Craps uses two standard six-sided dice, producing 36 possible combinations. The most common sum is 7, which can be rolled in six different ways (a 16.67% chance). Extremes like 2 and 12 each have just one combination (2.78% probability), and numbers in the middle (6 and 8) each have five combinations. This uneven distribution forms a bell curve and drives all of the game’s odds.
The Pass Line bet is one of the most mathematically sound wagers in craps. Players win immediately on a come‑out roll of 7 or 11 (eight combinations) and lose immediately on 2, 3 or 12 (four combinations). If another number becomes the point, you must roll that number again before a 7 appears. Combining these probabilities yields a house edge of roughly 1.36%. Don’t Pass betting reverses the situation: it wins on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11 and pushes on 12, with a comparable 1.40% house edge. Both bets are among the best options on the table.
Once a point is established, players can back their Pass or Don’t Pass bet with an Odds wager. Odds bets pay true mathematical odds and have no house advantage. For example, a point of 4 or 10 pays 2:1, 5 or 9 pays 3:2, and 6 or 8 pays 6:5. Combining odds with a Pass Line bet dramatically lowers the overall house edge — down to about 0.37% with 3× odds and around 0.18% with 10× odds.
Field bets cover seven numbers (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12). Although they look appealing, mathematics reveals that they win on 16 combinations and lose on 20; the standard payout produces a 5.56% house edge. Enhanced Field bets paying 3:1 on a 2 or 12 reduce the edge to 2.78%. Hard Ways bets pay high odds for rolling doubles (e.g. 4+4 for Hard 8), but with only one winning combination versus ten losing outcomes, their house edges range from about 7.7% to 9.1%. The notorious Any 7 bet has the worst mathematics: it pays only 4:1 on an outcome that has true odds of 5:1, resulting in a 16.67% house edge.
Crapless Craps removes immediate losses on 2, 3 or 12 in the come‑out roll. Those numbers become points that are extremely hard to roll again before a 7, which raises the house edge to about 5.38%. Other variations such as Bank Craps and Bubble Craps retain similar Pass Line mathematics but may alter proposition payouts. Always check the house edge before you play.
No betting system can overcome the house edge. Progressive strategies like the Martingale require exponentially larger bets and quickly hit table limits, while regression systems still cannot change the mathematical expectation. Flat betting — wagering the same amount every roll — offers straightforward bankroll management. Sensible bankroll practices recommend betting only 1–2% of your bankroll per decision and accepting that short‑term results can vary widely.
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