Craps Strategy Guide
Craps looks chaotic but the smart game is simple. Almost all of the value is in a handful of low-edge bets — the Pass/Don't Pass line and the free Odds behind it — while the flashy center bets are where the house makes its money.
A round begins with a come-out roll that either resolves the line immediately or establishes a point; from there the shooter rolls until the point repeats or a 7 ends the round.
How to Play
- A round starts with a come-out roll. On the Pass line, 7 or 11 wins, 2/3/12 (craps) loses, and any other number becomes the 'point'.
- Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling: roll the point again to win the Pass line, or roll a 7 first to 'seven-out' and lose.
- After a point is set you can take free Odds behind the Pass line — paid at true odds with zero house edge, the best bet in the casino.
- Don't Pass is the mirror bet (2/3 win, 7/11 lose, 12 pushes). Come bets work like a Pass bet started mid-roll and travel to the number rolled.
- Place bets on 4,5,6,8,9,10 win if that number rolls before a 7. The one-roll Field bet wins on 2,3,4,9,10,11,12.
Pay Tables
Key bet payouts
- Pass / Don't Pass / Come1 to 1
- Odds — point 6 or 86 to 5
- Odds — point 5 or 93 to 2
- Odds — point 4 or 102 to 1
- Place 6 or 87 to 6
- Place 5 or 97 to 5
- Place 4 or 109 to 5
- Field — 22 to 1
- Field — 123 to 1
Strategy
- Bet the Pass line (or Don't Pass) and always take the maximum free Odds — Odds are the only zero-edge bet, so they drag your overall edge down.
- For Place bets, stick to the 6 and 8 (1.5% edge); avoid 4 and 10 (6.7%).
- Skip the high-edge bets: the Field (~2.8%) and especially the center proposition/hardway bets (up to ~16%).
- The house always has an edge overall — set a loss limit and treat it as entertainment.
Want the correct play for a specific hand? Look up every Craps hand →
Each hand shows the optimal decision and the reasoning behind it.
House Edge
The Pass line is 1.41% and Don't Pass 1.36%; free Odds carry no house edge at all, so backing your line bet with Odds lowers your combined edge toward zero. Place 6/8 are 1.52%, the Field about 2.8%, and center proposition bets run far higher.
Tips
- Bet the Pass line (or Don't Pass) and take the maximum free Odds — it's the lowest-edge play on the floor.
- Among Place bets, favor the 6 and 8 and skip the 4 and 10.
- Avoid the Field and the center proposition/hardway bets — they carry the biggest house edges.
For entertainment only. No real-money gambling. 21+