Craps is a dice game where players wager on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Understanding odds in craps is essential for making informed bets. Here’s a basic guide on how to bet odds in craps:
### Understanding the Pass Line and Come Bets
Before you can bet odds, you need to understand the two main bets in craps: the Pass Line and the Come bets.
– **Pass Line Bet**: This is the most common bet in craps. You win if the first roll (the come-out roll) is a 7 or 11, and you lose if it’s a 2, 3, or 12. If the roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the ‘point’, and you win if the point is rolled again before a 7.
– **Come Bet**: This is similar to the Pass Line bet but is made after the point has been established. A Come bet wins if the next roll is a 7 or 11, loses if it’s 2, 3, or 12, and establishes its own point if it’s 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
### Betting Odds
Once a point has been established on a Pass Line or Come bet, you can bet odds behind your original bet.
– **Pass Line Odds**: If you’ve made a Pass Line bet and a point is established, you can place additional chips behind your Pass Line bet. This is called ‘taking odds.’ The odds bet pays true odds, which means the payouts are based on the actual probability of rolling the point before a 7.
– **Come Odds**: Similarly, if you’ve made a Come bet and it establishes a point, you can place additional chips behind your Come bet. This is called ‘laying odds.’
### True Odds and Payouts
The true odds for each point number are as follows:
– **Point of 4 or 10**: 1:2 odds (pays 2 to 1)
– **Point of 5 or 9**: 2:3 odds (pays 3 to 2)
– **Point of 6 or 8**: 5:6 odds (pays 6 to 5)
### How to Bet Odds in Craps
1. **Make a Pass Line or Come Bet**: First, you need to have an active Pass Line or Come bet with a point established.
2. **Place Your Odds Bet**: After the point is established, you can place additional chips directly behind your Pass Line or Come bet on the layout. You should place the chips in a way that they are easily distinguishable from your original bet.
3. **Know the Limits**: There are usually betting limits for odds bets, which are often expressed as a multiple of your original bet. For example, odds bets might be limited to 3x, 4x, or 5x your original bet, depending on the casino.
4. **Winning and Losing**: If the point is rolled before a 7, you win both your original bet and your odds bet. If a 7 is rolled before the point, you lose both bets.
5. **Payouts**: When you win, the payouts for your odds bet are based on the true odds mentioned above.
Remember that odds bets are not subject to the house edge because they pay true odds, making them one of the best bets in the casino from a mathematical standpoint. Always be mindful of the casino’s rules and the table limits when placing odds bets in craps.