Craps offers some of the best odds in the entire casino — but only if you know which bets to make. The same table that hosts the Odds bet (zero house edge, the best wager in any casino) also contains Proposition bets carrying house edges above 16%. The difference between a smart craps player and a losing one is almost entirely about bet selection.
This guide covers everything: how craps works, the best craps bets ranked by house edge, the most effective strategies used by experienced players, which bets to avoid completely, and how to apply all of this at Duelbits Casino.
Craps is a dice game played on a purpose-built table. One player, the shooter, rolls two dice. All other players bet on the outcome.
The Come Out roll: Every new round begins with a Come Out roll. On this roll:
The Point phase: Once a Point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until either the Point number or a 7 appears. Pass Line bettors win if the Point is rolled before a 7. They lose if a 7 comes first (seven out).
Understanding this basic structure is the foundation of every craps strategy. The entire game flows through the Come Out roll and Point phase cycle.
Before any strategy makes sense, understand the range of house edges on different craps bets:
| Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Odds Bet (behind Pass/Don't Pass) | 0.00% |
| Don't Pass / Don't Come | 1.36% |
| Pass Line / Come Bet | 1.41% |
| Place Bet on 6 or 8 | 1.52% |
| Place Bet on 5 or 9 | 4.00% |
| Place Bet on 4 or 10 | 6.67% |
| Field Bet (with 3:1 on 12) | 2.78% |
| Field Bet (with 2:1 on 12) | 5.56% |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 9.09% |
| Any Craps | 11.11% |
| Hardways (6 or 8) | 9.09% |
| Hardways (4 or 10) | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 16.67% |
The strategic goal in craps is simple: concentrate your money on bets from the top of this table and avoid anything in the bottom half. The difference between Pass Line + Odds and Any 7 is the difference between near-even odds and giving away one dollar in six.
The Pass Line is the starting point for every craps strategy. It's the most common bet at the table for a reason: a 1.41% house edge is one of the lowest in the casino.
How it works:
The Pass Line is where every beginner should start. It's straightforward, socially aligned with the shooter, and carries minimal house edge.
The Odds bet is the most important bet in craps, and arguably in any casino. It is the only casino bet with zero house edge. The casino pays true mathematical odds with no built-in margin.
How it works: After a Point is established, place chips directly behind your Pass Line bet in the area marked "Odds" (there's no printed marking, it's the space immediately behind your Pass Line position). You're betting that the Point will be rolled before a 7.
Odds payouts by Point number:
| Point | Odds Payout | Probability of hitting before 7 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 33.3% |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 40.0% |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 45.5% |
These payouts are exact mathematical probabilities, no house markup. A $10 Odds bet on Point 6 pays $12.
Odds multipliers: Most casinos and online tables limit how much Odds you can take relative to your Pass Line bet. Common limits: 1x, 2x, 3-4-5x (where the multiplier scales by Point number), or 10x. Always take the maximum Odds available, every dollar of Odds you take reduces the combined house edge on your Pass Line + Odds total.
Combined house edge with Odds:
| Odds multiplier | Combined house edge |
|---|---|
| 1x Odds | 0.85% |
| 2x Odds | 0.61% |
| 3-4-5x Odds | 0.37% |
| 10x Odds | 0.18% |
| 100x Odds | 0.02% |
Taking 3-4-5x Odds drops your effective house edge to 0.37% — among the lowest of any casino game anywhere.
Don't Pass is the mirror of the Pass Line, you bet against the shooter. House edge: 1.36%, slightly lower than Pass Line.
How it works on the Come Out roll:
After a Point is established: You win if 7 appears before the Point. You lose if the Point repeats.
Don't Pass bettors can Lay Odds, the inverse of taking Odds. You must lay more than you win (since the Point is now the underdog), but the Lay Odds bet still carries zero house edge.
Why some players prefer Don't Pass: After a Point is established, a 7 is statistically more likely than any specific Point number. You're now on the "right" side of probability, in theory. The social dynamic of betting against the shooter is the only practical downside.
Come and Don't Come bets work identically to Pass Line and Don't Pass, but they can be placed after a Point is already established, effectively creating a new Pass Line bet mid-game.
Come bet: Place chips in the Come area after a Point is set. The next roll becomes the Come bet's Come Out. Win on 7 or 11; lose on 2, 3, or 12; any other number becomes your Come bet's individual Point. Take Odds on Come bets the same way as Pass Line.
Why use Come bets: They allow you to cover multiple numbers simultaneously with low house-edge bets. A Pass Line bet covering the original Point plus two Come bets covering two additional numbers — each with Odds, gives you wide table coverage at the lowest possible house edge.
Place bets let you bet on a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) winning before a 7, without waiting for the Come Out roll cycle.
The 6 and 8 are the only Place bets worth considering. They pay 7:6 (bet in multiples of $6) and carry a house edge of just 1.52% - close to the Pass Line and far superior to other Place bets.
| Place Number | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
Avoid Place bets on 4, 5, 9, and 10. Their house edges of 4%–6.67% make them poor choices compared to Come bets with Odds on the same numbers.
The simplest and most mathematically efficient craps strategy:
This single approach, used consistently, gives you the lowest possible house edge on every dollar wagered. No other craps strategy beats it mathematically.
Best for: All players, especially beginners. Low complexity, low house edge.
The 3-Point Molly is the most widely recommended advanced craps strategy among experienced players. The goal is to always have three active bets covered simultaneously, the Pass Line plus two Come bets, each backed with maximum Odds.
How it works:
At any given time, three Point numbers are working for you, all at 1.41% or lower house edge with Odds reducing the effective rate significantly.
Best for: Players comfortable with the mechanics of Come bets who want maximum coverage with minimum house edge.
Bankroll requirement: Higher than basic strategy, three active bets with Odds requires more chips in play simultaneously.
The mirror-image of the Pass Line strategy. After establishing that you're a Don't Pass bettor:
This strategy puts you on the side of probability after a Point is set, a 7 is statistically more likely than any specific Point number repeating. The social experience of betting against the shooter is the only thing that makes many players avoid this approach.
Best for: Players who understand the game well and want the slightly lower base house edge (1.36% vs 1.41%). Mathematically superior to Pass Line but functionally identical in practice.
The Iron Cross covers every number on the table except 7, using:
With this combination, you win on every roll except 7. Since only six of 36 dice combinations produce a 7, you win approximately 83% of rolls.
The catch: When 7 does appear, roughly once every six rolls, all four bets lose simultaneously. The combined house edge of the Iron Cross is higher than Pass Line + Odds strategy, and the infrequent but total wipe-out can damage bankrolls quickly.
Iron Cross house edge breakdown:
| Component | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Place 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 8 | 1.52% |
| Field (2:1 on 12) | 5.56% |
The Iron Cross trades mathematical efficiency for win frequency — you win more often, but at a higher average cost per roll. It's an entertainment-focused strategy rather than an optimal one.
Best for: Players who enjoy frequent small wins and understand the higher effective house edge they're accepting.
Place bets on both 6 and 8 simultaneously. Both pay 7:6 (bet in multiples of $6) and carry a 1.52% house edge, the best available outside of Pass Line and Odds.
Together, 6 and 8 cover 10 of the 36 possible dice combinations. A 7 covers only 6. This means you win more often than you lose on these specific numbers.
Suggested stake: $6 on 6, $6 on 8. Every time either hits you win $7. When a 7 hits, you lose $12 total.
Best for: Players who want simple, clean bet management without tracking multiple Come bet Points.
These bets have no place in a serious craps strategy:
| Situation | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Before Come Out roll | Pass Line or Don't Pass |
| After Point established | Maximum Odds (behind Pass or Don't Pass) |
| Want additional coverage | Come bets with Odds (up to 3-Point Molly) |
| Want simple extra bets | Place 6 and/or Place 8 only |
| Any Proposition bet offered | Decline |
| Big 6 or Big 8 available | Decline — Place 6/8 instead |
| Field bet offered standalone | Decline unless Iron Cross strategy |
Duelbits Casino offers a full live casino experience including craps tables. Apply the strategies in this guide, start with Pass Line, take maximum Odds, and avoid Proposition bets, to play with the lowest house edge available.
What is the best craps strategy? Pass Line + maximum Odds behind it. The Pass Line has a 1.41% house edge, and Odds carries zero house edge, reducing the combined effective edge to as low as 0.18% with 10x Odds. This is mathematically the optimal craps betting approach.
What is the best bet in craps? The Odds bet, the only casino bet with zero house edge, paying true mathematical odds. The Pass Line (1.41%) and Don't Pass (1.36%) are the next best.
What is the Pass Line in craps? The most common craps bet, placed before the Come Out roll. Win on 7 or 11; lose on 2, 3, or 12; any other number becomes the Point and must be repeated before a 7 for the bet to win. House edge: 1.41%.
What is the Odds bet in craps? A side bet placed behind Pass Line or Don't Pass after a Point is established. Pays true mathematical odds with zero house edge. The single most valuable bet in the casino. Take the maximum allowed by your table.
What are the worst bets in craps? Any 7 (16.67% house edge), Any Craps (11.11%), Hardways (9%–11%), and Big 6/Big 8 (9.09%). All should be avoided entirely.
What is the Don't Pass strategy? Betting against the shooter on the Come Out roll, then winning if a 7 appears before the Point after it's established. House edge: 1.36%. Lay Odds behind it to reduce the effective edge further.
What is the 3-Point Molly craps strategy? Maintaining three active bets at all times, Pass Line plus two Come bets, each backed with maximum Odds. Maximises table coverage while keeping all bets in the lowest house-edge range.
What is the Iron Cross craps strategy? Combining Place bets on 5, 6, and 8 with a Field bet to cover every number except 7. Wins on approximately 83% of rolls but loses all bets simultaneously on a 7. Higher combined house edge than Pass Line + Odds but produces more frequent wins.
