Craps Strategy: How to Win at Craps?
Want to get better at the exciting dice game, Craps?
Winning at craps requires understanding the game's rules and employing strategic betting techniques. You can start by familiarizing yourself with the various types of bets, such as Pass Line, Don't Pass Line, and Craps Odds bets. Focus on bets with lower house edges to stand a better chance of winning.
We'll tell you how to find the best strategy for your craps game, the elements to look out for, and how you can use this strategy next time you're shooting those dice!
We'll even chuck in some tips on the best places to play online craps and where you can pick up a casino bonus.
Important Note: Whilst we describe the methods below as 'strategies', in truth, these are really just different types of bets to make when playing craps. Each offers different odds of winning, but as the results still depend on a throw of the dice (where the result is random), no strategy can guarantee winning or generating a specific outcome.
In our Craps Strategy Guide, you'll learn:
Get Started with a Craps Strategy
Before we get too ahead of ourselves, it's good to introduce the idea of a craps strategy and why you should use one when playing craps online.
In this part of our Craps Guide, we'll introduce you to the idea of a craps strategy, why you should use one, and what are some of the things to be aware of when using a strategy to play a craps game.
You can employ different craps betting strategies that use your knowledge of odds to improve your chances of a win.
Want to know the basics of craps? Read our full Guide to Playing Craps to learn the rules, and the basics of playing.
Read moreTypes of Craps Strategy
Here we'll outline a few types of craps strategy, including some of the most well-used strategies, so you can understand how these can be used to impact the bets you decide to make (or not make) and how the odds change for each.
Basic Beginners Craps Strategy
Let's start with some super-basic strategy first (remember to read our Craps for Beginners Guide first !) and the typical bets you'll likely make when starting out playing craps.
Pass Line Craps Strategy
The Pass Line Strategy means employing the most basic bet in craps. Betting in this way is the simplest craps strategy you'll find, and has the best odds of winning.
To make a Pass Line bet, place your chips on the Pass Line area of the craps table. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, you win. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll, you lose. If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the point. You will win if the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7.
The 'come out roll' is the first roll of the dice in craps, and often dictates how a game will go. Before the come out roll, bets may be placed on the pass line, and the outcome of this roll will determine the bets that need to be made after this for a payout.
Don't Pass Craps Strategy
Employing a Don't Pass Strategy at Craps effectively means betting against the shooter. So it might not be a popular move at the table, but can be effective.
The Don't Pass Line bet is the opposite of the Pass Line bet. To make a Don't Pass Line bet, place your chips on the Don't Pass Line area of the craps table. If the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 on the come out roll, you win. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, you lose.
If the shooter rolls any other number, that number becomes the point. The exception to this is if a 12 is rolled, which results in a 'push' (no wins or loses). You will win if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again.
Come Craps Strategy
Making a Come Bet is done after the point is established, and wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled. You lose if a 2,3 or 12 is rolled, whilst any other number establishes a new point. This number must be rolled again before a 7 to win.
Don't Come Craps Strategy
Using a Don't Come Strategy in Craps is very similar to the Don't Pass Strategy, but it is made after the come out roll.
To make a Don't Come bet, place your chips on the Don't Come bar. If the shooter rolls the number you bet on before rolling a 7, you lose. If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling your number, you win.
Payouts for Basic Craps Strategy
For each strategy type, we will show you the odds and payout. The payout in craps is determined by the true odds of a bet and the house edge.
The true odds is another name for the probability of winning a specific bet, whilst the house edge is the difference between the true odds of a bet paying out and the actual odds that a casino will use to pay the winner. The lower the house edge, the better for the player.
This table shows the odds and payout for the basic craps strategies we've covered above:
| Craps Bet | True Odds | Payout Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 251 to 244 | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don't Pass | 976 to 949 | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Come | 251 to 244 | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don't Come | 976 to 949 | 1:1 | 1.36% |
Intermediate Craps Strategy
If you've got the basics down, and can understand the bets above., you might be ready to try something more advanced. Here are some 'intermediate' strategies to try on your craps game.
The Craps Odds Strategy
This craps strategy involves 'laying the odds' or to put it another way, betting against both the shooter and the other players. When laying the odds, you're betting that the shooter will land a 7 before throwing a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. This bet must be made after the point has been made.
Whilst the payout odds don't look too bad for this strategy from a statistics perspective, they are lower than other bets.
The Craps Press Strategy
The Press Strategy in craps is all about increasing your bets after a win. Like many casino games, this means capitalizing on winning streaks to quickly build your profits.
Some common ways to press your bets in craps are:
- Pressing one unit: Increasing your bet by the same amount that you won. So winning on a $5 bet means pressing your bet to $10.
- Pressing two units: Yes you've guessed it - increasing your bet by a factor of two! So bet $10 and win, and then press your bet to $30.
- Pressing to the max: This means increasing your bet to the maximum amount allowed by the table. So if the table minimum is $20 and you win, you would press your bet to $40.
The 6/8 Strategy in Craps
The 6/8 Strategy in craps takes advantage of the fact that the 6 and 8 are, statistically, the most likely numbers to be rolled on the craps table. Therefore, using the 6/8 strategy means betting on the pass line and then placing odds on the 6 and 8.
Using this strategy will win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on their come out roll, while a roll of 2, 3, or 12 on the shooter's come out roll will lose.
The 6/8 Strategy is a low-risk betting system that can be profitable over time, although like all craps bets, no strategy can guarantee a win in craps.
Advanced Craps Strategy
So you're ready to push your craps strategy even further? Then it might be time for an advanced strategy for your craps game. Here are some more advanced craps strategy types for you to look into.
The Iron Cross Strategy in Craps
The Iron Cross Craps Strategy is a combination bet that brings together a Field Bet with a Place Bet. It is a more aggressive betting system than the 6/8 strategy, but it also has the potential to be more profitable.
- Field Bet
Betting on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 being rolled. - Place Bet
Betting on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 being rolled before a 7.
Effectively, this means employing the Iron Cross Strategy will win if any number is rolled, aside from a 7 (which would result in a loss).
The different payouts for the bets made in combination can make Iron Cross more profitable than other strategies. Lets look at the payout odds for each number that could be rolled:
| Number rolled | Payout Odds |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2:1 |
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | Even money |
| 5 | 7:5 |
| 6, 8 | 7:6 |
| 12 | 3:1 |
| 7 | Lose - no payout |
The 3 Point Molly Strategy in Craps
This craps strategy involves making three bets: a Pass Line Bet, a Come Bet, and a Place Bet on the number 5. To play the 3 Point Molly Strategy, you would first make a Pass Line bet and a Come bet. You would then place a Place bet on the number 5.
The 3 Point Molly strategy is a relatively simple and straightforward strategy that can be used by players of all experience levels. It is a low-risk strategy, as the Pass Line bet has a house edge of only 1.41% and the Place bet on the number 5 has a house edge of only 1.52%.
Compared to some craps betting strategies you'll read about, this is a relatively simple craps strategy, so it can be used by all players, whatever your craps experience level.
What to Look Out For With a Craps Strategy
What we've outlined here are just a few of the many craps strategies you can find online or by reading craps playing guides, but these should give you an idea of some bets to try out next time you're playing craps.
Alongside these betting strategies, there are a few more points that are important to consider when playing craps, and we've listed these below:
Find Your Best Craps Game
When you're looking for your next craps game, you should do your online research and make sure you fully understand all the rules of the particular craps game you've chosen, plus any terms & conditions of the online casino you're playing with.
Learn Money Management in Craps
One of the hardest lessons a new craps player can learn is when to leave the table. Inexperienced bettors will follow a losing streak and eventually blow their session bankroll at the craps table. A good craps strategy for beginners is to set themselves a modest 'win' goal before a session and walk away from the table if their reach their target.
Stick to Your Craps Strategy
It can be tempting to ditch a strategy in craps after a few lost bets, however, it's important to note that it does take time to assess whether a strategy is paying off, so stick with it for a few rounds of betting at the very least.
Know When to Walk Away
As much as you need to give your craps strategy time (see above), it's also important to have a time limit for playing and to stick to this. It's never a good idea to chase losses, whether you're playing craps or any casino game. So manage your bankroll and walk away when you feel like you've had enough. This is equally as important if you find yourself up after a few betting rounds to make sure you don't get carried away with the excitement of winning.
Practice Craps Online for Free
It's a little harder to play craps for free online, as most social casinos and free game apps tend only to provide games like Blackjack and Roulette; however, it is still worth checking these sites out for free craps, especially if you don't have access to real money casino games in your location.
Alternatively, you can look to play online craps with a free casino bonus, such as a no deposit bonus. This means you can try out a craps game at a specific casino without needing to deposit real money first. In the US, the best casino offering a no deposit bonus is BetMGM Casino, whilst in the UK and elsewhere you can play with for free.
Play Real Money Craps Online
In the US, real money craps is only available to play only in States with licensed and regulated online gambling. This includes Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia.
If you're looking to play real money craps onlne right now, then we recommend FanDuel Casino, PokerStars Casino, BetMGM or BetRivers Casino.
For players based outside of the US, many of the bigger online casino sites offer craps, so you can find the game on casinos like 888casino, bet365 Casino, PartyCasino, and PokerStars Casino.
Looking for more Casino Game Strategy Guides?
Check out more of our strategy guides to your favorite casino table games:
Craps Strategy FAQs
What is the best craps strategy?
As you'll see from our craps strategy guide, there are a number of strategies you can employ at craps and which one you choose will depend on your level of experience.
We suggest to try with a basic craps strategy first, and get used to making Pass Line bet, and Don't Pass/Don't Come bets first before moving onto more advanced betting strategies.
How can you win at craps?
Although it has a lower house edge than other casino table games, it is still difficult to win at craps. The best strategy for consistent wins is to to know the odds for a specific payout, and the probability of a particular outcome.
What is the best bet to make in craps?
The best craps bet in terms of odds is the Don’t Pass/Don’t Come bet, which give a lower house an edge. You can also take advantage of the free odds betting option, which you can use after making a Pass/Don't Pass bet or a Come/Don't Come bet and has no house edge.
What is the best online casino for playing craps?
This will differ depending on where you live, but for US players who live in a licensed state, we recommend FanDuel Casino, PokerStars Casino, BetMGM or BetRivers Casino. For craps players in the UK, you can play craps on 888casino, bet365 Casino, PartyCasino, and PokerStars Casino.