Craps Strategy: How To Win At Craps
Craps, guys, is like the rockstar of casino games! It's loud, it's exciting, and it’s got that undeniable energy that just sucks you in. If you've ever wandered onto a casino floor, you can probably spot the craps table just by following the cheers and groans – it’s where all the action is! But behind all the shouts and dice rolls, there's actually a seriously strategic game lurking, one where you can actually boost your odds and, dare I say, win big. Forget just relying on luck; we're diving deep into real strategies that can tilt the game in your favor and minimize that pesky house edge. So, if you’re ready to turn from a craps newbie into a savvy player, buckle up! We're about to break down the surefire strategies and tips that'll have you playing – and maybe even winning – like a pro.
Understanding the Basics of Craps
Before we jump into the winning strategies, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page with the basics. Craps might seem intimidating at first glance with its busy table and all the different bets, but trust me, it’s not rocket science. At its core, craps is a dice game where players wager on the outcome of a pair of dice. Someone throws the dice – that’s the “shooter” – and the numbers that come up determine the fate of the bets on the table. There are two main phases in a craps game: the Come Out roll and the Point phase.
The Come Out Roll
The Come Out roll is the initial roll of the dice at the beginning of a round. This is where a lot of the key bets are made. The most common bets you'll see are the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets.
- Pass Line: This is a bet that the shooter will win. You win if the Come Out roll is a 7 or 11, and you lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12 (these are called “craps” numbers). If any other number is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the “Point.”
- Don’t Pass Line: This is essentially the opposite of the Pass Line. You win if the Come Out roll is a 2 or 3, and you lose if it’s a 7 or 11. A roll of 12 is usually a push (a tie). Just like the Pass Line, if a Point is established, the game moves into the next phase.
The Point Phase
Once a Point is established, the game enters the Point phase. Now, the shooter’s goal is to roll the Point number again before rolling a 7.
- Pass Line: If the shooter rolls the Point number before a 7, Pass Line bettors win.
- Don’t Pass Line: If a 7 is rolled before the Point number, Don’t Pass Line bettors win.
This might sound a bit confusing at first, but once you see it in action, it clicks pretty quickly. The key takeaway here is understanding these basic bets – Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line – because they form the foundation for a lot of smart craps strategies.
Smart Bets: Maximizing Your Odds
Alright, now that we've got the basics down, let’s talk about the smart bets – the ones that give you the best chance of actually walking away with some winnings. Not all bets in craps are created equal. Some have a much higher house edge than others, meaning the casino has a bigger advantage over you. We want to steer clear of those sucker bets and focus on the ones where we can really maximize our odds.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line Bets
We already touched on these, but they’re worth revisiting because they’re the bread and butter of a smart craps strategy. The Pass Line bet has a house edge of just 1.41%, which is one of the lowest in the casino. The Don’t Pass Line bet is even slightly better, with a house edge of 1.36%. These are your go-to bets when you're starting out, and honestly, they’re solid choices even for experienced players. They offer a good balance of simplicity and favorable odds.
Come and Don’t Come Bets
Think of Come and Don’t Come bets as Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets, but made after the Point has already been established. They function in the exact same way, just at a different point in the game. This gives you the flexibility to make these low house edge bets even after the Come Out roll. The house edge is the same as their Pass Line counterparts: 1.41% for Come bets and 1.36% for Don’t Come bets.
Taking Advantage of Odds Bets
This is where things get really interesting, guys. Odds bets are the secret weapon of smart craps players. They're special because they have no house edge whatsoever! That’s right, you’re betting on a completely level playing field. However, there's a catch: you can only make an Odds bet after a Point has been established on a Pass Line or Come bet. An Odds bet is a side bet that the Point number will be rolled before a 7. The payout depends on the Point number: 6:5 for Points of 6 or 8, 3:2 for Points of 5 or 9, and 2:1 for Points of 4 or 10.
The amount you can bet on the Odds bet is usually expressed as a multiple of your original Pass Line or Come bet (e.g., 2x odds, 3x odds, 5x odds). Always take the maximum odds allowed by the casino, as this is where you're truly minimizing the house edge. Combining a Pass Line or Come bet with the maximum Odds bet is the most strategically sound way to play craps.
Avoiding the Sucker Bets
Just as important as knowing which bets to make is knowing which ones to avoid. Some bets in craps might seem tempting because they offer a high payout, but they come with a horrendously high house edge. These are the “sucker bets,” and they're designed to bleed your bankroll dry.
Bets to avoid include:
- Proposition bets (like Any 7, Any Craps, 2 or 12): These have a house edge ranging from around 9% to a whopping 16.67%! That's insane, guys. Stay far, far away.
- Hardway bets (Hard 4, Hard 6, Hard 8, Hard 10): These bets are on rolling the specified number as a pair (e.g., a Hard 8 is a 4 and a 4). The house edge here is also quite high, ranging from 9.09% to 11.11%.
- Big 6 and Big 8: These bets pay even money if a 6 or 8 is rolled before a 7. Sounds okay, right? Wrong! You’re better off placing a Place bet on 6 or 8, which has a lower house edge.
Bankroll Management: Playing the Long Game
So, you know the smart bets, but that’s only half the battle. The other crucial piece of the puzzle is bankroll management. You can be the most strategic craps player in the world, but if you don’t manage your money wisely, you can still lose it all. Think of your bankroll as your ammunition – you need to ration it carefully to survive the long game.
Setting a Budget
The first step is to set a budget for your craps session. This is the amount of money you're willing to lose – and I mean really willing to lose – without it impacting your life. Once you've reached that limit, you walk away. No exceptions. It's tough, but it's essential for responsible gambling. Think of it this way: it's better to leave the casino with some money in your pocket, even if it’s less than you hoped, than to chase your losses and end up with nothing.
Determining Bet Size
Next, you need to determine your bet size. A good rule of thumb is to bet a small percentage of your bankroll on each wager, usually between 1% and 5%. This helps you weather the inevitable ups and downs of the game and avoid blowing through your money too quickly. For example, if you have a $200 bankroll, you might start with $5 or $10 bets. This allows you to withstand losing streaks and capitalize on winning streaks.
Knowing When to Quit
Knowing when to quit is just as important as knowing which bets to make. This applies whether you're on a winning streak or a losing streak. If you're on a hot streak, it can be tempting to keep betting bigger and bigger, but that’s a recipe for disaster. Set a win goal – a specific amount of profit you want to achieve – and once you reach it, cash out and celebrate! On the flip side, if you’re on a losing streak and you’ve reached your budget limit, it’s time to walk away. Don’t try to win back your losses – that’s a slippery slope that often leads to bigger losses.
Advanced Craps Strategies
Okay, guys, so we've covered the fundamentals, the smart bets, and how to manage your bankroll. Now, let’s dive into some advanced craps strategies that can give you an even bigger edge. These strategies require a bit more understanding of the game, but they can be incredibly effective if used correctly.
The 3 Point Molly
The 3 Point Molly is a popular strategy that aims to have three numbers working for you at all times. Here's how it works:
- Place a Pass Line bet.
- Once a Point is established, make a Come bet.
- If the Come bet hits, make another Come bet.
Now you have a Pass Line bet and two Come bets working for you – hence the “3 Point” part. The idea is to have multiple chances to win on each roll. You can also place Odds bets on each of these numbers to further reduce the house edge. The downside of the 3 Point Molly is that it requires a larger bankroll, as you have multiple bets on the table at once.
The Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a strategy that covers most of the possible outcomes on a roll. It involves placing bets on the 5, 6, and 8, as well as a Field bet. This strategy gives you a lot of action on each roll, but it’s important to understand the risks. The Iron Cross has the potential for quick wins, but it also has a higher house edge than some of the simpler strategies, especially if you don't manage your bets carefully. The 7 is the number that will hurt you the most with this strategy, as it will cause you to lose all your Place bets (5, 6, and 8) but win on the Field bet (which typically pays 2:1 on a 7, but not enough to cover your losses).