Online Craps – The Basics
Craps is a thrilling casino game that blends luck and strategy, offering players a range of betting options. While each roll is determined by chance, using a solid strategy can improve your odds and enhance your experience.
One popular strategy is the Martingale, a money management approach used in craps and other casino games. The idea is to double your bet after each loss and return to your original bet after a win. Understanding craps involves knowing the different dice roll outcomes, how to place bets, and the common language used in online craps games.
Bankroll Management: Key to Long-Term Success
Your bankroll management plan should be practical and effective. If you are too strict, you won’t have fun and will not be able to implement other technical strategies in craps. If you are too flexible, you will likely deplete your bankroll before achieving your objective. So, what is the best money management plan for UK casino players?
Focus on Lower-House Edge Bets
By definition, house edge is the difference between the true odds of a craps bet and the actual odds that the online casino will payout if you win. In short, this is what the casino gets to keep from each bet made on craps, whether players win or not. House edge on Craps varies with the type of bet you are playing. Therefore, as part of your betting strategy, you should focus on basic bets in craps – Pass line bet, Dont pass, come, don’t come and Odds bets offer the lowest house edge in UK casinos.
To win consistently, understand that craps relies heavily on combining the right bet and low house edge. Always read reviews or check payables of a Craps game before playing with real money.
Best Craps Strategies for Every Type of Player
For inexperienced bettors, the best way to play Craps is to start with basic strategies before advancing to more sophisticated techniques and methodologies. We’ve highlighted the two most popular Craps strategies and provided a brief overview of other strategies that we also recommend learning and practicing.
3-point Molly Strategy
The 3-point molly strategy in craps involves placing a Pass line bet and then setting three points with maximum odds, before stopping unless a 7 is rolled, bets are lost, or a win occurs.
Place the Pass Line Bet
Start by placing your initial Pass Line bet. This bet will win if the come-out roll (the first roll) is a 7 or 11 and lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12.
Determine Your Point
If the come-out roll results in any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that becomes your “point.” Once the point is established, move to the next step.
Place a Max Odds Bet
Once your point is set, place a max odds bet on that point. This will increase your payout if you win, as the odds bet has no house edge.
Add Another Pass Line Bet
Place another Pass Line bet on a new roll. The next point number that comes up (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will become your second point.
Add Max Odds to the New Point
Place a max odds bet on the new point, just like you did in Step 3. Now, you have two points covered with Pass Line bets and max odds.
Repeat for the Third Point
Place another Pass Line bet and wait for the next point to be established. Once the third point is set, add max odds for it. At this stage, you’ll have bets on three points.
Iron Cross Strategy
The Iron Cross craps strategy is all about combining bets to make sure you win in one roll. You will make place and field bets to give you a high chance of winning each dice roll. Since the bet covers multiple numbers, it offers decent odds and produces smaller, regular bets.
Place a Place bet on 5, 6, and 8
Start by placing bets on the 5, 6, and 8. These numbers are frequently rolled, and they cover the majority of the possible outcomes.
Place a Field bet
Next, place a bet on the Field, which covers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. This gives you more opportunities to win, especially on a roll of 2, 3, or 12.
Wait for a roll
After placing your bets, wait for the shooter to roll. You win on the Field bet if any of the numbers in the Field (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12) come up, and you also win on the 5, 6, or 8 if those are rolled.
Collect winnings or adjust bets
When you win, you can either collect your winnings or increase your Place bets on the 5, 6, and 8. The Field bet can be adjusted based on preference, but typically you keep it in place for the duration.
Repeat until a 7 is rolled
The strategy is designed to take advantage of the numbers rolled before a 7 comes. If a 7 is rolled, you lose all bets and start over with fresh wagers.
Pass Line Bet Strategy
The Pass Line Bet Strategy involves betting on the shooter to roll a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) to win once established. You place a Pass line bet, win on 7 or 11, or establish a point and then place odds bets behind the Pass line.
Don’t Pass Bet Strategy
The Don’t Pass Bet Strategy is the opposite of the Pass line, where you bet the shooter will roll a 2 or 3 (win) or a 7 (lose) on the come-out roll, and a 7 will roll before the point. You place a Don’t Pass bet, win on 2 or 3, lose on 7 or 11, and bet against the point once established.
Come Bet Strategy
The Come Bet Strategy is similar to the Pass line, where you place a bet after the point is set, hoping the shooter rolls your number before a 7. You place a Come bet after the point, win if your number is rolled, and set a new point for future Come bets.
Don’t Come Bet Strategy
The Don’t Come Bet Strategy is a bet placed after the point is established, betting that a 7 will be rolled before the point. You place a Don’t Come bet, win on a 2 or 3, lose on a 7 or 11, and bet against the point if it’s rolled.
Advanced Craps Techniques: Pushing Your Game to the Next Level
Players who have experience with the craps table online or offline are in the best position to try out more sophisticated strategies. A lot of people search online for mathematical craps strategy, and several books have been written on this topic. Here are some intricate strategies for advanced craps players in the UK:
Martingale Strategy
The Martingale Strategy, which doubles the bet after each loss in an attempt to recover losses after a win. This requires a large bankroll and the discipline to stop once you win.
Paroli Strategy
The Paroli Strategy, a positive progression betting system where you double your bet after each win, aiming to capitalize on winning streaks while limiting losses during losing streaks.
5-Count Strategy
The 5-Count Strategy, which involves observing the shooter for five rolls without a 7 before placing any bets, based on the idea that a shooter who avoids a 7 is less likely to throw it again soon.
Lay Bets Strategy
The Lay Bets Strategy, which focuses on betting against specific numbers, hoping that a 7 will be rolled before the point number. This requires a deeper understanding of the odds and the house edge.
Does the dice control theory work?
Yes, dice control is sometimes connected to certain craps strategies, especially those that rely on the idea of altering or predicting outcomes. Some players incorporate it into their betting strategies, hoping that by controlling the dice, they can influence the results and increase their chances of hitting specific numbers. For example, strategies like the 3-Point Molly or Iron Cross could theoretically benefit from dice control, as the goal is to minimize the occurrence of a 7 and maximize hits on other numbers.
However, despite its association with craps strategies, dice control is not widely accepted as a reliable technique by the gambling community or casinos, and most strategies are still primarily based on the assumption that dice rolls are random. Most players focus on the probabilities and betting patterns rather than attempting to control the dice.
Craps Odds & Probabilities
Each bet in craps comes with its odds and winning probabilities. One of the best bets on craps is the Pass line; it offers the best odds and house edge combination.
Payout odds
How much you are likely to win on the game or how much you will be paid after winning at craps.
Bet odds
Your odds of winning that with a particular bet.
Strategy | Description |
---|---|
Pass line | Wager placed right before the Come out roll (win when dice rolls a 7 or 11) |
Don’t Pass Line | Another stake placed before the Come out roll (lose when dice rolls a 7 or 11) |
Any Seven | The player bets that the next dice roll will reveal numbers that add up to 7. (lose if the dice add up to anything other than 7). |
Craps Bet | Bet that the dice will roll a 2, 3 or 12. |
Taking the Odds bet | Stake that the dice roll outcome will reveal a specific number before it reveals a 7. |
Laying the Odds bet | Wager that the dice roll will reveal a 7 before hitting the established point. |
Place bets | Waeger on the dice rolling a 7 before rolling a Place number. |
Big 6 and 8 | Stake that the dice roll hits a 6 or 8 before a roll of 7. |
Field Bets | Wager on the dice landing on a certain number on the next roll. It can be (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12). You lose if the dice lands a (5, 6, 7 or 8). |
Hardway Bets | Place a stake that the dice will reveal the same number on the next roll. You can bet on the numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10). You lose if the dice lands a 7 or any other combination, e.g., 2 and 3, 5 and 6, etc. |
If you want to play craps like a pro, you need to pay attention to your language, etiquette and the way you place bets. All Craps tables have rules that players are required to follow, especially in a live dealer craps game.
Craps table etiquette
Use courteous language when communicating with the live dealer or other players.
While most tables allow you to join mid-rolls, waiting for the new shooter or the next round is best.
If you want to tip the dealer, do it at the end of the round.
At a land-based casino, tips are best done in chips and never in cash.
Never discuss tipping or how much you tipped in a live chat.
Don’t try to distract the croupier or other players when a shooter is mid-roll.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Craps
Online casino craps betting is fun, and exciting, and the unpredictability of the bets makes the gameplay more fast-paced. Avoid these common mistakes when playing craps for real money.
Craps betting without knowing the house edge – House edge lets you know how much you receive after you win and how much the casino keeps.
Placing the maximum bet on the first wager- Avoid starting your game with the maximum stake. It is always wise to start small.
Playing real money craps when you don’t understand the table – Don’t engage with real money bets without knowing the rules of the craps game.
Using your welcome bonus cash on the craps table – Most online casinos indicate that craps don’t contribute to the wagering requirement.
Applying 2 or more strategies simultaneously – Each strategy in craps has its own rules and steps to follow. Mixing two or more will lead to a losing streak.
Using the press strategy in craps when you have a low bankroll – This strategy involves adding more stake to your Place bet, to increase your potential profits.
References
- Donald R. Smith, Robert Scott III – Golden Arm: A Probabilistic Study of Dice Control in Craps
- Garsia Math – How to Play Craps
- Probability – “Struck by Lightning” Supplementary Materials, Mathematical exercise about the game “craps”
- University of Calgary Department of Computer Science, Andrea Marin, Carey Williamson – Cheating at Craps: A Quantitative Analysis
- Business Case Studies – A Comprehensive Look at Craps: It’s Origins, Evolution, and Gameplay
- Pearson, Eric Nielsen – Statistics Tables: Craps for the Normal Distribution
- Academia, Jonaki Ghosh – The Game of Craps
- ResearchGate, Andrea Marin – Cheating at Craps: A Quantitative Analysis
- ResearchGate, Catalin Barboianu – Probability Guide to Gambling: The Mathematics of Dice, Slots, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Poker, Lottery and Sport Bets
- Dalhouse University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics Faculty of Science – Probability of Winning at Craps
- Fordham University Faculty – The Game of Craps
- GamCare
- Be Gamble Aware