Craps Strategy

The casino is full of games that can take a strategy for a structured approach to playing. Here, we will cover everything a player needs to know to form a strategy when shooting the dice and sitting through a game of craps at the casino. With this information, a strategy can be formed for a structured approach to playing. However, it is worth noting that a Craps strategy cannot guarantee an outcome, as this ultimately comes down to chance.

Popular Strategies in Craps

As with any game, there is no one way to play craps. As a game that has existed for centuries, players have come up with ways to manage their sessions to give them a structured method of playing. Here are some of the strategies that players can employ in their games:

Pass Line Strategy

This approach is probably one of the most common found in any player’s craps strategy. The pass line is denoted by an L shape on the table and refers to whether you think the shooter’s roll is going to be successful.

It exists in two phases - one before the shooter rolls for the first time at the come out and one after they have set their point.

In the first phase, the bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 but loses should they roll a 2, 3, or 12. If the shooter manages to miss all those numbers, the bet carries on to the second phase. Here, it will win if the point number is rolled again and lose if a 7 is rolled. As it’s one of the first bets that you can place at the table, it is one that most players are familiar with.

However, the edge favours the house more here than in some other craps bets. As such, it may be wiser to look at other strategies with a shorter house edge if you want to reduce the risks of losing.

Betting Against the Shooter (Don’t Pass Strategy)

Now, this strategy is the exact inverse of the pass-line approach. Instead of betting in favour of the shooter rolling a 7 or 11, you’re betting against that. So those two numbers would lose you your bet, and 2, 3, or 12 will be a winner on the come-out roll. Then, if the point value is defined, the bet carries over to the following rolls and pays out if the shooter gets a 7 before the point.

This is a bit of a mixed bag of a strategy. On the come out, your odds of winning are significantly lower than if you bet in favour of the shooter. The probabilities come in at around 11% and 22%, respectively.

However, when the point is defined and the bet continues into its second phase, the house edge is slightly shorter than it is in the pass-line bet.

Press Craps Strategy

This is a bit more of an in-depth strategy. While the previous two strategies have been about the choices you make rather than your approach to staking, this is all about your stake. If you have used a place bet - that is, betting on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 being rolled before the shooter lands the point or craps out - you would use this strategy as a structured way of approaching your selected bets.

Here, if a player has selected a place number and staked on it, should it win, an improved stake would be used as it is a progressive strategy. For example, let’s say you have bet on 8, the £6 minimum bet would win you £7. To press your stake, you would stake £12, keeping £1 of the winnings aside.

You will then continue to up your stake, the next bet would be £30 after you won £14 and added an extra £4 to your bet. The bet will increase again to £66 if it wins, with £1 being added to the previous stake and the £35 winnings. If this wins, the strategy ends.

This strategy is often used as a way of managing bankroll. However, as it is a progressive strategy, stakes can increase, so ensure you have a budget in place and you are not chasing losses.

6 and 8 Craps Strategy

This strategy is a simple one that focuses solely on the numbers 6 and 8. That’s because these are the two numbers most likely to be rolled other than the 7.

So, a player would place a bet on the 6 or 8 as these are the most likely to hit based on statistics.

By focusing on the most likely numbers (statistically), this is a strategy that offers a structured approach to playing. That said, despite being statistically more likely to hit, there is no guarantee that the numbers 6 or 8 will be the ones.

Iron Cross Strategy

This is possibly the most specialised strategy that a craps player can add to their arsenal. It involves using the table’s field and placing bets in an attempt to try to bring the house edge down.

The player will put bets on the field, as well as place bets on 5, 6, and 8. This is almost an insurance strategy in that if your place bets win, your field bets will lose. However, if the field bets win, the place bets carry over and remain in play. The only time that all lose is if the shooter craps out by rolling a 7. The different numbers on the table have different odds, and their payouts can vary greatly, so some wins may be smaller than others, and some may see you simply break even.

This strategy is good for those who are looking to minimise the chances of losing. As there are multiple chances for the player to win, it is possible to pick up smaller wins on the table. The strategy also avoids a progressive nature which is great if you are trying to manage your bankroll when playing Craps.

Strategy Tips for Playing Craps

As well as specific staking and gameplay strategies, there are some universal approaches to playing craps that can be applied to help ensure a better experience for players. These are some of those tips that Craps players can apply.

Setting a Budget

Establishing a bankroll for your gaming sessions is a key part of playing at the craps table. You should always make sure that you can afford to play by setting your budget. Set out an amount that you are comfortable playing with. Craps is a game based on random chance, and a house edge does exist, so budgeting can be really important.

Understanding the Different Betting Options

With a game like craps, there are multiple different ways to play and a lot of different bets that you can place on the table. If you’re planning to take part in a good session, you want to know that you have all the different ways of playing in your wheelhouse. If you are caught in a situation where you don’t fully know what your bet requires, you are more likely to lose it and find yourself on the tilt. Use our guide on how to play craps to learn the intricacies of the different bets on the table and what you need to win them.

Understand Table Betting Limits

Every game has its different betting limits. You should be sure to make yourself familiar with the limits for each bet. This is important if you are approaching the table with a particular strategy or progressive system that could be affected by the table limit.

Clarity About the Rules

In much the same way as understanding the betting odds, you should be fully aware of the rules of craps. It’s no good entering a game if you’re not sure when the shooter craps out or when your bet will win. With a game that has so many different permutations, including when a game will continue or when bets roll over, it’s key to be able to follow it and make your ongoing decisions accurately and without any mistakes.

Selecting the Best Strategy

No one strategy is the best for everyone. Each player will have their own approach to playing. You should be sure to look at the pros and cons of each available strategy and see how they align with how you would like to approach the game. Every single approach has a very different outcome, depending on whether it’s an aggressive one or one that follows a more conservative policy.

For example, if you are looking for a strategy that will manage your bankroll, you should avoid something like the Press Strategy. As this is a progressive betting strategy that emphasises increasing your stake, it is unlikely that you will meet your goals.

With every casino game, you should avoid chasing losses. Streaks are dangerous and can cause significant losses. A strategy that doesn’t rest on a winning or losing streak is a good choice, given that it follows this principle.

Ultimately, the best strategy that a player can employ when playing craps at a casino is to set their own limits and play in a way that they’re comfortable with. That said, no strategy should be seen as perfect. The edge will always be in the house’s favour and a win can never be guaranteed, no matter how attractive some strategies can appear.