They say that the roll of the die is a matter of chance. But what if you turn chance into a manageable pattern? In craps, every roll is a strategic decision. For thousands of years, people have rolled the dice, relying on luck. But now, in a world where everyone wants to control the future, craps has become a chess game against casinos. It is a game where the right strategy helps you not only to hope, but also to know how to succeed.
In this article we will tell you how to play craps, what strategies to use to win.
Pass Line strategy: a good option for beginners
The first step for those who are just starting their way in craps. Pass Line is a guarantee of stability and minimisation of risks. The player bets that the combination of 7 or 11 will fall on the Come Out Roll. The fallout of these numbers is an automatic win, and if 2, 3 or 12 falls out, the bet loses. All other numbers become so-called ‘points’ – and the challenge is to throw them out again before a 7 is rolled.
Pass Line is a simple, straightforward and working strategy. This strategy is suitable for those who want to really understand how to play craps without going into complicated calculations. It is chosen by beginners because it gives the opportunity to reduce the advantage and then beat the casino.
How to Play Craps: Don’t Pass Line Strategy
Sometimes going against the tide is the best way to success. The Don’t Pass Line strategy is about the fact that rolling the dice will not bring the desired result for most players. As in life, sometimes it is scepticism and alternative thinking that leads to victory.
Don’t Pass Line suggests betting against the bulk of players. While Pass Line wins on 7 and 11, Don’t Pass Line wins when a 2 or 3 is rolled. A roll of 12 results in a draw and the player does not lose the bet. How to play craps if the strategy seems ‘negative’? It is definitely worth trying because it gives you the best mathematical odds against the casino. The point is to always have a backup plan and not to rely on general expectations.
Many professional players use Don’t Pass Line to minimise risk. An approach for those who think more broadly than the average player and look for opportunity even in the loss of others.
Come Bet and Don’t Come Bet strategy: the next step of mastery
Once the point is set, the real game begins, and this is where Come Bet and Don’t Come Bet come in. They give you the opportunity to act afterwards and allow you to duplicate the effects of Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line during the session.
Come Bet is a bet that the next rolls will be favourable for the player. Like Pass Line, Come Bet wins on a roll of 7 or 11 and loses on 2, 3, 12. Don’t Come Bet, on the other hand, wins at 2 and 3, and a tie on 12 saves the bet.
How to play craps and use Come Bet and Don’t Come Bet strategies effectively:
- risk diversification: betting on Come after the point set up to add an extra win opportunity, creating more outcomes that can be successful;
- overlap: combining Pass Line and Come Bet helps to cover different parts of the gameplay, giving more chances to win on each shot;
- control of the game: using Don’t Come Bet provides an additional way to counteract the main bets. This strategy is useful for minimising losses on unfavourable rolls;
- Flexibility: when the situation is favourable, you can increase the Come Bet, thus strengthening your position in the game when the probability of winning is higher.
Place Bet and Odds Bet strategy: accurate bets and sure wins
The next stage is for those who already understand how to play craps, know the basic strategies and are ready to delve into the nuances. Place Bet allows you to bet on certain numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) and win when that number falls before the 7 falls.
Odds Bet is added to the main bet after the point is set. It is noteworthy because it symbolises that rare opportunity in gambling where the player and the casino play on equal terms. Odds Bet is a great addition to Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
Odds bets have many pluses that help players increase their chances of winning and optimise action on the table:
- reducing Casino Advantage. Adding Odds Bet to the main bet reduces the casino’s mathematical advantage and makes the game fairer;
- selecting optimal numbers. The 6 and 8 bets have the best odds among Place Bet, so they are often chosen by experienced players;
- combining to increase favourable outcomes. Using Place in conjunction with Pass Line can increase the odds of winning;
- loyalty. By increasing the bet on Odds, the player takes on more risk, but increases the potential winnings if the point is successful.
How to play craps using the strategies of the pros: Big 6 and Big 8
The Big 6 and Big 8 are chosen by players when they expect to hit a 6 or 8 before a 7 appears. Despite the riskiness, many pros choose these strategies to increase their chances of making a solid win. They find that they are helped by observation or intuition.
The player must sense the right moment and bet with confidence. In craps, as in life, it is the confidence in the decision that is often the key to success.
Craps Strategy: Conclusions
The strategies outlined above give you the opportunity to not only participate in the game, but also maximise your chances of winning. For beginners the best way is Pass Line, for those who want to move on, Don’t Pass Line and Come and Don’t Come. Professionals, on the other hand, can add Place and Odds bets, and take their chances with Big 6 and Big 8.
If you want to master the game of craps and become a pro, try different strategies, analyse and try to build a personal path to victory.