In certain instances, we may earn revenue when a reader makes a purchase or completes a form through our pages or on a partner’s website. We adhere to a strict 
Craps is one of the more difficult casino games to master and so, having the right craps strategy is very important. Since the game has been popular since the Middle Ages and is now available to enjoy at brick-and-mortar casinos and online, it is easier than ever to learn and play craps.
As the game has advanced, so have the strategies players use to up their chances of winning. We look at the details of applying a craps strategy and how they work to improve your profits.
Aspects to Consider Before Picking a Craps Betting Strategy
Before you can get a plan of action together and choose the best strategy for craps, consider several aspects. Below we look at a few things you may want to decide, which will help you settle on the craps strategy that will work best for you.
Wild Casino |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins
|
Wild Casino |
Play Now
Copied
WILD250
Copy
|
Budget
Each craps strategy requires players to put down a certain amount of their bankroll. We recommend taking a look at your budget before choosing a strategy and then finding one that suits what you’re willing to risk. Based on your available budget, you can set the starting bet. Keep in mind that some craps strategies require progressive betting, which means that you increase the stakes as you play.
Goals
Consider what it is you want to achieve going into the game. If your sole focus is turning a profit, consider whether you’re willing to play the long game offering a greater payout guarantee. Or perhaps you are after a quick game that comes with long shots which offer bigger payoffs but come with significant risk. Craps provides a wide betting range with different odds and payouts.
Risk
Another factor to take into account is the risk you’re willing to take. While betting against the craps shooter where the odds are greater is the less popular move, it can sometimes be more lucrative. With craps betting systems, you will also have to increase the bet, which results in a bigger risk since you stand to lose more money. However, the potential winnings are also more significant.
Craps Strategy – How to Beat Craps
Once players have taken the time to learn how to play craps and understand craps odds, implementing the best strategy for craps becomes important, especially for those looking to boost their profit. Because players are at different levels and have unique goals, there are a number of strategies designed to help all players who want to know how to win at craps. Below, we introduce you to the top strategy to use for where you’re at and what you want to achieve.
What is the Simplest Craps Strategy for Beginners?
There is a craps strategy for everyone, including beginners. However, before testing these out on real money wagers, we suggest putting them into practice on free games first. Below, you can find two top strategies that make it easy for new players to improve their chances without upping the risk too much.
Pass Line Craps Strategy
Placing Pass Line bets is the most straightforward craps betting strategy. When putting this option into play, players bet on the Pass Line on the first throw of the dice, also know as the the come out roll. If the dice produce a seven or an 11, it is a win. A total roll of two, three, or 12 results in a loss. For any other result, that number becomes the “point” and the player keeps rolling the dice. You win a Pass Line bet if the point value comes up again before a seven.
Since the house edge is low (1.41%) and the wager offers even money (1:1), it is a simple way to boost your earnings.
Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Craps Strategy
While the Pass Line strategy is ideal for online or in-person play, this next option is perfect for online gaming. Since craps is a relatively social game, most players bet with the shooter. However, this strategy requires bettors to wager against the shooter using a Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet.
The Don’t Pass bet wins if the shooter throws a two or three, but a seven or 11 thrown results in a loss. In the instance where the dice land on a 12, the Don’t Pass wager ends in a push, and here players are refunded their wager.
If the roll sets a point, players can then place the Don’t Come bet in this craps strategy. This wins if a seven comes up before the point.
However, keep in mind that this wager has a slightly lower house edge (1.36%) and lesser odds. It is one of the best craps bets.
What is the Best Mathematical Craps Strategy?
Players who have been playing craps for some time and have a good understanding of the ins and outs of the game may find themselves looking for the best mathematical craps strategy that offers a challenge but adds in a fair dose of logic. Below, we discuss the best craps strategy that ticks these boxes.
|
Wild Casino |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins
|
Wild Casino |
Play Now
Copied
WILD250
Copy
|
Craps Odds Strategy
This is another craps betting strategy where players are betting against the shooter. In this strategy, you will wager that the shooter will roll a seven (or seven-out) before landing a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 once they have rolled the point. Since the chances of this occurring are statistically even (there are more ways to roll a seven than any other number), no house edge applies.
But because of this, the payout odds are not so great at 1:1 while the other options pay 2:1 for 4 and 10, 3:2 for 5 and 9, and 6:5 for 6 and 8.
What is the 6 and 8 Craps Strategy?
The 6/8 craps betting strategy is what we call a progressive strategy, and it is popular because it generally comes with a low house edge. However, a player can sometimes go for extended periods without a win, which can become costly as you have to increase the bet every time you lose.
As we discussed in the beginning of this guide, players need to consider whether they have the budget to put specific strategies into play and whether they would be willing to play the long game. In this case, players must have a far-reaching budget for this strategy to pay off and to avoid reaching an unaffordable stake.
Since a six and an eight have the greatest odds (other than a seven) of being thrown, players choose these numbers instead of other place wagers. For example, let’s say that we wager $6 on six and eight. If the dice roll one of these figures, we take the profit and wager the bet again.
The progressive element in this craps betting strategy comes in when there is a loss. If we bet and lose, we place the same bet again, but increase the stake. We can either opt to increase the bet value by doubling it or by pre-selected increments set according to our budget.
The key here is that by increasing the bet after a loss, we can eventually win the bet and make back all of our losses with the increased stake value.
The Press-and-Pull Craps Betting Strategy
While the 6/8 craps strategy doesn’t require a very large budget since you stand to win quite often, other betting systems can be more demanding. However, there is more excitement for players when there is more money on the line. The Press and Pull strategy is one of the more expensive systems and requires a winning streak on the some of the best craps bets in order to win.
So, how does this strategy work? Here, players will press or double their bets when the place bet lands but pull their profits after it has landed four times.
Let’s look at an example, where player wagers a place bet on six. Since the payout odds here sit at 7:6, the player puts down a $6 wager. It is best to use $6 increments due to the payout. When the shooter rolls the dice, if they land on six, the bettor will earn a payout of $7 ($6 stake + $1 profit.) In this strategy, the player will keep their $1 profit and then double their $6 wager to $12.
If the shooter throws a six again before the point, the player will then win $14. Next, a player will press their bet to $30 by adding in $4. If they land a six again, they will then add a dollar to their $35 winnings to round it up to a $66 wager. If, for the fourth time, they land a six, they will receive $77 on that wager, leaving them with total winnings of $143. Since they landed their place four times, they now pull their winnings.
As is visible from the example, a player must land their place bet four times before a seven is thrown. Since the chances of this happening are quite low, many bettors view this as a rather harsh strategy that could cost them their stake rather than allowing them to win from it.
Should You Bet the Field in Craps?
While many players tend to stay away from field bets, this is an underrated wager that when used with the Iron Cross Strategy can be lucrative for bettors.
Field bets typically come with greater odds (1:1 or 2:1) and when using this strategy, bettors only have a 16.67% probability of losing and enjoy a house edge of 2.37%, making this a good one to try. However, because it is typically applied by advanced craps players, we recommend practicing it a few times first.
|
Wild Casino |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins
|
Wild Casino |
Play Now
Copied
WILD250
Copy
|
The Iron Cross Strategy
The Iron Cross craps betting strategy involves a combination wager on two lots of numbers. Here, bettors wager the field (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12) and put money on a Place bet where a 5, 6, or 8 will land before a seven.
Essentially, each number is covered with one bet, so no matter what the shooter rolls, it results in a win. However, should the shooter land a seven here, the bettor loses their bet. Typically, players put this strategy into play once the point is established.
While this may seem like a great way to win consistently, it is important to remember that it is easier to roll a seven than any other number. Since a seven cancels this entire wager, this is key to keep in mind. Additionally, this is the best strategy for craps for a once-off wager. However, it is unsustainable as a long-term betting option.
How to Win Craps with the Best Strategy
While each of these strategies has its place and provides a unique way to boost your chances of winning, one of them stands out as the best craps strategy overall. The Don’t Pass Line bet strategy has the lowest house edge (1.36%) and is one of the more straightforward strategies to follow.
Wagered on the first roll, players win their bets if a two or three is thrown, paying at odds of 1:1. A push is awarded when a 12 is rolled, earning players their stake back, and it is only a seven or 11 that sees them losing the bet. Any other number rolled is the point. Once the point is determined, this bet continues until the point is met, resulting in a loss, or a seven is landed, resulting in a win.
Although this wager is considered a “bet on the wrong side,” it is lucrative and has some of the best odds, making it worth your while to try when betting online.
Is Craps Beatable?
A common question among craps players, particularly those new to the game is how to beat craps and whether this is possible. Although craps has one of the lowest house edges and ranks as one of the best games for the best odds in a casino, it is difficult to win consistently.
Since it is predominantly a game of chance rather than a game of skill, there isn’t much a player can do to guarantee a win each time. However, by employing the best strategy for craps, players significantly improve their chances of winning and often can and do win big.
Craps Payout Cheat Sheet
When playing craps at an online casino, the payout odds are determined by the house edge. The payouts vary based on the bet made by the player.
When using a craps strategy, it is essential to factor in the house edge as it changes with each unique bet. Looking at the payout odds of a craps bet can help you determine whether the winnings offered by that bet are worth the risk.
The craps odds and probability table shows the most commonly placed bets, along with the craps odds and house edge, and comprises our handy craps payout cheat sheet.
Top Craps Tips
Even those with the best craps strategy may find having several handy hints helpful. Although craps is predominantly a game of chance, there are a number of things that can be done to improve your game, boost the efficacy of your strategy, and offer a more exciting game overall. So, to help you out, we have listed our top craps tips below:
Tip 1 – Take the Time to Practice
One of the most essential tips to put into play when using a craps strategy is to practice, practice, practice. Whether you are a seasoned craps player or someone new to the game, we recommend taking the time to test out the strategy you want to use.
The best way to do this is to use free games offered by the best online casinos (we have several top options listed below). Learn how to play craps and win without spending any money in the process.
Not only will this give you a feel for how the strategy works, but it will also help you see whether it is the best strategy for craps for you, based on your knowledge of the game and your budget, before you use it on real money wagers.
Tip 2 – Know When to Leave the Table
Craps is one of those famed table games thanks to its exhilarating action that comes predominantly from it being a game of chance. However, it is simple for players to get swept up in the game, especially if they are hoping for their craps strategy to pay out. But it is essential to remember that this may not always happen and the longer you stay at the table, the greater your chances of running a big loss.
As a result, one of our top craps tips is to know when to leave the table. One of the best ways to go about this is by setting yourself a time limit. If you come to the end of your allotted time, leave the table irrespective of whether you’re up or down. This will save you from running at a greater loss or losing your winnings.
Tip 3 – Keep an Eye Out for Minimum or Maximum Bet Limits
Many of the best online gambling sites apply a minimum or maximum bet limit. While this is fairly normal for an online casino to do, these limits could affect your craps betting strategy and how long you last at a table.
For this reason, we recommend checking these limits and how they fare compared to your bankroll or budget. If the minimum bet for a table is too high and will see you work through your bankroll too quickly, it is often best to try an alternative table or site.
Tip 4 – Test Your Craps Strategy Several Times
Another of our top craps tips is to test out your chosen strategy several times on different games. The only way to know whether this is the best craps strategy for you is to practice it a number of times to see whether it works the way you want it to. Trying a strategy only once or twice won’t give you a fair look at how it actually plays out.
Tip 5 – Review Your Results to Find the Best Strategy for Craps
Once you have played out your craps strategy several times, take a moment to review how it has worked for you. If you find that it isn’t a good fit, perhaps try a different option. Or, if you found it to work well, look at which areas of your game you could improve to better implement your strategy.
|
Wild Casino |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins |
Welcome Bonus up to $5,000 + 200 Spins
|
Wild Casino |
Play Now
Copied
WILD250
Copy
|
FAQs
What is the best strategy in craps?
What is the smartest way to play craps?
What is the most profitable bet in craps?
Which online casino is the best for playing craps?
Affiliate Disclosure: Techopedia may receive advertising commissions for visits to a suggested operator through our affiliate links, at no added cost to you. However, all our recommendations are unbiased and follow a thorough review process. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly and you must be of legal gambling age.
References
- Game Rules (Fortress.wa)
- Craps player sets record roll at Borgata casino – nj.com (Nj)
- Home – Gamblers Anonymous (Gamblersanonymous)
- Home – National Council on Problem Gambling (Ncpgambling)
