The basic craps strategy for beginners

In craps, everything is decided with a throw of the dice. However, you don’t have to leave it all to chance. While luck plays a big part, there are ways to improve your odds and become a savvier craps player. Learn how to minimise the house edge, maximise your payout potential, and keep your gameplay enjoyable in this guide.

Want to play smarter and bet wiser in craps? Read on to learn about the rules, bet types and payouts below.

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What is a craps casino game? 

Casino craps is a dice game where players wager on the outcome of the roll. It is a popular casino game worldwide known for its social atmosphere and various betting options. 

Craps originated from a British game called ‘hazard’. It made its way to France, where gamblers would crouch around the betting space like crapauds, which is an old English word for hunched-over toads that later gave the popular dice game the name ‘craps’. 

In craps, all deals happen around a specially-designed table with different sections. These sections represent the wagers such as the Pass & Don’t Pass, Come & Don’t Come, Field, and Odds bets.

Understanding the basics of craps: Mechanics, table layout and gameplay

Craps is a fast-paced casino game played with two dice. It is played on a specialised table with a unique layout designed specifically for the game.

Learn all about the rules, mechanics, and gameplay in detail below:

Objective

Like the physical casino game, your goal in online craps is to win bets based on the outcome of the two dice.

Table layout

One of the vital elements of this game is its table layout. The craps table has different sections, each corresponding to various betting options.

Take a look at the table layout of craps below: 

This is the typical layout of the craps table. However, you can find other versions depending on the game.

The table has designated areas for each wager, such as Pass Line, Don’t Pass Bar and more. To better understand the table layout, here’s the breakdown for you:

Centre layout

The long curved line in the centre of the table is the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar.

• Pass Line: This is the most popular bet area. It extends from one end to the other along the bottom edge of the table.
• Don't Pass Bar: Above the Pass Line is the Don’t Pass Bar. This bet is the opposite of the Pass Line, as you’re betting against the shooter. 

Come and Don’t Come bets

The designated areas near the Pass Line and Don't Pass Bar are the Come and Don’t Come bets. They function similarly to Pass/Don't Pass bets. The only difference is that you place this bet after the come-out roll.

Number bets

The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 you can see at the top are the Number bets. In other versions, this section is also known as the ‘Place to win/Place to lose’. You can typically find this section on either end of the table, allowing you to bet on specific numbers appearing before a 7.

Big 6/8

This is located between the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar in the corners of the table.

Field bet

The section above the Don’t Pass bar is the Field bet. It offers various wagers on whether the next roll will be a specific combination of numbers, such as 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.

Additional areas

You can also find additional areas, which vary per game. It includes Hardways, Any Craps and One Roll Bet. 

Betting options

As you’ve seen in the table layout above, craps offers various betting options. Knowing each bet is one of the best strategies in playing raps, as it can help you make informed decisions during gameplay. You don’t have to memorise the side bets; you only need to know the most basic bets.

Find out the most common betting options when you play in craps below: 

Pass Line bet

• The most popular and beginner-friendly bet.
• You win if the face value of the dice rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll or rolls their point number before a 7.
• It has a low house edge of around 1.41%.

Don’t Pass Bar

• This bet is the opposite of the Pass Line.
• You win if the face value of the dice rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out roll or rolls a 7 before their point number.
• It also has a low house edge of around 1.36%.

Big 6 & Big 8

• This bet is another popular betting option in craps, along with Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar.
• You win if the face value of the dice is a 6 or 8 before landing a 7
• The house edge of this bet is around 9.1%.

The Field

• Place this wager if you think the dice will land a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 on a single roll.
• You can double or triple your money by placing your wager on 2 or 12.
• Field Bets have a higher house edge compared to Pass/Don't Pass bets, ranging from around 5.56% to 16.67%, depending on the specific bet.

Come and Don’t Come

• Place a bet on the Come box if you think the dice land a 7 or 11 on your next roll.
• If you think the dice will land 2, 3, or 12 on your next roll, place a bet on the Don't Come box.
• This bet has the same house edge as Pass/Don't Pass bets, around 1.41%.

The Place

• Place your bet on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) being rolled before a 7.
• This bet has a slightly higher house edge, around 1.52%, compared to Pass/Don’t Pass bets.

Additional bets

• Hardways/Any Craps are bets on specific dice combinations (like doubles or a 7 rolled a certain way).
• One-roll Bets are high-risk, high-reward bets on specific outcomes of the next roll, such as ‘Will the next roll be a 7?’
• Both Hardways and One Roll Bets are high-risk due to their lower probability of winning. 
• They have a high house edge, ranging from 10% to 16.7%.

Payouts and odds

Now, let’s discover the payouts of each betting option. This information is crucial for deciding which bets to place. 

Check the table below and see each betting option’s payouts and odds:

The odds and payout vary depending on your version, so always check the table layout. Your odds of winning are approximate and can vary depending on the game. 

Other craps side bets and their payout

For a more advanced playstyle, you can also place side bets whenever available. Here are other side bets in craps and their payouts:

How to play craps for beginners: Step-by-step process

After learning the rules, table layout, betting options and odds in craps, it’s time to know the gameplay. Here’s how to play online craps:

1. Place your bets

Upon entering the craps game, you'll see the virtual craps table. Here, you can make a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet. To place a bet, click on the desired betting area on the virtual craps table. Choose your chip denomination and click again to place your bet. You can also place multiple bets per round if desired.

2. Roll the dice

Once you've placed your bets, click the ‘Roll’ or ‘Throw’ button to start the roll of the virtual dice. In some online craps games, you have the option to roll the dice manually or use an automated roll. 

A shooter throws the come-out roll, which is indicated by a black puck with the written label ‘OFF’ on it

3. The outcome of the roll

The outcome of the roll determines whether your bets win or lose based on the rules of craps. There will be three possible results once the dice are rolled: 

1. Natural: It happens when the result is a 7 or an 11. You immediately win if this happens and you’ll get to roll the dice again. 
2. Craps: It happens if you roll a 2, 3 or 12. You’ll lose and your stake will be taken but you get to roll again. 
3. Point: It happens if you roll on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The number will serve as your Point which will be marked on the table. The puck will then be moved to the number and flipped so its colour changes to white and its label to ‘ON’. 

If you win, you receive the payout automatically in your account. If you lose, they deduct the amount of your lost bets instantly.

4. Keep playing

Once you get your Point established, the come-out roll will end and you will roll the dice again and aim for the same number. If the number 7 rolls out before you hit your Point, you lose and the betting round is over. Otherwise, the puck will turn ‘OFF’ and you’ll make a come-out roll once again.

If you want to compliment your Pass Line bet, place your chips and select other bet types you want. 

Since craps is a fast-paced game, you have to pay attention to determine whether your bets are winning or not. If you think your bets are losing a couple of times, you can remove it from the table using the chip removal button. 

Best craps strategies for beginners

Craps offers a thrilling experience that combines luck and strategy. With the right knowledge and approach, you can play the game confidently and potentially improve your chances of winning. To experience this, find the best craps strategy below:

1. The 6 and 8 craps strategy

The 6 and 8 Craps strategy is a simple craps strategy that focuses on betting on two numbers: 6 and 8. This strategy believes that 6 and 8 are two of the most common numbers to roll in craps (besides 7). Each has a 16.67% chance of rolling on any given throw.

The ‘6 and 8 Craps Strategy’ is a negative progression strategy, which means you increase your wager amount after a loss to recoup your losses and hopefully turn a profit when you win. In this strategy, you’re aiming to capitalise on their relatively high probability of rolling compared to other numbers.

How does it work?

The 6/8 craps strategy works by betting only on the numbers 6 and 8 and hitting one of them before a 7 shows up. 

 Here is an example:

1. Establish a point.
2. Place 6 USDT on 6 and 6 USDT on 8 for a total of 12 USDT. If a 7 comes out before 6 or 8, you will lose the round. If a 6 or 8 is rolled before a 7 you win and you’ll get 7 USDT.
3. If you manage to win two times in a row, you’ll get 14 USDT on winnings plus your two initial wagers, thus giving you a total of 38 USDT on winnings. 
4. You can now afford to bump up your bet to 12 USDT each on 6 and 8 for a total of 24 USDT, leaving you with 14 USDT. If you win again, you’ll get 14 USDT plus your initial bet.
5. If you lose your bet, drop back down to 6 USDT and progress to 12 USDT, 24 USDT and so on as you win.

Let’s say you play for 10 rounds using the Place 6/8 craps strategy with an increment of 6 USDT, here’s a table showing a possible outcome of the rounds:

Suppose the outcome of your game is just like the above table, this means that you bet a total of 228 USDT and won a total amount of 259 USDT. 

Advantages and disadvantages

When you use the 6/8 progression strategy, you pick only low house edge numbers, which are 6 and 8. This is a great advantage since these two numbers are likely to roll most often. There are 5 ways to roll them, thus there are 10 ways to win. Plus, Place Bets only need to be hit once to win unlike a Pass Line or Come Bet, which needs to be hit twice.

However, there is a risk that you can go for long spells without getting any win. This means that you may need to dig deep in your pockets before you can make a profit.

2. The Iron Cross strategy

The Iron Cross Strategy is a beginner Craps strategy. It is a popular craps betting strategy that aims to cover as many numbers as possible on the table while minimising losses. This strategy involves placing multiple bets simultaneously to increase the chances of winning on any given roll.

How does it work?

Your goal in the Iron Cross strategy is to bet on all the numbers except 7 by taking advantage of the Field and Place bet. In other words, you’ll have to make four wagers: a field bet, 5, 6 and 8.

Keep in mind that the Field bet covers the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 while the place bet covers the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Since the only numbers not covered by Field bets are 5, 6 and 8, you have to put your Place bets on these numbers as well. As a result, your bets will cover all numbers except 7. 

Advantages and disadvantages

The Iron Cross strategy is great for people who want to have a quick game. Plus, it has a high chance of winning since you have wagered on 11 out of 12 possible dice roll outcomes. This means that you can get paid every time the dice does not roll on a 7. 

The only downside to this strategy is it offers a low payout (1:1). This means you win small amounts frequently but don't accumulate significant profits on any single roll. Moreover, the Iron Cross strategy is not designed for long-term bets, which means the longer you play, the higher your chances of losing your bankroll. This is because having multiple bets gives a higher house edge, so the longer you stay and bet, the riskier your game will be.

3. The Field Martingale craps strategy

In this strategy, a player doubles his bet after every loss. After a win, he will come back to the original bet. The theory behind this is that the first win would recover the previous losses and win a profit equal to or more than the original bet.

How does it work?

The Martingale strategy in craps is best done by betting on the Field bet, Pass and Don’t Pass Line bets, 6 and 8 Place bets and the Come and Don’t Come bets. Let’s assume that you’ll play on the field bet, and you’ll win once you roll on a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Here’s an example of how your game can play out:

1. Establish a point.
2. Place your Field bet. If the dice are rolled in any number other than 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12, you’ll lose. 
3. You have to double your bet if you lose. Otherwise, you’ll go back to your original bet. Say, if your first bet is 10 USDT and you lose two times in a row but win on the third roll, you can now start your bet with 10 USDT again. 

Take a look at the table below for a clearer explanation:

As seen above, you can win the amount of your initial wager if you double your losses and win on the next roll. You can also bag a higher amount if you win again on the next throw. 

Advantages and disadvantages

The Martingale betting strategy is great for those who want to spend only a few hours on the game since you can have a chance to recover your losses after a few rounds. Also, since this strategy doubles your bet as you lose, you can start betting with a small amount first. 

However, the problem with the Martingale strategy is that you always need to ensure that you have a massive bankroll to risk since this system includes doubling your losses. As a result, it may deplete your bankroll faster if you keep on losing. 

4. The 3-point molly strategy

The goal of the 3-point molly is an aggressive craps strategy and works on three points at the same time. Moreover, you have to keep your wagers low and work on increasing your potential payout by taking advantage of various positions on the craps table.

How does it work?

Here is how a 3-point molly strategy works:

1. Bet on the Pass Line where you win if the dice rolls at a 7 or 11. But if the roll results in a 2, 3 or 12, you lose. Once done, roll the dice to establish the Point. 
2. Once you have established your Point, you can place maximum odds by placing 3x, 4x or 5x on the Pass Line.
3. Once your first Point is set and you’re done betting at maximum odds, you have to establish your second Point. To do this, bet on the Come section. If the dice rolls on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 except the original Point, your Come Bet will move to this number, becoming your second Point.
4. Place odds for your second Point.
5. Bet again on the Come section to establish your third Point.
6. Repeat throwing the dice until you hit all three points.

For a clearer explanation of the 3-point strategy, check out the example below:

1. Establish your first Point. For instance, you got a 6.
2. Place a Come bet and a Pass Line bet. Roll the dice again and try to get your second Point. Remember to aim for any number except a 2, 3 or 12 for your Come bet to become a Point. If you got a 7 or 11, your Come bet will win but your Pass Line bet loses. In that case, you have to start over again. Otherwise, if you roll and get 9 instead, it will become your second Point.
3. Next, you’ll have to place odds on your second Point, which is 9.
4. Place another Come bet to try and get your third Point. Assuming the dice rolled on an 8, you’ve now established your third Point. By now, your 3 points are the following:

   1. 1st Point - 6

   2. 2nd Point - 9

   3. 3rd Point - 8

5. Place a bet on your third Point, which is 8. 
6. Now that you’ve established your three Points. You just have to roll it out and try to hit them. In this case, you’ll have to avoid hitting on number 7. Rolling on numbers other than your three points won’t have any effect on your game.

Advantages and disadvantages

One of the advantages of the 3-point molly strategy is that it offers odd bets that give you a chance to get great payouts. Maximising these odd bets can lower the house edge. The Come bets protect your Pass Line bet and can turn into a profit if you roll on a 7 or 11. Since this strategy lets you work with 3 numbers, any number can give you an advantage during the game. However, you have to hit each number twice to win.

5. The craps odds strategy

The odds bets can’t be seen on a craps table, but it is one of the best bets you can work on when playing craps. As mentioned earlier, here are the payout values for each odd bet:

• 6:5 for 6 and 8
• 3:2 for 5 and 9
• 2:1 for 4 and 10

How does it work?

1. Wait for the Point to be established through the come-out roll.
2. Odds are placed behind the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets, so you have to make one of those bets and then put extra wagers behind them to represent the odds.
3. Payouts will be based on the true odds of winning, so there’s no house edge.

Advantages and disadvantages

Odd bets don’t have any house edge, meaning the casino has no advantage over you. This allows you to play more without risking your bankroll too much. 

However, take note that placing odd bets can eat up your bankroll quickly since you need to place multiple bets, forcing you to place larger wagers. Also, your original wager still has a house edge. To counter this and balance out your odds, you need to place a Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line bet backed with higher odds. 

For example, if you bet 5 USDT on the Don’t Pass Line and place a 5x odds, which is equal to 25 USDT, only your 5 USDT is subject to the house edge if you win. The 25 USDT will remain as is, countering the house edge for the original bet.

Online craps gambling tips to improve your play

Here are some tips to keep in mind when playing craps to get the most from the game:

Place low-house edge bets

Certain bets in craps offer a lower house edge compared to others. Bets like Pass Line/Don't Pass offer some of the best odds, which can be your winning craps strategy. 

In line with this, avoid betting on bet types with higher house edge (sometimes exceeding 10%). These bets, like Hardways or One Roll Bets, might be tempting due to their high payouts, but the odds of winning are significantly lower. These bets can quickly drain your bankroll as losses accumulate.

Bet against the dice

Betting against the dice means you’re placing your wager on a Don’t Pass bet, hoping for a 2, 3, or 12 to appear in the come-out. The reason why you should put your wager on this bet is because the Pass line bet has a higher house edge compared to the Don’t Pass bet. Although there is a small difference in the house edge, it will still matter in the long run if you plan to take home a huge payout.

Don’t hedge your bets

Hedging your bet may sound like a smart move to protect yourself from losing your entire wager, but it only offsets your win. This involves betting on a different outcome than insurance. Hedging the Pass Line bet with Any Craps bet is one way of doing this. The Any Craps bet means wagering on the shooter rolling craps.

Suppose that you bet 10 USDT for the shooter to hit a natural. If a 7 or 11 appears on the come-out roll, you win; if the dice roll either 2, 3, or 12, you lose. However, if you bet 1 USDT on the Any Craps bet, the 7:1 payout of Any Craps will reward 7 USDT. If the 10 USDTwager wins, only the 1 USDT hedge bet is lost. 

However, hedging doesn’t change your odds of winning in craps since the shooter can also roll a point. If this happens, you will lose more than what you wagered since the point shots also have a higher house edge. 

Analyse the effectiveness of the crap betting strategy based on your game results

At the end of every craps round, you should analyse the result of the strategy you used to see if it met your expectations. If it does, then you will know what to use the next time you play a round of the game. Otherwise, you should try other strategies.

Understand the odds

By knowing the probabilities of winning associated with each bet, you can choose bets that offer better chances of winning or higher payouts relative to the risk involved. Moreover, you can assess the likelihood of winning or losing on each bet and adjust your wagering accordingly. It can help you avoid placing bets with excessively high house edges that could lead to significant losses.

Set a bankroll limit and a time limit

Remember not to bet money you can’t afford to lose and only play at crap tables where you can afford the table minimum. Moreover, even though strategies provide a more structured approach to betting, there’s no guarantee of winning since craps is still a game of chance. 

Even with low-house edge bets, there's no guarantee of winning every round. Make sure you always assess your bankroll first before entering another round or making another bet. Bankroll management helps you approach the game objectively and avoid chasing losses. Moreover, to prevent losing too much, you can set a time limit on your craps games.

Avoid believing in craps strategy myths

There is a wide range of gambling luck superstitions and myths surrounding craps, but since there is no mathematical or scientific explanation to prove them, it is best to avoid believing in such things. Here are some of the craps strategy myths players should not believe:

• Blowing on the craps dice gives better results
• Women are luckier than men 
• Saying the word ‘seven’ is unlucky

Practice and play for free 

If you’re a beginner, the best craps strategy is to practice playing the game. You can do this through demo versions of online craps games. You can experiment with different wagers, experience the game's flow, and be familiar with the terminology without losing real money.