Ever wonder why some casino players are better at winning at craps than others? Can’t figure out why some craps players walk away from the table bragging about “sick runs” and “hot streaks,” while others head directly to the bar to drown their sorrows with a giant frown planted on their face? More than likely, the losers don’t know how to play craps, or their craps strategy is, quite frankly, crap.
While luck and bankroll size have a bit to do with winning at craps, the best craps strategy is all about knowing which bets to make, not the luck of the dice. Here are the three bets you need to know about if you want to learn how to win at craps.
Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come Bets
Craps is often viewed as a communal game. You win together, lose together, and get excited when fortune strikes—together. That’s why people tend to stay away from Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets. Essentially, you’re betting against the shooter instead of betting that they’ll do well while trying to win craps. Players who place the Don’t bets are called ‘wrong bettors.’ Those who bet with the shooter are called ‘right bettors.’ But that doesn’t mean that betting with the shooter is the right bet.
When someone bets the way others don’t, they might find themselves socially shunned at the craps table. Remember, your goal is to make money, not friends. Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets give the house a paltry 1.4% edge. If you want to maximize your bets in order to win at craps, don’t be afraid to anger the shooter. Remember, it’s your money.
In a land-based casino, just place your Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bets discreetly, and don’t scream ‘yee-haw!’ when you win. But if you’re really worried about how other people will react to your craps strategy, you can always play craps online. Nobody can judge you in a virtual casino.
The Free Odds Bet
If you’re familiar with doubling down in blackjack, you’ll love the Free Odds bet as a craps strategy. Actually, you’ll love it even more because the Free Odds bet carries no house edge whatsoever. The Free Odds bet is a side bet which you can make after the initial roll.
Once the Pass Line point has been set, you can place a second bet directly below your original Pass Line bet (after a Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet). The payout for your free odds bet depends on what point is hit, and it’s as high as 2 to 1 if you hit a 4 or a 10.
6 and 8 Place Bets
If you want to improve your craps strategy even more, consider a 6 or 8 Place bet. The Place numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. You bet on any of these numbers, and if they are rolled before a 7 is rolled, you win. Of the Place bets, Place 6 and 8 have the best odds and payout. The payout on either bet is 7:6. And that translates to a measly 1.52% house edge.
There you have it. You now have the three bets you should place if you want to come out on top and win at craps. Test out your new craps strategy today and see what a difference it makes.
