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One of the toughest things a player can do is play any game without a strategy. This also applies to craps, which is one of the most difficult casino games but not more difficult than poker. Craps tables have been in casinos for a long time now, and with every passing year, the game advances to help players learn and up their chances of winning by implementing certain strategies.
For newbies, it might be an overwhelming experience learning all the rules and memorizing different crap strategies to make smart bets. Nevertheless, it is possible to excel in this game, as just a few bets are needed to have a better chance of winning. In this post, we will share with you the best craps strategies every player can use. Whether you are a newbie or a professional, the crap strategies shared here will help you succeed in the game of craps.
As always, we’d like to remind you that casino games are a combination of skill and luck. So, while you learn the skills, may luck smile on you. Let’s go ahead to learn the best craps strategy that increases your chances of winning.
How to Beat Craps: Understand Craps Odds
Before you place your first bet, there are certain terminologies in craps that need to be understood if your aim is to win. For instance, you might look at a crap table and randomly start placing bets without understanding that not all bets are needed. With the right knowledge of odds and house edge, a player can choose the right bets.
Come/Pass | Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Craps Strategy
Craps can become your favorite game to play in a casino when you understand these four bets: come bet, don’t pass bet, pass bet, and don’t come. With these bets, an experienced player knows their house edge is the lowest, which in turn means their odds are the best.
For example, in a game such as craps, the house edge is 1.41% when you place a pass bet, and it drops to 1.36% when you place a don’t come bet. Because of these decent chances, you won’t probably lose a lot of money rapidly. Furthermore, you can increase the value of your wagers by accepting free odds, which we’ll cover shortly.
6 and 8 Craps Strategy
Apart from the first four bets we discussed, it is possible to make money betting on the numbers 6 or 8. These bets have a 1.52% house edge, which isn’t very good but still acceptable. The payout is also respectable at 7/6. But to be honest, there are additional bets that typically offer lower odds and rewards than these six. Selecting those could result in more losses than wins unless fortune truly favors you.
Our top craps strategy: Stay away from single-roll bets
If you have never been a stickler for rules, you have to learn how to become one. On a Craps table, do not go for single-roll bets. The field bet, which pays off if the roller gets 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12, is one type of bet to stay away from. The house edge on it varies from 2.78% to 5.56%. Additionally, avoid placing any 7 bets, which have a significant house edge of 16.67% by wagering that the sum of both dice will be 7. The any craps bet, which pays out if the roller gets 2, 3, or 12, is another one to stay away from. The house has an 11.11% edge in this bet. You often don’t have a great probability of winning with these bets.
So far, the house edge is over 10% for most of these bets, which is a very unfavorable position for any player to be in. To be more frank, it is the worst position to be in for any other game, from table poker to video slots, roulette, and others. Placing these bets can be fun and thrilling if you are all in for losing money, then go ahead. But if you are in the game to win and looking to increase your chances, stay away from single-roll bets as it is a crappy craps strategy.
The large 30/1 payout on bets like 12 or 2 craps may make them seem appealing. You could win a ton of money if you win those. Nevertheless, the house has a significant edge because the odds on these wagers are 35/1. Despite the alluring payouts, they are hardly the greatest bets to place because of the extremely substantial house edge of 13.89%.
The key takeaway from this is that if you want to profit, you shouldn’t place single-roll bets. They depend too heavily on chance, which is unreliable. Alternatively, read the tips below if your goal is to win at craps.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning
The following craps strategies can help you increase your chances of winning.
Use free odds to your advantage
We had earlier covered the come, pass, don’t pass, and don’t come bets as one of the best strategies for craps. But it doesn’t just end there. When the shooter in a game of craps rolls their first come out roll, unless they win or lose right away, a point is set. Those who placed bets on the pass or come face another decision after that. If this sounds complicated, review the craps rules for a bit. You’ll probably understand things better when you refer back to this guide.
Hedge your bets
To further explain this, you should know that with the free craps odds options, you can reduce the house edge to a very low percentage that won’t affect your bet. This happens because casinos pay the bets based on the true odds, which means the casino doesn’t have a house edge in those particular bets.
Casinos frequently accept bets on free odds that are up to 100 times larger than those on the original pass bet. Remarkably, this lessens the edge to approximately 0.02% for the casino rather than giving it. It’s as near to breaking even in a game as you can get.
However, there’s a catch: for this strategy to be effective, you need to have a good amount of money. Nevertheless, one of the best ways to increase your chances of winning at craps is to use the free odds bet. Free odds can also be used in various ways. For example, you can lay odds after placing initial bets on don’t come and don’t pass.
This is how it works: by placing a minimum bet on the initial pass bet and then raising your free odds bet to the highest amount you can afford, you can further reduce the house edge to just 0.01%. In this manner, you lower your initial bet risk and increase it only after a point has been established. It still offers great payouts and gives you good odds to play with.
Hedge your pass and free odds bets
Using free odds to your advantage is the best craps strategy, but not the only one. If you enjoy taking high risks, hedging your bets is for you. For example, if you have a limited bankroll for a game, you can hedge even the best craps bets by gambling on single or multi-roll bets. Place 6 and 8 bets to hedge your pass and free odds bets.
Here’s a simple strategy: once the point is established, bet on the number that matches it. For instance, bet on 8 if the point is 6, and vice versa. But place bets on both 6 and 8 if there is a further point rolled. As a result, there are fewer possible losses on these bets due to the low house edge. Additionally, you can eliminate worries about the house edge in that scenario by using free odds to support your pass bet.
Remember that hedging reduces your total odds as well as your payouts. However, it does increase the frequency of wins. If fortune favors you, this tactic may prove to be effective. It’s an idea worth considering.
Craps Strategy Alternatives
If you know the rules of the Craps game and you’ve read where we mentioned the best craps payout odds and the crap bets you shouldn’t bet on, then these alternative strategies will potentially increase your chances of winning.
Press-and-Pull Craps Strategy
Another name for this strategy is Press-and-Pull. Players are expected to press their bets when the Place bet lands and pull their profits off the table after it lands four times in a row.
To explain, let’s say a player bets $10 on the number 6, which pays $9 if it hits. In the Press strategy, they keep $5 and up the stake to $16. If the number six appears, they win $18. If 6 hits once more before the point, they win $18. They would add $8 using the Press strategy, making it $34 on the third 6. They add $5 to the $39 win if 6 lands a third time, making the total bet $70. If 6 hits once more, they win $81 and remove their $147 in total winnings from the pot.
The Press strategy is designed to allow players to make large winnings with a relatively small initial outlay from their bankroll. In every round, they use their winnings to increase their wagers by double. In the example provided, players’ starting bankroll was only $10. It’s crucial to remember that the Press strategy is aggressive and that there is little chance of hitting a number three or four times in a row prior to a seven. This method carries a risk of losing more than the initial bankroll even though it offers substantial potential winnings.
The Iron Cross Strategy
A combination of betting on the field (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12) and staking money on a 5, 6, or 8 to appear before a seven is the Iron Cross craps strategy. With the exception of rolling a seven, which implies losing the wager, every possible result in this method leads to a win. This tactic is typically employed by players after the point is established.
Although rolling a seven is more likely than rolling any other number, it may appear to be a reliable method of winning. It’s crucial to keep in mind that rolling a seven will result in the loss of the entire wager. It’s not a long-term viable strategy, even though it can be profitable for a single wager.
Our Craps Tips
Even the best of the best players with the best craps strategy need more tips in their arsenal to increase their chances of winning. Even though craps gambling is a game of chance, there are several things you can do to improve your game and enjoy a more exciting game. We’ve put together some tips you might find helpful.
Practice First
Before placing a bet using the craps strategies here, you should take time to practice. Whether you are a newbie or a professional player, to reduce your risk of losing your bet, we recommend that you practice a strategy severally before using it. So, how can you practice these craps strategies? There are free demo games offered by the best online casinos where you can learn how to play craps and implement these crap strategies without using real money.
Know when to leave the table
This is one of the hardest things you can ask a player who is losing to do. But, one must know when to stop gambling so that they do not lose more than they bargained. Most times players arm themselves with all the best craps strategies hoping that it pays out, but Chance has other plans. Do not forget that just like every other casino game, craps also involve luck and good strategies. So, know when to leave the table, to save you from running into bigger losses.
Check for Minimum or Maximum Bet Limits
We recommend checking for minimum or maximum bet limits, as most of these online casinos apply these limits. Without knowing these limits, you may run at a loss no matter the strategy you use and may not last long at the table. Once you’ve known the limit, work your strategy around this. If the minimum bet at a table is too high and it risks depleting your bankroll too fast, it’s a good idea to consider trying a different table or even a different site.
Test Your Craps Strategy
To practice is one thing, to be sure it works no matter the craps table is another. Test your strategy to see what works and if it can work in any betting environment. This will help you have certainty that you are well prepared for a game.
Review your results
Once you’ve played a few hands using your craps strategy, stop and evaluate how well it worked. If you found it to be ineffective, think about attempting an alternative strategy. However, if it was successful, consider your areas of improvement so that you can further refine your approach. You can hone your strategies and raise your level of play by regularly evaluating your performance.
FAQ
What is a Come Bet?
This is when plays can place a bet after a point on the Pass Line has been rolled. The rules for this bet are the same as for a Pass Line Bet.
What is a Don’t Come Bet?
This is when players place this bet after a point has been rolled on the Pass Line, it’s essentially the opposite of a Come Bet and closely resembles the Don’t Pass Bet.
What is the Pass Line Bet?
A Pass Line bet is the most common type of bet in craps. With this bet, the player is supporting the dice. They win if the come out roll results in a 7 or an 11, automatically doubling their money.
What is the Don’t Pass Bet?
The Don’t Pass bet is in opposition to the Pass Line bets. Here, players are betting against the dice. They win if the initial come out roll results in a 2, 3, or 12, automatically doubling their money.
What is the best strategy in craps?
Craps players have various strategies to choose from, but the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line strategies are among the best. Both of these strategies offer 1:1 payouts and come with relatively low house edges, making them more profitable
