Casino craps strategy

Learn the best craps strategies for beginners and advanced players. Discover https://tortuga-casino.casino like Pass Line and Come to lower the house edge and improve your odds.

Winning Craps Systems A Guide to Smart Casino Betting =====================================================

Start by placing a Pass Line bet combined with taking maximum odds. This approach reduces the house edge to its lowest possible point, often below 0.5% depending on the table's odds multiple (3-4-5x, 10x, or even 100x). For a standard $10 Pass Line wager on a 3-4-5x odds table, you can back your bet with $30 on points 4 and 10, $40 on points 5 and 9, and $50 on points 6 and 8. This method focuses your bankroll on the mathematically soundest wagers available in the game.

Complement the Pass Line bet by placing the 6 and 8. These numbers have the second-highest probability of being rolled after the 7. A Place bet on the 6 or 8 carries a low house advantage of approximately 1.52%. Betting $12 on each number ensures a $14 payout for every hit, providing consistent action while you wait for your point to be established or hit. This two-pronged approach balances the low-edge Pass Line with frequent, smaller wins from the most common box numbers.

For a more conservative bankroll management system, stick exclusively to Pass/Don't Pass and Come/Don't Come bets with full odds. Avoid all proposition bets in the center of the layout, such as the Hardways, Any Seven, or Horn bets. These wagers carry a house advantage ranging from 9.09% to over 16%. Focusing solely on the fundamental line bets with odds ensures you are only exposed to the minimal mathematical advantage held by the house, maximizing your playing time and capital preservation.

Casino Craps Strategy

Consistently place Pass Line wagers combined with two Come bets. This approach covers three numbers with low house advantages, creating a balanced method for engaging with the dice table. The Pass Line bet itself has a house edge of only 1.41%. By adding Come bets, you are effectively replicating the Pass Line wager on subsequent rolls, diversifying your action across the board.

Maximizing Odds Bets

The most favorable wager in the establishment is the Odds bet, which has zero house advantage. You should always back your Pass Line and Come bets with the maximum allowable Odds. The amount you can place on Odds varies by venue.

This combined method lowers the overall house edge on your total stake significantly, often below 0.4%.

The “Iron Cross” System (A High-Action Method)

For those seeking action on every roll after a point is established, the Iron Cross provides widespread coverage. It involves placing bets on the Field and also on the numbers 5, 6, and 8. The goal is to win if any number rolls except a seven.

  1. Place a Field bet. This covers numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12.
  2. Place bets on the numbers 5, 6, and 8.

You have a winning outcome on 30 of the 36 possible dice combinations. However, the six combinations that result in a seven cause a loss of all four bets. The house advantage here is higher than the Pass/Come method, but it provides frequent, smaller wins.

Bets to Consistently Avoid

Certain wagers carry substantial house advantages and should be avoided for disciplined play. High-risk proposition bets are designed to drain your bankroll quickly.

Sticking to fundamental wagers with the lowest mathematical disadvantage is the foundation of any sound approach to the game.

How to Minimize the House Edge with Pass Line and Come Bets

Place the Pass Line bet combined with taking maximum Odds to reduce the house advantage to its lowest possible level. This wager is the foundation for minimizing the house take. The initial Pass Line portion has a built-in advantage for the house of approximately 1.41%. When you add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line wager after a point is established, the combined advantage shrinks significantly because Odds wagers have a zero house edge; they pay true odds.

For example, taking 3x-4x-5x Odds–the most common multiple offered–lowers the effective house take on your total action to around 0.374%. With 10x Odds, it drops to about 0.184%. At tables offering 100x Odds, the advantage plummets to a microscopic 0.021%.

After establishing a Pass Line point, replicate this approach with Come bets. A Come wager functions exactly like a new Pass Line bet. Place a Come bet, and once it travels to a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), back it with the full amount of Odds allowed. This permits you to have multiple numbers working for you, each with the same drastically reduced house advantage. Your goal should be to have two or three points active simultaneously, each backed by full Odds.

To execute this:

Start with a single Pass Line wager. After the shooter establishes a point, place your Odds bet directly behind the Pass Line on the layout. Then, on the next roll, place a Come bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, your Come bet wins. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, it loses. If a point number is rolled, your Come bet moves to that number's box. You then place your Odds wager for that specific Come point.

Avoid augmenting your Pass and Come bets with any proposition wagers in the center of the table. Wagers like the Hardways, Any 7, or Horn bets carry house advantages ranging from 9.09% to over 16%. Sticking strictly to Pass/Come with maximum Odds is the most mathematically sound method to preserve your bankroll during the dice game.

Applying the Iron Cross Strategy for Consistent Wins

To execute the Iron Cross, place bets on the Field and combine them with Place bets on the numbers 5, 6, and 8. The goal is to cover every possible outcome except for the number 7. For a $10 base unit, you would wager $10 on the Field, $10 on the Place 5, $12 on the Place 6, and $12 on the Place 8. The total outlay for this setup is $44 per roll.

Your potential returns vary based on the number rolled. If a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 appears, the Field bet pays 1:1, yielding a $10 profit. If the number is a 2 or 12, the Field bet typically pays double or triple, resulting in a $20 or $30 gain, respectively. In these scenarios, you lose the three Place wagers totaling $34, leading to a net loss of $24 or $14 or $4. When a 5, 6, or 8 is rolled, the Field bet is lost. A Place 5 win pays $14, a Place 6 pays $14, and a Place 8 pays $14. Your net profit after subtracting the lost Field bet ($10) and the other two Place wagers ($24 for 5/8; $22 for 6) is $0 or $2. This method is structured to secure a small win on most rolls.

The primary vulnerability of this betting arrangement is the roll of a 7. When a 7 is rolled, all four wagers are lost, resulting in a complete loss of the $44 staked. Because the 7 is the most probable outcome on two dice, this system carries a significant risk on every single throw. A risk-mitigation tactic involves removing your wagers after a set number of wins, for instance, after three successful rolls, to protect your accumulated profits before a 7 inevitably appears.

This approach is best suited for short-term play. Prolonged application exposes your bankroll to the statistical certainty of the 7. Consider using it only when a shooter has established a point and has made a few successful rolls, suggesting a potential “hot” streak. Set a strict stop-loss limit, for example, losing two consecutive full wagers ($88), and a clear profit goal before beginning the session. Never chase losses with this high-coverage system.

Advanced Craps Betting: Mastering Lay and Buy Bets

To maximize returns, make Buy bets on the 4 and 10 and Lay bets against the 4 and 10. These numbers offer the most favorable true odds, minimizing the house edge once the 5% commission, known as the vig, is factored in. The commission is typically paid only on winning wagers, so confirm this specific rule at your table before placing chips.

A Buy bet is a wager that a specific point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7. The payout is at true odds: 2-to-1 for the 4 and 10, 3-to-2 for the 5 and 9, and 6-to-5 for the 6 and 8. The house takes a 5% commission on the amount of the bet. For example, a $20 Buy bet on the 4 pays $40, and the commission would be $1 (5% of $20). To simplify payouts and commissions, always make Buy bets in increments of $20.

A Lay bet is the inverse; you wager that a 7 will appear before a specific point number. You are essentially betting with the house. Payouts reflect the true odds of the number not appearing: 1-to-2 on the 4 and 10, 2-to-3 on the 5 and 9, and 5-to-6 on the 6 and 8. The 5% commission here is calculated on the potential winnings, not the initial stake. For instance, to win $20 by laying against the 4, you must risk $40. The 5% vig is then taken from your $20 profit, leaving you with $19.

Mastering these wagers involves precise bankroll management. For Lay bets, your liability is higher than your potential gain. A lay against the 4 requires you to risk twice what you stand to win. Therefore, these wagers should be used selectively when you have a sufficient bankroll to absorb potential losses. The house edge on a Buy bet on the 4 or 10 is 1.67% if the vig is paid only on wins. The house edge on a Lay bet against the 4 or 10 is approximately 2.44% when the commission is on the winnings.

Some establishments offer a special condition: on Buy bets of a certain amount, for example $25 on the 4 or 10, the commission is a flat $1. This reduces the vig percentage from 5% to 4%, further lowering the house advantage. Always inquire about such “buys” to gain every possible percentage point in your favor. Similarly, Lay bets are most potent when you want to hedge against your own Pass Line wagers after a point has been established, especially on the 4 or 10.