Craps Guide

Craps may very likely be one of the most complicated casino games available with so many different betting options as well as different odds for the different bets. All of these factors can make the game of craps seem intimidating but it is typically where the action is because it is such a lively game with so much involvement from the betters so many people flock to the craps tables even if they aren’t very knowledgeable. The great thing about the game of craps is that it is one game where the house offers a bet where they do not have an advantage. Although craps is a complicated game with many different options available, it is possible to be successful at this game without knowing all the minute details of the game. A few strategic bets can help you to succeed at the craps table.

Can You Really Buy the Odds?

Although it sounds too good to be true, as previously mentioned, craps is one casino game that offers a bet where they do not have the advantage. When you bet the pass line, you have the opportunity to place a bet on the odds after the point is determined. When you place an odds bet it means that you are betting that the point will be rolled before a 7 is rolled. When the point is a 6 or an 8, the payout for an odds bet is 6:5. The odds pay 3:2 for a 5 or 9 roll and 2:1 for a 4 or 10 roll. The table below illustrates the house advantage when you combine a pass line bet with an odds bet.

The Don’t Pass Bet

A don’t pass bet is essentially the converse of pass line bet. This bet is known as a wrong bet because it is the opposite bet as most people at the table make. For this reason, you win when the majority of bettors lose and you lose when the majority of betters win. You will win on a 2 or a 3 in the come out roll and you will lose on a 7 or 11 in the come out roll. A roll of a 12 results in a push where neither you nor the house wins the bet and your bet is returned to you.

The Laying the Odds Bet

Laying the odds is similar to the option to buy odds when you bet the pass line. When you place a don’t pass bet you have the option to lay odds. While buying odds is a bet that the point will be rolled before a 7 is rolled, laying the odds is a bet that a 7 will be rolled before the point. If the point is a 4 or a 10 this bet will pay 1:2 if it is a 5 or a 9 it will pay 2:3 and if it is a 6 or an 8 it will pay 5:6.The table below illustrates the house advantage when you combine a don’t pass bet with a laying odds bet.

The Place Number Bets

The place number bets are always an option and many contestants who are impatient and need to have each roll of the dice result in a win or a loss often favor this type of bet. The problem with these types of bets however is that they can be confusing and betting on the same number in different ways can result in different advantages to the house. If you want to place number bets, you should be aware of which options offer the lowest house advantage before placing your bet. For example, if you want to bet that a 6 will be rolled before the next 7, you have the option to place bet on 6, buy bet on 6 or bet the big 6. These are all winners if a 6 is rolled before a 7 is rolled but their house advantages are 1.52% for the place bet, 4.76% for the buy bet and 9.09% for the big 6 bet.

It is clear to see that the place bet is your best option but it is still not uncommon to see those who are not aware of the odds to place a big 6 bet and the casinos rely on this lack of knowledge to pad their profits. With both buy and place bets you are betting that the number you choose will be rolled before a 7 is rolled. Conversely, with a lay bet you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before the chosen number. When placing a lay bet, your bet is for more than you can win because the odds on the 4 and 10 are 1:2, odds on the 5 and 9 are 2:3 and odds on the 6 and 8 are 5:6. Additionally, the players placing lay bets must pay a 5% commission on potential earnings. For this reason, bets should be made in multiples of $40 for the 4 and 10, $30 for the 5 and 9 and $24 for the 6 and 8. This will prevent rounding up on the commissions that further enhance the house advantage. The table below offers a summary of some of the available bets and the advantage that they give to the house. Careful note should be made to the options highlighted in red. Although these bets are available, it is important to note that there are other bets that win on the same roll but pay at better odds.

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