Craps Bar 12

So, 'Bar 12' means the number 12 is excluded (or 'barred') as one of the winning numbers on the come-out roll. Some casinos have 'Bar 2,' which means a 2 on the come-out is a tie for the Don't Pass. Deluxe 12 Foot Craps Table With Diamond Rubber Chips Rail Arm Rest Green. Trademark Poker Craps Layout 36-Inch x 72-Inch. 4.7 out of 5 stars (7) Total. Found a Crapless Craps table at the lively, and always fun, New York-New York, so I decided to get some live craps video of it. The table wasn't crowded at. Bank – The stack of chips placed on the craps table by the casino. Bar 6-6 – Is a standoff with no total wins or losses. In this situation, bets placed may be withdrawn or alternatively, carried over to the next betting roll. Sometimes it's Bar 1-1 or Bar 1-2. Bar 12 or 2 – A push for bets on the Don't Pass Line and the Don't Come. However the 11 – normally a pass line win on come-out – also becomes a point in crapless craps. The probability of making a point of 2 or 12 is 1 in 7. The probability of making a 3 or 11 is 1 in 4. Because you still only get even money for your pass line bet, the house edge for a pass line bet in crapless craps is 5.38 percent.

• Craps Bar 12 Bars
• Craps Bar 12 Inch

This is the 2^nd in a series of posts explaining the game of craps in detail. The 1^st post was about the staff working at the craps table. This post is about how the table layout works and what it means for the player.

Part 2 of 6

• 1 The Craps Dealers and Other Staff at the Dice Table: Who's Who
• 3 How to Play a Craps Game in a Casino
• 4 The Best and Worst Craps Bets You Can Make
• 5 Craps Bets Ranked According to House Edge
• 6 How (and Why) to Act Like a Craps Player

Craps in a casino is played at a big table with a green felt layout. This is where you place your bets.

But not all the bets are labeled on the layout.

And some of the bets that aren't labeled are important. You'll learn why soon.

A Closer Look at the Craps Table

When I say the craps table is big, I mean it's bigger than most people expect until they've seen one in person. It's about 5 feet wide. And it's often as long as a Toyota Camry.

But the size can vary from casino to casino, too.

Wooden sides surround the surface of the craps table, but 2 spots, in particular, are left open—one for the stickman and one for the boxman.

Unlike roulette, there are no seats at a craps table. It's played standing. The only person sitting at a craps table is the boxman. Depending on the size of the table, it can host between a dozen and 20 players at a time.

The insides of the wooden sides are coated with foam rubber in some places and mirrors in others. The foam rubber ensures a random roll of the dice, while the mirrors make it easier for the boxman and the floorman to view the action and the results of the rolls.

The dice are always somewhere on the table in plain sight. This prevents cheating on the part of the casino and the players.

The Layout of the Craps Table Is Even More Important

That felt tabletop has bets printed on it. It's usually green, although you'll also often see tables covered in red felt. Some casinos try to use their branding on the table, and they might change the color in use based on that, too.

The lines which divide the tabletop into areas are almost always white, regardless of the color of the rest of the table. The bets are printed in various colors—red, white, and/or yellow.

If you look at a picture of a craps table, you'll notice 3 sections:

• A section on one end
• A section on the other end
• A middle section

The 2 sections on the end are identical. The casino sets the table up this way so you can make bets with the standing dealers from either end of the table.

The outermost labeled bet on the table is the pass-line bet. It's usually just labeled 'PASS LINE.' The section for this bet runs from the edge of the table to the center of the table. This is the most commonly placed bet at the craps table.

Parallel and next to the pass-line bet is the don't pass bet. Most people like to root for the shooter, so they don't place the don't pass bet, even though it has slightly better odds than the pass-line bet.

Next to where it says 'don't pass,' the table usually has printed 'bar 12' or 'bar 2.' This means that if the roll is a 12 (or a 2), the don't pass bet doesn't pay—it's treated as a push. You get to keep your original bet, but you don't get any winnings.

A future post will explain what these bets are in detail, but for now, I want you to understand where they're located on the craps table.

You'll also see an area labeled 'COME.' This is where you place a 'come bet,' which is another of the most popular and useful bets on the table. Many players ignore this bet because they don't understand what it is or how it works. When you finish reading this series of posts, you won't have that problem.

Another bet is available—the opposite of the come bet. It's called the 'don't come bet.' It's also printed with the words 'bar 2' or 'bar 12' next to it.

The other big area on the craps table is labeled 'FIELD.' This is where you can place field bets. Besides the word 'FIELD,' you'll also see several numbers in that section: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The 2 and the 12 are in circles, too. (You win that bet if you placed a bet on any of those numbers and one of them come up on the next roll. The circled numbers usually pay off double or triple.)

Lots of beginners like the field bet, but it's a sucker bet. Skip it. I'll explain why soon.

A couple more bets are also big and bold on the surface: 'BIG 6' and 'BIG 8.' These are sucker bets, too. Skip them. If you want to bet on 6 or 8, there are better ways – offering better odds.

The place bets also have a big section devoted to them. The numbers listed in that section, each of which is in its own box, are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. 6 and 9 are usually spelled out using text ('six' and 'nine,' to prevent confusion—an upside down 6 looks like a 9 and vice versa.)

This is where the buck is placed after a point is set by the shooter.

Those are the basic wagers found at either end of the table. I'll go into more detail about what those bets mean, what they pay off, and how big the house edge is for each of them in the appropriate post.

The best bet on the table isn't labeled at all, though. It's called the 'free odds bet' or just the 'odds bet.' I'll explain it soon, too.

The Bets in the Center of the Table

You'll find a dizzying array of bets in the center of the table, and these are the bets that the stickman manages. You can place hard way bets, any craps, 7, or 11, among others.

I'll explain all these bets in detail, too, but for now, I want to give you this advice:

Ever.

The house edge is the number we use to measure how advantageous a bet is for the casino. The higher the house edge, the bigger the casino's mathematical advantage is over you.

The bets in the center of the table all have a house edge of at least 9%. Some of them are much higher than that.

Many of the bets on the 2 ends of the table are lousy, too.

But smart craps players stick with the best bets on the table. You can get the house edge below 1% if you place the right bets.

You Also Need to Know about the Dice

Obviously, you need some understanding of the table layout, but you also need an understanding of how the dice work and the various combinations they can create.

Casino dice are almost perfect cubes. And when I say 'almost perfect,' we're talking about dice that are made with unimaginable precision. The cubes are ¾ of an inch wide. The corners of these dice are sharp because of the precise angles involved. You don't want to step on them barefoot. You also don't want someone throwing them at you.

These dice are larger than dice used at home in games like Yahtzee. They're generally red and translucent so you can see that there are no weights or anything inside them. They're also imprinted with the casino's logo.

It's important to the casino that the dice are kept honest.

I mentioned this in my previous post, but if a shooter's on a winning streak, the boxman will examine the dice to make sure they haven't been switched out or tampered with.

Dice Combinations

Craps dice are 6-sided. When you roll 2 of these dice, you have 11 possible totals and 36 possible outcomes:

• A total of 2, which is a combination of 1-1. (There's only one way to roll a 2.)
• A total of 3, which is a combination of 1-2 or 2-1. (There are 2 ways to roll a 3.)
• A total of 4, which is a combination of 1-3, 2-2, or 3-1. (There are 3 ways to roll a 4.)
• A total of 5, which is a combination of 1-4, 2-3, 3-2, or 4-1. (There are 4 ways to roll a 5.)
• A total of 6, which is a combination of 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, or 5-1. (There are 5 ways to roll a 6.)
• A total of 7, which is a combination of 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, or 6-1. (There are 6 ways to roll a 7.)
• A total of 8, which is a combination of 2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, or 6-2. (There are 5 ways to roll an 8.)
• A total of 9, which is a combination of 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, or 6-3. (There are 4 ways to roll a 9.)
• A total of 10, which is a combination of 4-6, 5-5, or 6-4. (There are 3 ways to roll a 10.)
• A total of 11, which is a combination of 5-6 or 6-5. (There are 2 ways to roll an 11.)
• A total of 12, which is a combination of 6-6. (There is only one way to roll a 12.)

You'll notice if you look carefully that this is a classic bell curve. The 7 is in the middle of the curve, and it's the most likely result. The 6 and the 8 are the 2^nd most likely results, placing them to either side of the 7 on the curve, and so on.

Point Numbers

Some of these totals are 'point numbers.' They're the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

The 7 is the important reference point for the point numbers, because the odds of rolling a point number are measure against the odds of rolling a 7.

There are 3 ways to roll a 4 or a 10.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 4 or a 10 is 6/3, or 2 to 1.

There are 4 ways to roll a 5 or a 9.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 5 or a 9 is 6/4, or 3 to 2.

There are 5 ways to roll a 6 or an 8.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 6 or an 8 is 6/5, or 6 to 5.

Those are really important odds to understand, as will become clear soon.

Other Odds for Other Totals and Outcomes

The way the casino makes its money is by paying off your bets at odds that aren't commensurate with the odds of winning.

The odds of rolling a total of 11 are 17 to 1. (There are 17 ways to fail for every 1 way to succeed.)

But if you bet that the total on the next roll will be 11 and you win, you only get paid at 15 to 1.

Suppose you placed that bet 18 times, at $100 each. You'd win $1500 on the one time you succeeded, but on the other 17 rolls, you'd lose $1700. You'd have a net loss of $200 over 18 spins.

That's an average of $11.11 lost per spin, or 11.11%.

And that's the house edge on that bet—11.11%.

You can always calculate these odds by remembering that probability is just a fraction that compares how many ways something can happen with how many ways it can't happen.

For example, the odds of rolling a 2 (or a 12) are 35 to 1. There are 35 ways to lose, and only one way to win.

The odds of rolling a 3 (or an 11) are 17 to 1. There are 34 ways to lose and only 2 ways to win.

The odds of rolling a 4 (or a 10) are 11 to 1. There are 33 ways to lose and only 3 ways to win.

Conclusion

This is the 2^nd post in our series about playing craps and winning. The next post explains in detail exactly how the game of craps is played. This includes stuff like who rolls the dice, what happens after they roll the dice, and so on.

But I wanted to give you a solid background on both the casino employees involved in the game and the equipment used during the game. I also wanted to give you an introduction to how the math works when rolling a pair of dice.dd

Fire Bet

The Fire Bet pays based on how many unique points a shooter can make before sevening out. Please see my page on the Fire Bet for the rules rules and analysis.

Different Doubles

The Different Doubles pays based on the number of distinct doubles the shooter rolls before a seven. Please see my page on the Different Doubles for the rules rules and analysis.

Ride the Line

Details about this side bet can be found in my Ride the Line page.

Muggsy's Corner

This is a simple side bet that wins if the come out roll is a seven or a 'point-7' (point established and seven on the next roll). For the full rules and analysis, please see my page on Muggsy's Corner.

Hard Rockin' Dice

This set of three side bets, originally called the Hot Hand, can be found at the Hard Rock Cincinnati. They if various sets of totals are rolled before a seven. Please see my page on Hard Rockin' Dice for more information.

Low Dice, High Dice

This pair of bets are based on the total of the dice in one throw. The 'Low Dice' bet pays 1 to 1 on totals of 3 to 6 and 5 to 1 on a total of 2. The 'High Dice' pays 1 to 1 on totals of 8 to 11 and 5 to 1 on a total of 12. The following return table on the Low Dice bet shows the house edge is 5.56%. The High Dice bet is the opposite so has the same house edge.

Low Bet

Card Craps

In some jurisdictions, namely California, dice alone may not determine the outcome of a bet. In the game of 'Card Craps' 24-card decks are used each consisting of ranks ace to six in all four suits. Two cards are drawn to simulate the roll of the dice. If the suits are different the 'roll' stands. If the suits are the same, then the roll is ignored for all craps bets. The odds on all craps bets are the same as if dice were used.

However, there is an extra bet called the 'No Call.' This bet pays 3 to 1 if the two cards are suited, otherwise it loses. The house edge depends on the number of 24-card decks used as shown below.

Card Craps - No Call Bet

Midway Bet

The Showboat in Atlantic City I'm told has a Midway bet in the normal location of the Big 6 and Big 8 on a total of 6 to 8 in the next roll. A hard 6 or 8 pay 2 to 1, and all other totals of 6 to 8 pay 1 to 1. The following table shows the house edge is 5.56%.

Craps Bar 12 Bars

Midway Bet

Bonus Craps (Small, Tall, & All)

Bonus Craps is a set of three side bets, the Small, Tall, and All. For all the details, please visit my Bonus Craps page.

Four Rolls no Seven

I hear that Sam's Town in both Las Vegas and Shreveport offer this bet. The bet wins if the shooter can go four throws without rolling a seven. A win pays 1 to 1. The odds are as follows.

Four Rolls no Seven

Golden Dice Challenge

The 'Golden Dice Challenge' is a craps side bet found at the MGM Grand in Detroit. The bet pays according to the number of pass line wins the player has before a seven-out. For purposes of the side bet, a win may be made either by rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, or making a point. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll does not affect the bet. There is a maximum win of $5,000.

The following return table shows the pays, probabilities, and return from each event, based on a $1 bet.

Golden Dice Challenge Return Table for $1 Bet

Assuming the maximum win is $5000 the following is the house edge for various bet amounts.

Golden Dice Challenge House Edge by Amout Bet

7 Point 7

7 Point 7 is a craps side bet, which debuted at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas, in late 2008. I have also seen it at the Hard Rock in Macau under the name 'Double Trip Seven.' The bet wins if the player gets a seven on the come out roll, or the dreaded 'point 7,' where the player sevens out on his second roll. The following table shows a house edge of 5.56%.

7 Point 7 Return Table

Sharp Shooter

The 'Sharp Shooter' is a side bet in craps spotted at the Hooters casino in Las Vegas in March, 2009. I hear it was removed in 2014.

The bet is made when a new shooter takes the dice, and pays according to how many times he makes a point. The following table shows what each number of points made pays and the probability. Pays have been converted to a 'to one' basis, to be consistent with the rest of this page. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 21.87%.

Sharp Shooter — Return Table

Double Trip Seven

I noticed this bet at the City of Dreams in Macau in August 2009. It is the same thing as the7 Point 7 bet aleady described.

Point Seven

I saw this side bet at the 2009 Global Gaming Expo, and in June 2010 at the Las Vegas Hilton. It is licensed by Casino Gaming LLC. It is a side wager made on the come out roll. If the player rolls a point, and then a seven on the second roll, the bet pays 7 to 1. All other outcomes lose. The following table shows the house edge is 11.11%.

Point Seven

Replay

Craps Bar 12 Inch

Replay is a craps side bet I spotted at the Boulder Station on September 16, 2010. It pays if the shooter makes the same point at least 3 times before sevening out. For my full analysis, please see my page on the Replay side bet.

Twice as Nice

Twice as Nice is a side bet that has been seen at an unknown casino in Biloxi. It wins if the shooter throws any specific pair, including a total of 2 and 12, twice before a seven. For example, rolling a hard 10 twice before a 7. Wins pay 6 to 1. The following table shows a house edge of 29.40%.

Twice as Nice

A win of 7 to 1 would have a house edge of 19.31%, and 8 to 1 would be 9.22%.

Pete and Repeat

Pete and Repeat has also been seen at the same mystery casino in Biloxi. It wins if any total is rolled twice before a 7. Velour casino monte carlo. Wins pay even money. The following table shows a house edge of 5.79%.

Pete and Repeat

Double D

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It pays if the shooter makes at least four unique doubles before he sevens out. Come out rolls do not count. The following table shows all the possible outcomes, what they pay (on a 'to one' basis), the probability, and return. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 14.71%.

Double D

Broad Bar 12

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It acts like a place bet, winning on any double except 6-6, and losing on seven. The following return table shows the a house edge of 1.52%, per bet resolved.

Broad Bar 12 — Not Counting Pushes

Hot Roller

On December 27, 2013, a member of my Wizard of Vegas forum posted about seeing this side bet at the Dover Downs casino in Delaware. It pays based on how many 'completed points' the shooter gets before rolling a seven. The shooter completes a point when he rolls it in all possible ways. For example, to complete a point of eight the shooter would need to roll a 2+6, 3+5, and 4+4. Following are the complete rules.

1. The bet may be made only on a come out roll.
2. The bet will be resolved when the shooter rolls a seven.
3. The bet pays according to how many 'completed points' the shooter achieves.
4. To complete a point, the shooter must roll the given total all possible ways. The following list shows all the ways to roll each total.
   • 4: 1+3, 2+2
   • 5: 1+4, 2+3
   • 6: 1+5, 2+4, 3+3
   • 8: 2+6, 3+5, 4+4
   • 9: 3+6, 4+5
   • 10: 4+6, 5+5
5. The player must complete at least two points to win. The following table shows how much each number of completed points pays.

Hot Roller Pay Table

The following table shows the probability and contribution to the return for all possible outcomes. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.50%. There are certainly much worse things you could bet on in craps.

Hot Roller Return Table

My methodology was a random simulation of 28 billion resolved bets.

Repeater

Repeater is a set of craps side bets I noticed at the Suncoast casino in Las Vegas on April 6, 2015. The idea is that the player must roll a given number a specified number of times before a seven. For bets on 2 to 6, the player must roll that total the same number of times as the total itself. For example, for the bet on the number five to win, the shooter must roll 5 fives before a seven. For totals of 8 to 12, the player must roll the total 14 less whatever the total is. For example, on a total of 11, the player must roll an eleven 14-11=3 times before a seven.

• 2: 40 for 1
• 3: 50 for 1
• 4: 65 for 1
• 5: 80 for 1
• 6: 90 for 1
• 8: 90 for 1
• 9: 80 for 1
• 10: 65 for 1
• 11: 50 for 1
• 12: 40 for 1

The following table shows the probability of winning and house edge of each bet.

Repeater — Suncoast Rules

At Caesars Palace I noticed they added a 'Dealer Envy' win to the same Suncoast pay table above. The following table shows the return to the player, the dealer, and the total.

Repeater — Caesars Palace Dealer Envy Rules

It should be noted that the player can achieve the same thing by parlaying place/buy bets. Here is the same chart for the better of place and buy bets. This assumes a buy bet on the 4 with commission on a win only (effective odds of 59 for 20), place bet on the 5 paying 7 to 5, and place bet on the 6 paying 7 to 6.

Place/Buy Parlay Strategy

Note how the house edge is lower on the 4 and 6 making place/buy bets, but greater on the 5.

According to the patent application for the Repeater Bets there are some other variants, as follows:

• Variant 1: Come out rolls don't count. In this version, the player can only lose on a 'seven out' but any numbers rolled on a come out roll don't help either. The patent application doesn't specifically say that other numbers on a come out roll don't help, but it is implied by saying that the casino may choose to let the player turn the repeater bets on and off on a come out roll. Why would any player turn them off if the player could only advance on a come out roll and not lose?
• Variant 2: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The win and number of rolls required are the same as the mirror image number below seven. For example, a player must roll 6 eights on the eight bet, which pays 90 for 1.
• Variant 3: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. However, unlike variant 2, the player must still achieve the given number that many times to win. For example, for a bet on eight, the shooter must roll 8 eights before a seven to win. The odds under this variant are shown below.

Repeater — 'Variant 3' rules

Under 7, Over 7

The over and under 7 are a pair of side bets I noticed at the New York, New York on January 6, 2017. You can find them where the Big 6 and 8 bets used to be. Both bets pay even money bets and win if the next roll is over/under a 7. So, a total of 7 causes both to lose. The probability of winning is 15/36=41.67% and the house edge is 16.67% (ouch!).

Hard Way Place Bets

On May 30, 2017 I noticed place bets on the hard ways on the craps tables at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas. These would win if the specified hard way, for example 5-5, where rolled before a total of seven. Each bet pays 5 to 1.

The following return table shows a house edge of 14.29%, ignoring rolls that neither win nor lose.

Hard Way Place Bets

Internal Links

You'll also see an area labeled 'COME.' This is where you place a 'come bet,' which is another of the most popular and useful bets on the table. Many players ignore this bet because they don't understand what it is or how it works. When you finish reading this series of posts, you won't have that problem.

Another bet is available—the opposite of the come bet. It's called the 'don't come bet.' It's also printed with the words 'bar 2' or 'bar 12' next to it.

The other big area on the craps table is labeled 'FIELD.' This is where you can place field bets. Besides the word 'FIELD,' you'll also see several numbers in that section: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The 2 and the 12 are in circles, too. (You win that bet if you placed a bet on any of those numbers and one of them come up on the next roll. The circled numbers usually pay off double or triple.)

Lots of beginners like the field bet, but it's a sucker bet. Skip it. I'll explain why soon.

A couple more bets are also big and bold on the surface: 'BIG 6' and 'BIG 8.' These are sucker bets, too. Skip them. If you want to bet on 6 or 8, there are better ways – offering better odds.

The place bets also have a big section devoted to them. The numbers listed in that section, each of which is in its own box, are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. 6 and 9 are usually spelled out using text ('six' and 'nine,' to prevent confusion—an upside down 6 looks like a 9 and vice versa.)

This is where the buck is placed after a point is set by the shooter.

Those are the basic wagers found at either end of the table. I'll go into more detail about what those bets mean, what they pay off, and how big the house edge is for each of them in the appropriate post.

The best bet on the table isn't labeled at all, though. It's called the 'free odds bet' or just the 'odds bet.' I'll explain it soon, too.

The Bets in the Center of the Table

You'll find a dizzying array of bets in the center of the table, and these are the bets that the stickman manages. You can place hard way bets, any craps, 7, or 11, among others.

I'll explain all these bets in detail, too, but for now, I want to give you this advice:

Ever.

The house edge is the number we use to measure how advantageous a bet is for the casino. The higher the house edge, the bigger the casino's mathematical advantage is over you.

The bets in the center of the table all have a house edge of at least 9%. Some of them are much higher than that.

Many of the bets on the 2 ends of the table are lousy, too.

But smart craps players stick with the best bets on the table. You can get the house edge below 1% if you place the right bets.

You Also Need to Know about the Dice

Obviously, you need some understanding of the table layout, but you also need an understanding of how the dice work and the various combinations they can create.

Casino dice are almost perfect cubes. And when I say 'almost perfect,' we're talking about dice that are made with unimaginable precision. The cubes are ¾ of an inch wide. The corners of these dice are sharp because of the precise angles involved. You don't want to step on them barefoot. You also don't want someone throwing them at you.

These dice are larger than dice used at home in games like Yahtzee. They're generally red and translucent so you can see that there are no weights or anything inside them. They're also imprinted with the casino's logo.

It's important to the casino that the dice are kept honest.

I mentioned this in my previous post, but if a shooter's on a winning streak, the boxman will examine the dice to make sure they haven't been switched out or tampered with.

Dice Combinations

Craps dice are 6-sided. When you roll 2 of these dice, you have 11 possible totals and 36 possible outcomes:

• A total of 2, which is a combination of 1-1. (There's only one way to roll a 2.)
• A total of 3, which is a combination of 1-2 or 2-1. (There are 2 ways to roll a 3.)
• A total of 4, which is a combination of 1-3, 2-2, or 3-1. (There are 3 ways to roll a 4.)
• A total of 5, which is a combination of 1-4, 2-3, 3-2, or 4-1. (There are 4 ways to roll a 5.)
• A total of 6, which is a combination of 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, or 5-1. (There are 5 ways to roll a 6.)
• A total of 7, which is a combination of 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, or 6-1. (There are 6 ways to roll a 7.)
• A total of 8, which is a combination of 2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, or 6-2. (There are 5 ways to roll an 8.)
• A total of 9, which is a combination of 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, or 6-3. (There are 4 ways to roll a 9.)
• A total of 10, which is a combination of 4-6, 5-5, or 6-4. (There are 3 ways to roll a 10.)
• A total of 11, which is a combination of 5-6 or 6-5. (There are 2 ways to roll an 11.)
• A total of 12, which is a combination of 6-6. (There is only one way to roll a 12.)

You'll notice if you look carefully that this is a classic bell curve. The 7 is in the middle of the curve, and it's the most likely result. The 6 and the 8 are the 2^nd most likely results, placing them to either side of the 7 on the curve, and so on.

Point Numbers

Some of these totals are 'point numbers.' They're the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

The 7 is the important reference point for the point numbers, because the odds of rolling a point number are measure against the odds of rolling a 7.

There are 3 ways to roll a 4 or a 10.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 4 or a 10 is 6/3, or 2 to 1.

There are 4 ways to roll a 5 or a 9.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 5 or a 9 is 6/4, or 3 to 2.

There are 5 ways to roll a 6 or an 8.

There are 6 ways to roll a 7.

The probability of a 7 coming up before a 6 or an 8 is 6/5, or 6 to 5.

Those are really important odds to understand, as will become clear soon.

Other Odds for Other Totals and Outcomes

The way the casino makes its money is by paying off your bets at odds that aren't commensurate with the odds of winning.

The odds of rolling a total of 11 are 17 to 1. (There are 17 ways to fail for every 1 way to succeed.)

But if you bet that the total on the next roll will be 11 and you win, you only get paid at 15 to 1.

Suppose you placed that bet 18 times, at $100 each. You'd win $1500 on the one time you succeeded, but on the other 17 rolls, you'd lose $1700. You'd have a net loss of $200 over 18 spins.

That's an average of $11.11 lost per spin, or 11.11%.

And that's the house edge on that bet—11.11%.

You can always calculate these odds by remembering that probability is just a fraction that compares how many ways something can happen with how many ways it can't happen.

For example, the odds of rolling a 2 (or a 12) are 35 to 1. There are 35 ways to lose, and only one way to win.

The odds of rolling a 3 (or an 11) are 17 to 1. There are 34 ways to lose and only 2 ways to win.

The odds of rolling a 4 (or a 10) are 11 to 1. There are 33 ways to lose and only 3 ways to win.

Conclusion

This is the 2^nd post in our series about playing craps and winning. The next post explains in detail exactly how the game of craps is played. This includes stuff like who rolls the dice, what happens after they roll the dice, and so on.

But I wanted to give you a solid background on both the casino employees involved in the game and the equipment used during the game. I also wanted to give you an introduction to how the math works when rolling a pair of dice.dd

Fire Bet

The Fire Bet pays based on how many unique points a shooter can make before sevening out. Please see my page on the Fire Bet for the rules rules and analysis.

Different Doubles

The Different Doubles pays based on the number of distinct doubles the shooter rolls before a seven. Please see my page on the Different Doubles for the rules rules and analysis.

Ride the Line

Details about this side bet can be found in my Ride the Line page.

Muggsy's Corner

This is a simple side bet that wins if the come out roll is a seven or a 'point-7' (point established and seven on the next roll). For the full rules and analysis, please see my page on Muggsy's Corner.

Hard Rockin' Dice

This set of three side bets, originally called the Hot Hand, can be found at the Hard Rock Cincinnati. They if various sets of totals are rolled before a seven. Please see my page on Hard Rockin' Dice for more information.

Low Dice, High Dice

This pair of bets are based on the total of the dice in one throw. The 'Low Dice' bet pays 1 to 1 on totals of 3 to 6 and 5 to 1 on a total of 2. The 'High Dice' pays 1 to 1 on totals of 8 to 11 and 5 to 1 on a total of 12. The following return table on the Low Dice bet shows the house edge is 5.56%. The High Dice bet is the opposite so has the same house edge.

Low Bet

Card Craps

In some jurisdictions, namely California, dice alone may not determine the outcome of a bet. In the game of 'Card Craps' 24-card decks are used each consisting of ranks ace to six in all four suits. Two cards are drawn to simulate the roll of the dice. If the suits are different the 'roll' stands. If the suits are the same, then the roll is ignored for all craps bets. The odds on all craps bets are the same as if dice were used.

However, there is an extra bet called the 'No Call.' This bet pays 3 to 1 if the two cards are suited, otherwise it loses. The house edge depends on the number of 24-card decks used as shown below.

Card Craps - No Call Bet

Midway Bet

The Showboat in Atlantic City I'm told has a Midway bet in the normal location of the Big 6 and Big 8 on a total of 6 to 8 in the next roll. A hard 6 or 8 pay 2 to 1, and all other totals of 6 to 8 pay 1 to 1. The following table shows the house edge is 5.56%.

Craps Bar 12 Bars

Midway Bet

Bonus Craps (Small, Tall, & All)

Bonus Craps is a set of three side bets, the Small, Tall, and All. For all the details, please visit my Bonus Craps page.

Four Rolls no Seven

I hear that Sam's Town in both Las Vegas and Shreveport offer this bet. The bet wins if the shooter can go four throws without rolling a seven. A win pays 1 to 1. The odds are as follows.

Four Rolls no Seven

Golden Dice Challenge

The 'Golden Dice Challenge' is a craps side bet found at the MGM Grand in Detroit. The bet pays according to the number of pass line wins the player has before a seven-out. For purposes of the side bet, a win may be made either by rolling a 7 or 11 on the come out roll, or making a point. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll does not affect the bet. There is a maximum win of $5,000.

The following return table shows the pays, probabilities, and return from each event, based on a $1 bet.

Golden Dice Challenge Return Table for $1 Bet

Assuming the maximum win is $5000 the following is the house edge for various bet amounts.

Golden Dice Challenge House Edge by Amout Bet

7 Point 7

7 Point 7 is a craps side bet, which debuted at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas, in late 2008. I have also seen it at the Hard Rock in Macau under the name 'Double Trip Seven.' The bet wins if the player gets a seven on the come out roll, or the dreaded 'point 7,' where the player sevens out on his second roll. The following table shows a house edge of 5.56%.

7 Point 7 Return Table

Sharp Shooter

The 'Sharp Shooter' is a side bet in craps spotted at the Hooters casino in Las Vegas in March, 2009. I hear it was removed in 2014.

The bet is made when a new shooter takes the dice, and pays according to how many times he makes a point. The following table shows what each number of points made pays and the probability. Pays have been converted to a 'to one' basis, to be consistent with the rest of this page. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 21.87%.

Sharp Shooter — Return Table

Double Trip Seven

I noticed this bet at the City of Dreams in Macau in August 2009. It is the same thing as the7 Point 7 bet aleady described.

Point Seven

I saw this side bet at the 2009 Global Gaming Expo, and in June 2010 at the Las Vegas Hilton. It is licensed by Casino Gaming LLC. It is a side wager made on the come out roll. If the player rolls a point, and then a seven on the second roll, the bet pays 7 to 1. All other outcomes lose. The following table shows the house edge is 11.11%.

Point Seven

Replay

Craps Bar 12 Inch

Replay is a craps side bet I spotted at the Boulder Station on September 16, 2010. It pays if the shooter makes the same point at least 3 times before sevening out. For my full analysis, please see my page on the Replay side bet.

Twice as Nice

Twice as Nice is a side bet that has been seen at an unknown casino in Biloxi. It wins if the shooter throws any specific pair, including a total of 2 and 12, twice before a seven. For example, rolling a hard 10 twice before a 7. Wins pay 6 to 1. The following table shows a house edge of 29.40%.

Twice as Nice

A win of 7 to 1 would have a house edge of 19.31%, and 8 to 1 would be 9.22%.

Pete and Repeat

Pete and Repeat has also been seen at the same mystery casino in Biloxi. It wins if any total is rolled twice before a 7. Velour casino monte carlo. Wins pay even money. The following table shows a house edge of 5.79%.

Pete and Repeat

Double D

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It pays if the shooter makes at least four unique doubles before he sevens out. Come out rolls do not count. The following table shows all the possible outcomes, what they pay (on a 'to one' basis), the probability, and return. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 14.71%.

Double D

Broad Bar 12

In April 2012 I heard this side bet was being offered at the Harrington Raceway casino in Harrington, Delaware. It acts like a place bet, winning on any double except 6-6, and losing on seven. The following return table shows the a house edge of 1.52%, per bet resolved.

Broad Bar 12 — Not Counting Pushes

Hot Roller

On December 27, 2013, a member of my Wizard of Vegas forum posted about seeing this side bet at the Dover Downs casino in Delaware. It pays based on how many 'completed points' the shooter gets before rolling a seven. The shooter completes a point when he rolls it in all possible ways. For example, to complete a point of eight the shooter would need to roll a 2+6, 3+5, and 4+4. Following are the complete rules.

1. The bet may be made only on a come out roll.
2. The bet will be resolved when the shooter rolls a seven.
3. The bet pays according to how many 'completed points' the shooter achieves.
4. To complete a point, the shooter must roll the given total all possible ways. The following list shows all the ways to roll each total.
   • 4: 1+3, 2+2
   • 5: 1+4, 2+3
   • 6: 1+5, 2+4, 3+3
   • 8: 2+6, 3+5, 4+4
   • 9: 3+6, 4+5
   • 10: 4+6, 5+5
5. The player must complete at least two points to win. The following table shows how much each number of completed points pays.

Hot Roller Pay Table

The following table shows the probability and contribution to the return for all possible outcomes. The lower right cell shows a house edge of 7.50%. There are certainly much worse things you could bet on in craps.

Hot Roller Return Table

My methodology was a random simulation of 28 billion resolved bets.

Repeater

Repeater is a set of craps side bets I noticed at the Suncoast casino in Las Vegas on April 6, 2015. The idea is that the player must roll a given number a specified number of times before a seven. For bets on 2 to 6, the player must roll that total the same number of times as the total itself. For example, for the bet on the number five to win, the shooter must roll 5 fives before a seven. For totals of 8 to 12, the player must roll the total 14 less whatever the total is. For example, on a total of 11, the player must roll an eleven 14-11=3 times before a seven.

• 2: 40 for 1
• 3: 50 for 1
• 4: 65 for 1
• 5: 80 for 1
• 6: 90 for 1
• 8: 90 for 1
• 9: 80 for 1
• 10: 65 for 1
• 11: 50 for 1
• 12: 40 for 1

The following table shows the probability of winning and house edge of each bet.

Repeater — Suncoast Rules

At Caesars Palace I noticed they added a 'Dealer Envy' win to the same Suncoast pay table above. The following table shows the return to the player, the dealer, and the total.

Repeater — Caesars Palace Dealer Envy Rules

It should be noted that the player can achieve the same thing by parlaying place/buy bets. Here is the same chart for the better of place and buy bets. This assumes a buy bet on the 4 with commission on a win only (effective odds of 59 for 20), place bet on the 5 paying 7 to 5, and place bet on the 6 paying 7 to 6.

Place/Buy Parlay Strategy

Note how the house edge is lower on the 4 and 6 making place/buy bets, but greater on the 5.

According to the patent application for the Repeater Bets there are some other variants, as follows:

• Variant 1: Come out rolls don't count. In this version, the player can only lose on a 'seven out' but any numbers rolled on a come out roll don't help either. The patent application doesn't specifically say that other numbers on a come out roll don't help, but it is implied by saying that the casino may choose to let the player turn the repeater bets on and off on a come out roll. Why would any player turn them off if the player could only advance on a come out roll and not lose?
• Variant 2: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The win and number of rolls required are the same as the mirror image number below seven. For example, a player must roll 6 eights on the eight bet, which pays 90 for 1.
• Variant 3: The player may also bet on a 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. However, unlike variant 2, the player must still achieve the given number that many times to win. For example, for a bet on eight, the shooter must roll 8 eights before a seven to win. The odds under this variant are shown below.

Repeater — 'Variant 3' rules

Under 7, Over 7

The over and under 7 are a pair of side bets I noticed at the New York, New York on January 6, 2017. You can find them where the Big 6 and 8 bets used to be. Both bets pay even money bets and win if the next roll is over/under a 7. So, a total of 7 causes both to lose. The probability of winning is 15/36=41.67% and the house edge is 16.67% (ouch!).

Hard Way Place Bets

On May 30, 2017 I noticed place bets on the hard ways on the craps tables at the Orleans casino in Las Vegas. These would win if the specified hard way, for example 5-5, where rolled before a total of seven. Each bet pays 5 to 1.

The following return table shows a house edge of 14.29%, ignoring rolls that neither win nor lose.

Hard Way Place Bets

Internal Links

• How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
• The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
• Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
• Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
• Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
• California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
• Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
• Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
• Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
• Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.

External Links

• Las Vegas craps survey — The max odds bet allowed at each casino.