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Ultimate Craps Strategy

  • Written By Kevin Parker
  • Edited
  • Reading 8 minutes

Craps is a simple table game I like to play since it’s not too complicated. Naturally, this game is all about rolling dice, hoping they turn to your favor. Nothing excites me more than the fun I have playing craps at the casino or online. The moment I learned craps strategy and terminologies, I became a pro player. At the craps table, there are four different persons ready to assist in winning the game. They are; the stickman who uses two hooked sticks to get the dice back to you after making a roll.

Furthermore, a box man is also present, and his work is to collect the betting cash. Last but not least are the dealer and the shooter. The dealer’s job is guiding on the expectations of craps, whereas I am the shooter since I am the one rolling the dice. In this article, I outline the best craps strategy.

How to kick off playing craps

Image of Starting a craps game

I know craps may seem complicated because of the vocabulary used at the table. So, it’s important to grasp them to have an edge in the fast action game.

There’s an indicator that guides me on when to start the game. That’s the marker. When it’s on, I can begin the game, but when it’s off, it means that the game is in progress.

The first thing I do before doing the rolls is to buy chips from the dealer. I must do this strictly from the craps table. As a rule of thumb, everything is exposed for everyone present to see.

So, after buying chips and the marker is off, I shoot the dice. If the first bet is a seven or eleven, that’s a win. But if it’s a 2, 3 or 12, that’s a loss. And when it’s any other number, it becomes the point number. After getting the point number, you keep shooting until the dice gives a sum of the point number. The point of focus is seven and ten. When the dice rolls on seven first, you lose.

These are the basics that help me understand the game as I started.

Craps strategy Reddit

Craps strategy Reddit Icon

Playing craps needs prudence, just like any other gambling game does. So, I am very cautious about the money I use to bet on craps. For instance, I would stick to $200 for the whole playtime. In so doing, I don’t risk losing big money, as I see most players do at the casino. Sticking to my budget is critical, even if I close just a $50 deal. My strategy is pretty simple as I focus on $5/ $10 minimum pass bets. I then minimize come bets and avoid place bets at all costs. I also don’t shoot when the table is cold. Usually, I will wait until a shooter sevens out so I can take over.

Take a look at more Craps Reddit Strategies here.

Low-risk craps strategy

Low Risk Craps Strategy Icon

Low-risk craps strategy is designed for low bankrollers. This strategy doesn’t give high returns as ideally, the higher the risk, the higher the return.

To take advantage of a low-risk approach, I prefer doing thorough research first. Since I want a house a lower than one percent house edge, I’ll use the pass and come bets with free odds. I can also bet on don’t come and don’t pass bet. It’s also best to establish what my goals of the game are. Do I want to spend more time or win big money in the fastest way possible? Answering these questions helped me settle on strategies that cost me less.

Winning craps strategy

Winning Craps Strategy Icon

Craps is a challenging game for both novice players and veterans. This is because playing the game depends on the skill of throwing the dice. Craps got me thinking about its house edge for all the odds apart from free odds. So, playing the game needs more practice to master the art of throwing the dice successfully. By merely decreasing sevens while increasing point numbers, winning is possible in craps. Rolling a seven after the first roll is considered a loss, so when it’s eliminated, winning in craps becomes possible.

Controlling the dice well is a winning strategy that increases the player’s edge. Through my encounter with craps, shooting dice is like taking chances. It’s required that the shooter hit the craps table wall for a successful roll. Thus, there’s no one sure way to throw the dice.

That’s why I insist on taking advantage of the 6 and 8 bets. In this one, I bet $5 on the pass line, and if I roll a 6 or 8, that’s the point number. I then bet $6 on the other number. Now the total wager is $11 at just $5. However, if the roll is neither 6 nor 8, I bet on both numbers. Here, I risk $17. Thus, pass bets give a 1.41 percent house edge, which is lower compared to 1.52 percent in place bets.

Advanced Craps Betting Strategy

Advanced Craps Betting Strategy

My advice on choosing the best-advanced craps betting strategy is to consider all its aspects. This helps in having the best choice of the plan that gives the best bet as there are many wagers available.

One advanced strategy I have always considered is betting on the pass line, numbers five, six, and eight, as well as a 3-way bet. In this strategy, I can win since I have odds in any outcomes of the dice. However, the chances of losing most of the bets are as well high. I would, therefore, suggest wagering higher amounts to cover the amount lost.

Take Advantage of the Proposition Bets

Proposition Bets in Craps Icon

Prop bets don’t give high payoffs, so I prefer playing them for fun. Most professional players discourage this strategy since it operates on lower stakes. Once I decide on playing on prop bets, I can get a stake of as little as €1. If it’s in a land-based casino, the stickman grants me the stakes.

I have seen the prop bets being distributed a few moments before the dice are thrown. After the stickman shouts, “Anyone eleven,” I handle them my chips if that’s my bet. Prop bets give 15/1 payoff. Thus, I can play them a few times, provided I don’t overindulge. Prop bets are low-risk craps strategy.

For prop bets, my stand remains only to play them as a side bet. I have seen players lose big money as they depended wholly on this strategy. Prop bets are best for already established crap players.

Craps Strategy Card

Craps Strategy Card Icon

Craps strategy card saves money by reducing the house edge. I would definitely go for something that won’t cost me a fortune. We are all here to win, right? A craps strategy card guides on the types of bets that gives a house edge of 1% or less. By clearly outlining craps plans that guarantee wins, this card increases your winning odds. This card is a perfect gift for any craps fan as it not only directs but also gives efficient winning hacks. On top of that, the card warns against playing bets with a house edge percentage of 10 percent and more.

Below is an example of what a Craps strategy or payout card can look like:

Craps Strategy Card Example

Craps BetOddsPayoffHouse Edge
Pass Line1 to 11 to 11.41%
Don’t Pass Line1 to 11 to 11.36%
Come & Don’t Come Bets
Come Bet1 to 11 to 11.41%
Don’t Come Bet1 to 11 to 11.36%
Pass Line Odds or Come Bet Odds
Number 4 to 102 to 12 to 1 0%
Number 5 or 93 to 23 to 20%
Number 6 or 86 to 56 to 50%
Don’t Pass Odds or Don’t Come Bet Odds
Number 4 to 101 to 21 to 20%
Number 5 or 92 to 32 to 30%
Number 6 or 85 to 65 to 60%
Buy Bets (5% Commission)
4, 10 2 to 139 to 214.76%
5, 93 to 229 to 214.76%
6,86 to 523 to 214.76%
Lay Bets (5% Commission)
6,81 to 219 to 412.44%
4, 102 to 319 to 313.23%
5, 9 5 to 619 to 254.00%
Place Bets
Number 4 to 102 to 19 to 56.67%
Number 5 or 93 to 27 to 54.00%
Number 6 or 86 to 57 to 61.52%
Hardways
6 or 810 to 19 to 19.09%
4 or 108 to 17 to 111.1%
Other Bets
Any 75 to 14 to 116.67%
Any Craps8 to 17 to 111.11%
2 craps or 12 craps35 to 130 to 113.90%
3 craps to 1117 to 115 to 111.11%
Big 6 or Big 81 to 11 to 19.09%
Field Bet (3,4,9,10,11)1 to 11 to 15.50%
Field Bet (2,12)1 to 11 to 15.50%

Side 2 of the craps strategy card indicates the layout of the craps game. It names the different bets and where they are placed.

Safe Craps Strategy

There’s no single method that guarantees wins in gambling. “Safe” here means low-risk strategies. Placing bets on pass-come-odds and don’t-come-don’t-pass lay odds are safe craps strategies. Additionally, betting on 6 and 8 is also reliable. The three methods involve lower wagers as compared to other strategies. I always advocate for looking at the preferences and bankroll factors before concluding on the safe craps strategy.

The Bottom Line

Craps game is my best table game yet. It’s easy-to-follow rules, and different strategies mean cracking the game is possible. Often, craps confuse many beginner players, but they should learn the ropes first. By practicing on free modes before factoring in real money, making it in craps is simple. The best craps strategies such as pass bets, don’t pass bets, free odds, prop bets, to name a few, enhance my wins. It’s also a fast and furious game, which means that everything at the craps table happens so fast. The dealers are standby to guide novice players who don’t grasp the concept too well.

Kevin was raised on sports since a young teen and following a (fortunate) injury pursued new hobbies in table games such as Blackjack and Poker. Since 2009 Kevin has been writing for casino sites for various big names in the industry and CasinoSites.us is but one of his latest passion projects.