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J. Phillip Vogel covers all the possible bets you can
place on the craps table, including basic tips and strategy
by J. Phillip
Vogel
Click here to read Craps
for Beginners: Basic Bets
Quick Betting Reference
For easy reference, below is a summary of the main features for the various
bets in craps, including a basic description, payout, and corresponding house
edge.
Betting Summary: Multiple Roll Bets
| Bet |
Basic Description |
Pays |
Edge |
| Big Six |
6 shows before 7 |
1-1 |
9.09% |
| Big Eight |
8 shows before 7 |
1-1 |
9.09% |
| Buy 4 |
4 shows before 7 |
39-21 |
4.76% |
| Buy 5 |
5 shows before 7 |
29-21 |
4.76% |
| Buy 6 |
6 shows before 7 |
23-21 |
4.76% |
| Buy 8 |
8 shows before 7 |
23-21 |
4.76% |
| Buy 9 |
9 shows before 7 |
29-21 |
4.76% |
| Buy 10 |
10 shows before 7 |
39-21 |
4.76% |
| Come |
Delayed Pass Line Bet |
1-1 |
1.41% |
| Don’t Come |
Delayed Don’t Pass Bets |
1-1 |
1.37% |
| Don’t Pass |
Betting against the point |
1-1 |
1.37% |
| Hard 4 |
Roll 2-2 before seven/easy four |
7-1 |
11.1% |
| Hard 6 |
Roll 3-3 before seven/easy six |
9-1 |
9.09% |
| Hard 8 |
Roll 4-4 before seven/easy eight |
9-1 |
9.09% |
| Hard 10 |
Roll 5-5 before seven/easy ten |
7-1 |
11.1% |
| Lay 4 |
7 shows before 4 |
1-2 |
2.44% |
| Lay 5 |
7 shows before 5 |
2-3 |
3.23% |
| Lay 6 |
7 shows before 6 |
5-6 |
4.00% |
| Lay 8 |
7 shows before 8 |
5-6 |
4.00% |
| Lay 9 |
7 shows before 9 |
2-3 |
3.23% |
| Lay 10 |
7 shows before 10 |
1-2 |
2.44% |
| Pass Line |
Betting on the point |
1-1 |
1.41% |
| Place 4 |
4 shows before 7 |
9-5 |
6.67% |
| Place 5 |
5 shows before 7 |
7-5 |
4.00% |
| Place 6 |
6 shows before 7 |
7-6 |
1.52% |
| Place 8 |
8 shows before 7 |
7-6 |
1.52% |
| Place 9 |
9 shows before 7 |
7-5 |
4.00% |
| Place 10 |
10 shows before 7 |
9-5 |
6.67% |
Betting Summary: Proposition/Single Roll Bets
| Bet |
Brief Description |
Pays |
Edge |
| Any Craps |
2, 3, or 12 on next roll |
7-1 |
11.1% |
| Any Seven |
A one-roll on the seven |
4-1 |
16.2% |
| Field |
2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 next roll |
2-1 |
5.56% |
| Hop (2 numbers) |
Any specified two numbers |
15-1 |
11.1% |
| Hop (1 number) |
Any pair of numbers |
30-1 |
13.9% |
| Horn |
2, 3, 11, or 12 next roll |
By number |
12.5% |
| Horn (2 or 12 high) |
2, 3, 11, or 12, double on 2 or 12 |
By number |
12.8% |
| Horn (3 or 11 high) |
2, 3, 11, or, 12; double on 3 or 11 |
By number |
12.2% |
| World |
2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 next roll |
By number |
13.3% |
| 2 |
Two shows on next roll |
30-1 |
13.9% |
| 3 |
Three shows on next roll |
15-1 |
11.1% |
| 11 |
Eleven shows on next roll |
15-1 |
11.1% |
| 12 |
Twelve shows on next roll |
30-1 |
13.9% |
Basics Tips and Strategy
While there are plenty of strategies designed to fit the various playing styles,
for beginners I suggest sticking with the “Do” side of the table, taking it
slow until you have mastered to game basics. Here are some basic strategy tips
to help you get started.
• Play the pass line. The pass line is the most fundamental bet in craps, and
perhaps the best place to start if you’re a beginner. It’s simple and comes
with the added benefit of offering a moderately low house edge of 1.41%. Regardless
of your bankroll, play at the table minimum until you understand how the bet
works.
• Take the odds. If you’re betting the pass line (or the come), be sure to take
proper odds as this drastically reduces the house’s edge. For example, if you
take full odds at a double odds table (2 times the pass bet) the combined edge
for the pass line and odds is only 0.6%--quite a drop from the 1.41% you’re
getting on the pass line alone.
• Avoid proposition bets. There are some craps players who use proposition bets
as a hedge against another bet. They might, for example, bet a $3 Any Craps
(7-1) to protect their $20 pass line bet on the come out roll. While the effectiveness
of such strategy varies, for the beginner, there is one rule to follow concerning
proposition bets: stay away. They house edge on each and every one of these
best is poor at best, and downright horrible at its worst.
Once you’ve given craps a try, you’ll find that it really is one of the easiest
and most entertaining games in a casino. And if you do it right and stick with
the bets that offer the best odds, you’ll likely find yourself on the receiving
end of some nice paydays.
J. Phillip Vogel
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