If you walk onto a casino floor, it is usually incredibly easy to locate the Craps pit; just follow the noise.

The Craps layout is an absolute mess of confusing numbers, bizarre terminology (like “Horn Bets” and “Hardways”), and fast-moving chips.

Furthermore, you do not need to understand 90% of the confusing bets on the table to play the game perfectly.

Let’s learn how to throw the dice, understand the “Pass Line,” and experience the most thrilling game on the casino floor.
The Foundation: The Pass Line Bet and the Come-Out Roll
The Pass Line is the long, curved betting area that wraps entirely around the outside edge of the table layout.

On this initial Come-Out Roll, there are only three possible outcomes that immediately affect your Pass Line bet.

A 7 or 11 on the Come-Out Roll is an instant winner for the Pass Line. The dealer will pay you even money (1 to 1) on your bet immediately.

Outcome 3 (Establishing the Point): This is the most common outcome and the heart of the game.

This is where the true drama of Craps begins.
Phase Two: Hitting the Point vs. Sevening Out
The shooter will now continue to pick up the dice and roll them repeatedly until one of two specific things happens.

Your Pass Line bet wins, the dealer pays you 1 to 1, the puck is flipped to “Off,” and the game resets to a brand new Come-Out Roll.

If the shooter rolls a 7 before they roll the Point (an 8), it is called “Sevening Out.”

This dynamic—praying for the Point and terrified of the 7—is what creates the intense, communal adrenaline rush of Craps.

The House Edge on the Pass Line bet is an incredibly low 1.41%, making it one of the absolute best bets in the entire casino.
The Best Bet in the Casino: The Free Odds Bet
If you want to play like a true professional, there is one secret, unwritten bet you must learn: “Taking Odds.”

The Odds bet is the ONLY bet in the entire casino that carries a 0.00% House Edge.

If the Point is 5 or 9, the true odds are 3 to 2. The Odds bet pays exactly 3 to 2.

To take advantage of this incredible mathematical anomaly, professional players always keep their initial Pass Line bet as low as possible (the table minimum).

Never play Craps without taking Odds. It is the smartest, most mathematically sound decision you can make in any casino on earth.
The Craps Cheat Sheet for Beginners

The Instant Win/Loss: On the Come-Out, 7/11 Wins. 2/3/12 Loses. Any other number becomes “The Point.” The Point Phase: The puck flips to “ON” and is placed on a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The Secret Bet: The Odds bet has a 0% House Edge. Always take the maximum odds the casino allows. The Golden Rule: Stick to the Pass Line and the Odds. Let the tourists throw their money away in the middle of the table.

Understanding the Probabilities in Craps

Result of the ThrowHow Many Ways to Make ItStatistical Likelihood 2 (Snake Eyes) or 12 (Boxcars)Only 1 way each (1-1 or 6-6)Statistically the rarest rolls on the table. 6 or 85 ways eachThe easiest points to hit, but still harder than a 7. The Odds bet pays 6:5. The Golden RatioThere are 6 ways to roll a 7, and only 5 ways to roll a 6 or 8.The House Edge exists because the 7 will always eventually appear and wipe out the board.

Do not let the complex layout and the shouting dealers intimidate you from experiencing the best game in the building.

If you stick rigidly to this simple strategy, you will be playing with better odds than 95% of the other people in the casino.

Welcome to the most exciting, chaotic, and profitable fraternity in the casino world.