come bet strategy when playing this exciting game. Come bet has the same house edge and payout odds as the Pass Line bet, but it is made by placing the chips above the Field area of the craps table.
This bet is made after the shooter establishes a point on a come out roll, and you win if they throw 7 or 11 on the next roll. If the shooter throws any other number, such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, this will become your personal point. This point, together with the original one, gives you a double chance of winning.
If the rolled numbers on the table are 2, 3, or 12, you lose. It’s worth noting that you cannot remove the Come or Pass Line bets but must wait for them to play out.
Craps Odds Strategy
Craps Odds Strategy is an intermediate strategy that involves laying the odds, meaning that you must bet against the shooter and the players. This means you wager that the shooter will throw 7 before rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. You must remember that this bet can be made only after a point has been established.
The great thing about this strategy is that there is no house edge because the odds of landing these numbers are statistically fair. However, the payouts are lower when laying the odds — 4 and 10 pay 2:1, 5 and 9 pay 3:2, and 6 and 8 pay 6:5.
The Basic 6/8 Craps Strategy
The 6/8 strategy is one of the most popular bets at craps tables among intermediate-skilled players. The reason for that is because 6 and 8 statistically have the second-greatest odds of being rolled (besides 7).
There are several ways to play the 6/8 strategy, but the simplest version goes like this: After the come-out roll, you place bets on both the 6 and 8. If either number hits before a 7 or the point (if not 6 or 8), you collect your winnings, take down your bets, and wait for the next shooter. Then, you repeat the process. If you win two rounds in a row, increase your bets by one unit and continue betting that higher amount until you lose — at which point you reset to your original unit size.
Here’s an example:
- Bet $6 on 6 and 8 (12 dollars total)
- A 6 is rolled take your profit, take down your bets, and wait for a new shooter
- Bet $6 on 6 and 8 again
- A 6 is rolled collect your profits, take down your bets, and wait for a new shooter
- Increase your bet on 6 and 8 to $12 each ($24 total)
- 8 is rolled, collect profits, take down your bets, and wait for the new shooter
- Bet 12 on 6 and 8, the point is rolled before you hit a bet.
- On the next shooter, reduce your bet to $6
Joe YarnoldCasino & Betting Expert
What is the Best Strategy for Craps?
Craps Pass Line is among the best strategy for craps and most-used techniques for playing this game. After all, it’s a numbers game, and that’s why players opt for it. This strategy offers a low house edge (1.41%) and pays even money (1:1). It can also be combined with other bets, allowing players to tailor their best mathematical craps strategy. On top of that, the Pass Line has simple rules everyone can grasp.
Seven and 11 are your best friends, and if the shooter hits them, you win. Scoring 2, 3, or 12 will send you to a losing position, while 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 establish a point. If the shooter throws another point before 7, you can scoop the win.
Remember that the outcome of the craps game depends on luck, and you can’t affect it in any way, regardless of your strategy. Nobody can promise you wins, and you should approach the game as entertainment and look for bets with the best odds.
Cheat Sheet for Craps Payouts
If you are unsure how to start playing craps, what all those markings on the table mean, and which bet to place in which situation, this is where the craps strategy chart comes into play. This cheat sheet can be beneficial to both beginners and advanced players.
When playing craps, a cheat sheet can prove helpful for checking odds and payouts for specific bets because there’s no need for you to memorize all this information. Over time, you’ll become more confident and use the chart less and less.
Below is the table displaying craps odds, payouts, and house edge for bets suitable for all experience levels.
Pass/ Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come
Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come bets are the foundation of most winning craps systems. They offer near 50/50 odds and carry the lowest house edge of any initial bets on the table.
| Bet | House Edge | Payout Odds | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1.4114% | 1:1 | 251 to 244 |
| Don’t Pass | 1.360% | 1:1 | 976 to 949 |
| Come Bet | 1.4114% | 1:1 | 251 to 244 |
| Don’t Come Bet | 1.360% | 1:1 | 976 to 949 |
Pass Line Odds or Come Odds
The Pass Line and Come odds bet is a secondary wager that can only be made after you’ve already placed an initial Pass Line bet and the point is established. This bet is unique because it offers true odds with a zero house edge, making it one of the most favorable bets in the casino.
| Bet | House Edge | Payout | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point is 4 or 10 | 0% | 2:1 | 2:1 |
| Point is 5 or 9 | 0% | 3:2 | 3:2 |
| Point is 6 or 8 | 0% | 6:5 | 6:5 |
Don’t Pass or Don’t Come Odds
The Don’t Pass and Don’t Come odds bets, like the Pass Line and Come odds bets, offer a 0% house edge, making them great low-risk options once a point is established.
| Don’t Pass | House Edge | Payout | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2.44% | 1:2 | 1:2 |
| 5 or 9 | 3.23% | 2:3 | 2:3 |
| 6 or 8 | 4.0% | 5:6 | 5:6 |
Place Bets
Place bets have a wide range of house edges and payouts depending on what number you bet on as you can see in the table below.
| Place bets | House Edge | Payout Odds | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 6.7% | 9:5 | 2:1 |
| 5 or 9 | 4.0% | 7:5 | 3:2 |
| 6 or 8 | 1.52% | 7:6 | 6:5 |
Joe YarnoldCasino & Betting Expert
Field Bets
Field bets are bets on the very next roll of the dice, and you are essentially betting that a 5,6,7, or 8 will not be rolled. You win if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 is rolled. The payout is best for 2 or 12, which will payout at 2 to 1 or, in some casinos, 3 to 1.
| Field bet | House Edge | Payout Odds | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 5.5% | 1 to 1 | 4: 5 overall |
| 2, 12 | 5.5%/ 2..78 | 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 | 4:5 overall |
Prop Bets
Prop bets are some of the most tempting bets in craps as they offer some of the biggest payouts. However, they also have some of the highest house edges, so the best craps strategy is to avoid these bets, as you are much more likely to lose in the long run.
| Bet | House Edge | Payout | True Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 16.67% | 4 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
| Any Craps (2,3, or 12) | 11.11% | 7 to 1 | 8 to 1 |
| 2 craps or 12 craps | 13.90% | 30 to 1 | 35 to 1 |
| 3 Craps or 11 | 11.11% | 15 to 1 | 17 to 1 |
| Big 6 or Big 8 | 9.09% | 1 to 1 | 6 to 5 |
Top 6 Craps Betting Strategy Tips
You can always improve your craps strategy with a few additional tips in mind. Even though these suggestions won’t make you a pro overnight, you can use them to enhance your craps online strategy and skills. Thus, consider adding these to your arsenal:
Choosing the Right Craps Game
Nowadays, you’ll find scores of game developers launching their own craps games. The rules of such variations are essentially the same, but each vendor typically adds some twists to make the game more appealing and innovative.
Test as many craps games as you need to find the one that suits you best. Conduct online research, learn the game’s rules, and check whether there are any additional requirements in the T&C.
Manage Money in Craps
What’s the use of your most profitable craps strategy if you haven’t learned how to manage your funds properly? Don’t follow a losing streak, as it will only drain your bankroll. Money management should also be part of your best strategy for craps.
Joe YarnoldCasino & Betting Expert
Follow Your Craps Strategy
Don’t quit the craps strategy just because you ended up on the losing side. Instead, continue following it to determine whether it pays off. Even better, test the same strategy on different craps games. One or two attempts at it won’t give you an accurate idea of how it works.
Know When to Quit
It’s never a good idea to chase your losses, and it’s essential to know when to leave the table. Don’t get swept up in the game by winning excitement, and quit even if it affects your craps strategy. After all, you can never be a winner if you are greedy and don’t learn to walk away with even a slight profit.
Watch Out for Minimum or Maximum Bet Limits
Offshore online casinos offer a range of minimum and maximum bet limits to accommodate both low and high rollers, giving you the flexibility to choose games and the best craps betting strategy that aligns with your budget. If you’re new to the game, it’s advisable to start at tables with lower minimum bet limits, helping your bankroll last longer across multiple sessions.
On the other hand, if you plan to use a negative progression strategy it’s important to select a table with a high maximum bet limit, as this can significantly impact the effectiveness of such betting systems.
Practice with Free Online Craps Games
You won’t be able to find live craps for free, but some online casinos have free RNG variants available to everyone. This is an excellent way for new players to get first-hand experience of the game without spending a dime, but experienced players can hone their strategies for craps as well.
Additionally, you can leverage bonuses and promotions, especially no deposit ones, the casinos have to try out the craps games.
Looking for More Casino Strategy Tips?
Below, you’ll find strategies for online casino games that will help you improve your gameplay.
- Video Poker Strategy
- James Bond Roulette Strategy
- Roulette Strategy
- Poker Strategy
- Baccarat Strategy
- Sic Bo Strategy
Conclusion
The best way to play craps and the most effective strategy vary from player to player, depending on factors like your risk tolerance, bankroll, and goals. Experimenting with different strategies is the key to discovering the one that works best for you. However, when trying out a new strategy, it’s wise to start with smaller bets or even play free versions of the game to minimize risk before committing real money.
And remember, no matter what strategy you use, it does not change the house edge of any bet, and there’s no such thing as a “sure thing” in craps. What strategies can do, however, is help you bet more effectively, manage your bankroll, reduce risky bets, and extend your time at the table
FAQ
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Responsible Gambling
The online casino industry must advocate responsible gaming practices to prevent problem gamblers from developing adverse consequences, which can lead to financial hardship and social problems.
Setting daily, weekly, and monthly limits is a crucial part of practicing responsible gambling. If you need help, you can also seek support from family and friends and treat gambling as entertainment. You can also seek advice from support groups or reach out to anti-gambling organizations, such as:
Additionally, feel free to call 1-800-GAMBLER if you are struggling with problem gambling.
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