Crapless Craps You may have run across it at the Stratosphere in Vegas.Or was on some backwater boat in Mississippi?Or maybe it was at that Indian casino you visited on vacation.It's called Crapless Craps.Many players like this game, yet after thirty years on the market, Crapless Craps is still difficult to find.Why?Primarily because it is a proprietary game, which means casinos must pay a licensing fee to use the layout.But there's also a certain amount of player - and casino - reluctance to accept the game.Part of this comes out of confusion over the payout schedules - still another set of numbers for dealers and players to learn.Then there's the vig – substantially higher than at the traditional game.Nevertheless, Crapless Craps can be a profitable game for the skilled dice setter who plays the 'best bets', then arranges his dice accordingly. The basic Crapless Craps game is quite similar to traditional banker's craps, however it does have a few unique variations.First off, there's the addition of four new point numbers.The 2, 3, 11, and 12 are point numbers in this game.Since it is 'crapless,' you cannot lose on the come out roll.But you don't automatically win on the eleven either, so the only way to win on the come out is by throwing the seven.Traditionally, the best set for throwing the seven is the hard 10 set with the 3/4 on the side.But we'll get into this more later. At first glance the Crapless idea looks good.You're giving up one natural, the 11,to avoid three losers, the 2, 3, or 12.Remember, though, that the probability of hitting a point of 2 or 12 is only 1/7, and the probability of hitting a point of 3 or 11 is only 1/4.In fact, giving up that sure winner on the eleven for a shot at winning on the 2, 3, and 12 boosts the house edge on the pass line to a whopping 5.382%.Placing single odds will reduce the vig to 2.936%.Double odds reduces it further to 2.081%.But it is not until you get to 5X odds that the vig gets halfway respectable – down to 1.042%.However, most of these games offer nothing better than double odds.Therefore, the pass line bet should be avoided unless you are shooting the dice. Let's take a look at the true odds aspect of these 'new' point numbers at Crapless Craps.The true odds of any point rolling are based on the number of ways that point can be rolled in relationship to the number of ways the seven can be rolled.Imaging you have $5 on the line and the shooter establishes the twelve as his point.You place full double odds behind the line bet and have a total of $15 in action.What would be the correct pay off if the shooter made the point?There is one combination of the dice that adds up to twelve.The six-six.But there are six combinations that add up to seven.They are one-six, two-five, three-four, four-three, five-two, and six-one.Therefore, the correct true odds on the twelve are six to one.In our example, if the shooter made his point we would be paid $5 for our line bet, and $60 for our $10 free odds bet, for a total payoff of $65. TRUE ODDS PAY-OFF FOR CRAPLESS CRAPS
As you can see from the above chart, if the three or eleven is established as the point, the correct true odds payoff is three to one.Using the same example as above, a five dollar line bet with double odds would pay a total of $35, five for the line bet and thirty for the free odds bet.The rest of the numbers pay the same as in a traditional game.Sounds good, right?But remember, the elimination of the eleven as a natural increases the vig in this game.A pass line or come bet with double odds carries a toll of2.081% compared to 0.60% in the traditional game.Again, the line bet should be avoided until it's your time to shoot the dice.Still, you should know the correct pay-off for those times when you are shooting the dice.This will also come into play with your buy bets - which we will get into later. Now let's take a look at place betting for Crapless Craps.Obviously, the traditional 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 bets are played – and paid exactly the same as in a standard game.The vig on these bets is no different than what you are used to.The major difference in this game comes with the placing of the 'extreme outside' numbers, the 2, 3, 11, and 12.The pay off odds for place bets on these numbers is as follows: EXTREME OUTSIDE PLACE BET ODDS As with the five and nine – you must bet an even amount of money to get a correct pay off on the extreme outside numbers.On a five dollar table the minimum correct bet on the two or twelve would be six dollars.For a correct pay off on the three and eleven you would place eight dollars.Placing an incorrect amount will result in a reduced payoff, which increases the already considerable vig.The11:2 payoff on the 2 and 12 yields a house edge of7.143%.The 3 and 11 run a close second with an edge of6.250%.That is why most veteran players 'buy' the extreme outside just as they would the four and ten. A Buy bet is similar to a Place bet except that you pay a 5% commission up-front in exchange for receiving a true payoff if it wins. The commission is based on the amount wagered. For example, if you wanted to make a $20 Buy bet on the number 11, you'd put down $21 in the Come area and tell the dealer 'Buy the 11'. He or she will move $20 to the number 11 point box and place a BUY button on top it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house. The result is that you'll win $60 (3:1) instead of $55 (11:4) for a place bet in the same amount.If your bet wins and you want to keep it up, you'll have to pay the dealer another $1 commission. The vig is returned if you remove the bet before it wins or loses. Let's review the best bets in Crapless Craps.Number one on the list is placing the six and eight - with a vig of 1.51%.Next on the list is the pass line with double odds - which carries a vig of 2.08%.Last of all is pushing the house for a better buy on the extreme outside numbers - which can get the vig as low as 2.56%.Now let's move on to the basic Crapless dice setting and betting strategy. A strategy for players with less bankroll to work with might be to place the extreme outside numbers for $6 and $8 each, then buy them out of the payoff on the first hit.However, the vig on this bet is substantially higher than on the buy bet.Whenever possible, it is best to pay the additional $12 plus the commission for a correct payoff.Remember, too, that money management is the cornerstone of any good betting strategy.With that in mind, plan to incorporate at least one regression move in your play, with an eye toward locking up a small win or minimizing potential losses.But any good strategy should focus on signature numbers for the dice arrangement to be used. Is online poker legal in indiana. Since the game is 'crapless,' on the come-out roll you want your best shot at hitting a seven – or establishing a point of 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 or 12.The recommended arrangement for these numbers is the hard-ten set – the 5-5 up, the 6-6 and 1-1 facing up and down table, the 3-4 on the sides.When rolled on axis, four out of sixteen possible combinations of the dice add up to seven, four combinations yield the six or eight, while six out of sixteen combinations add up to an extreme outside number.That's one way to make the two or twelve, and two ways to make the three or eleven.If you score a seven on the come-out roll – great.If you get up on any of our favored points – that's great, too.You'll want to play maximum free odds behind your line bet in order to reduce the vig and take advantage of the huge potential payoffs on these numbers.But once the point is established you should change your set for the balance of your roll. Assuming you are successful in establishing one of your preferred points, the correct dice set is one you are all familiar with by now - the crossed-sixes.In this arrangement, one die has the 3-4 on the sides, and the other has the 5-2 on the sides.Rolled on axis, this set reduces the number of combinations that add up to seven from four to two.You have one way each to make the two, three, eleven and twelve, plus two ways each to make the six and eight.That's a total of eight ways to win versus two ways to lose on the seven. So next time you're at Sam's Town in Tunica, The Isle of Capri in Kansas City, or yes, even the Stratosphere in Vegas – step up to the old Crapless game, wait for the dice, put five on the line and give it a whirl.With a little luck and a lot of skill – it might be the most fun you've ever had shooting dice. Back To Heavy On.. Copyright 2001 by Stephen Haltom - all rights reserved. |
Craps is one of the oldest casino games, and has existed in its current form for over a century.
Crapless craps, also known as Bastard Craps, is a simple version of the original craps game, and is normally played as an online private game. The biggest difference between crapless craps and original craps, is that the shooter (person throwing the dice) is at a far greater disadvantage and has a house edge of 5.38%. The crapless craps rules alter the casino's edge in their own favor, with a house edge for crapless craps being around 5.4%. That's much higher than the standard house edge of 1.4% on the pass bet in a standard craps game with standard rules. Ruse craps (same as crapless) for example works the same as the normal craps game. Any number besides a 7 will be marked as the point number. The difference between the crapless variety and the typical game is when the shooter rolls an 11.
This long history means craps is a popular game that has passed the test of time. But casinos like to put a fresh spin on older casino games – especially if it increases their edge.
Enter crapless craps, which is a variation on this time-honored game. Crapless craps add an interesting rule where you can't lose on a pass line bet.
But does this variation help you win more often? Or is this just a gimmick by casinos?
Find out as I cover the rules of crapless craps, why you should play this game, the downside of crapless craps, and how this version compares to traditional craps.
Rules of Crapless Craps
Pass line is a bet that you make on the come out roll, which is the first roll of a new round. This wager wins when a 7 or 11 is tossed on the come out, and loses when a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled.
Any other number establishes a point. The point must be rolled before a 7 in order for pass line to win.
Crapless craps differ because you can't lose on the come out roll. The reason is because 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers in crapless craps.
But the catch is that 11 is also a point number. This means that the only way for you to win on the come out roll is by tossing a 7.
Once you get past the come out, normal pass line rules apply. This means that you need the point number to be rolled before a 7 in order to win.
Also, keep in mind that don't pass line and don't come bets aren't available in crapless craps. This is bad because you don't have a viable alternative to pass line.
Why You Should Play Crapless Craps
The main reason to play crapless craps is if you want to try something different than the regular game.
Perhaps you're bored with how pass line bets work at regular craps tables. In this case, crapless craps offer an interesting alternative.
Another reason to try this game is if you have bad luck on the come out roll.
Maybe 2, 3, and/or 12 come up far more often than you'd like on the come out. In this case, you'll be glad to know that these numbers won't cause you to lose in crapless craps. Erik dahlberg poker.
Another bonus is that the 7 at least gives you one option to win on the come out roll.
This is good because 7 has better odds than any other number in craps. 6 out of the possible 36 dice combinations can form a 7.
Downside of Crapless Craps
The biggest problem with crapless craps is that its pass line bet carries a 5.38% house edge.
This is really bad in comparison to a regular pass line wager, which has a 1.41% house edge. If your primary goal is to win, then you need to avoid crapless craps.
Why does crapless craps give you such a poor chance of winning?
This game seems good at face value because 2, 3, and 12 don't cause you to lose on pass line. Instead, they're neutral because they become point numbers.
The only thing that you're sacrificing is the ability to win with an 11 on the come out roll. But if you take a deeper look at the math, this is a bad tradeoff.
Your odds of getting a 2 or 12 on the come out are 17:1. Your odds of landing a 3 or 11 on the come out are 9:1.
The problem here is that converting 2, 3, and 12 to point numbers doesn't offset what you lose by not winning with 11.
This is why you face a 5.38% house edge, which is among the worst in table games. Let's look at how crapless craps' pass line bet compares to other casino games:
- Video poker = 0.46% house edge (9/6 Jacks or Better)
- Blackjack = 0.5% to 2.0% (varies by table rules)
- Baccarat = 1.06% (betting on banker hand)
- French roulette = 1.35%
- Regular craps = 1.41% (pass line bet)
- Pai gow poker = 1.46%
- European roulette = 2.70%
- Let It Ride = 3.51%
- Online scratch cards = 5.0% (varies by provider)
- Caribbean stud = 5.22%
- American roulette = 5.26%
- Crapless craps (pass line) = 5.38%
- Keno = 10% to 40%
Strategy for Crapless Craps
Crapless craps is different from standard craps in terms of strategy.
This is because you're facing a 5.38% house edge with the pass line bet. And you can't get around this by making don't pass line and don't come bets because they don't exist.
This means your best option is to make a Place 6 or Place 8 wager. Both of these bets have a 1.52% house edge, which makes them the best in crapless craps.
With Place 6, you need a 6 to be rolled before a 7. The payout for winning is 7:6, and your true odds are 6:5.
Place 8 works the same as Place 6 in terms of the payout and true odds. But the difference is that you need an 8 to be rolled before a 7 to win.
Keep in mind that some casinos only let you make place bets on 2, 3, 11, or 12 in crapless craps.
This is a huge problem, because Place 2 and Place 12 carry a 7.14% house edge, while Place 3 and Place 11 have a 6.30% house advantage. This makes these bets even worse than the pass line wager.
One more point worth making here is that some casinos allow you to place free odds behind 2, 3, and 12.
This is good because an odds bet doesn't have a house edge. Instead, it pays at your true odds of winning.
Odds behind 2 and 12 offer a 6:1 payout, while odds behind a 3 deliver a 3:1 payout. Here's a look at how the house advantage changes based on the amount of odds you bet:
- 1X odds = 2.94% house edge
- 2X odds = 2.02%
- 3X odds = 1.54%
- 5X odds = 1.04%
Craps Vs Crapless Craps Vs
Even at 1x odds, you're almost cutting the house edge in half. Taking 3x odds makes these bets about as good as a Place 6 or Place 8 wager.
Crapless Craps You may have run across it at the Stratosphere in Vegas.Or was on some backwater boat in Mississippi?Or maybe it was at that Indian casino you visited on vacation.It's called Crapless Craps.Many players like this game, yet after thirty years on the market, Crapless Craps is still difficult to find.Why?Primarily because it is a proprietary game, which means casinos must pay a licensing fee to use the layout.But there's also a certain amount of player - and casino - reluctance to accept the game.Part of this comes out of confusion over the payout schedules - still another set of numbers for dealers and players to learn.Then there's the vig – substantially higher than at the traditional game.Nevertheless, Crapless Craps can be a profitable game for the skilled dice setter who plays the 'best bets', then arranges his dice accordingly. The basic Crapless Craps game is quite similar to traditional banker's craps, however it does have a few unique variations.First off, there's the addition of four new point numbers.The 2, 3, 11, and 12 are point numbers in this game.Since it is 'crapless,' you cannot lose on the come out roll.But you don't automatically win on the eleven either, so the only way to win on the come out is by throwing the seven.Traditionally, the best set for throwing the seven is the hard 10 set with the 3/4 on the side.But we'll get into this more later. At first glance the Crapless idea looks good.You're giving up one natural, the 11,to avoid three losers, the 2, 3, or 12.Remember, though, that the probability of hitting a point of 2 or 12 is only 1/7, and the probability of hitting a point of 3 or 11 is only 1/4.In fact, giving up that sure winner on the eleven for a shot at winning on the 2, 3, and 12 boosts the house edge on the pass line to a whopping 5.382%.Placing single odds will reduce the vig to 2.936%.Double odds reduces it further to 2.081%.But it is not until you get to 5X odds that the vig gets halfway respectable – down to 1.042%.However, most of these games offer nothing better than double odds.Therefore, the pass line bet should be avoided unless you are shooting the dice. Let's take a look at the true odds aspect of these 'new' point numbers at Crapless Craps.The true odds of any point rolling are based on the number of ways that point can be rolled in relationship to the number of ways the seven can be rolled.Imaging you have $5 on the line and the shooter establishes the twelve as his point.You place full double odds behind the line bet and have a total of $15 in action.What would be the correct pay off if the shooter made the point?There is one combination of the dice that adds up to twelve.The six-six.But there are six combinations that add up to seven.They are one-six, two-five, three-four, four-three, five-two, and six-one.Therefore, the correct true odds on the twelve are six to one.In our example, if the shooter made his point we would be paid $5 for our line bet, and $60 for our $10 free odds bet, for a total payoff of $65. TRUE ODDS PAY-OFF FOR CRAPLESS CRAPS
As you can see from the above chart, if the three or eleven is established as the point, the correct true odds payoff is three to one.Using the same example as above, a five dollar line bet with double odds would pay a total of $35, five for the line bet and thirty for the free odds bet.The rest of the numbers pay the same as in a traditional game.Sounds good, right?But remember, the elimination of the eleven as a natural increases the vig in this game.A pass line or come bet with double odds carries a toll of2.081% compared to 0.60% in the traditional game.Again, the line bet should be avoided until it's your time to shoot the dice.Still, you should know the correct pay-off for those times when you are shooting the dice.This will also come into play with your buy bets - which we will get into later. Now let's take a look at place betting for Crapless Craps.Obviously, the traditional 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 bets are played – and paid exactly the same as in a standard game.The vig on these bets is no different than what you are used to.The major difference in this game comes with the placing of the 'extreme outside' numbers, the 2, 3, 11, and 12.The pay off odds for place bets on these numbers is as follows: EXTREME OUTSIDE PLACE BET ODDS As with the five and nine – you must bet an even amount of money to get a correct pay off on the extreme outside numbers.On a five dollar table the minimum correct bet on the two or twelve would be six dollars.For a correct pay off on the three and eleven you would place eight dollars.Placing an incorrect amount will result in a reduced payoff, which increases the already considerable vig.The11:2 payoff on the 2 and 12 yields a house edge of7.143%.The 3 and 11 run a close second with an edge of6.250%.That is why most veteran players 'buy' the extreme outside just as they would the four and ten. A Buy bet is similar to a Place bet except that you pay a 5% commission up-front in exchange for receiving a true payoff if it wins. The commission is based on the amount wagered. For example, if you wanted to make a $20 Buy bet on the number 11, you'd put down $21 in the Come area and tell the dealer 'Buy the 11'. He or she will move $20 to the number 11 point box and place a BUY button on top it. The extra $1 (5% of $20) is the vig for the house. The result is that you'll win $60 (3:1) instead of $55 (11:4) for a place bet in the same amount.If your bet wins and you want to keep it up, you'll have to pay the dealer another $1 commission. The vig is returned if you remove the bet before it wins or loses. Let's review the best bets in Crapless Craps.Number one on the list is placing the six and eight - with a vig of 1.51%.Next on the list is the pass line with double odds - which carries a vig of 2.08%.Last of all is pushing the house for a better buy on the extreme outside numbers - which can get the vig as low as 2.56%.Now let's move on to the basic Crapless dice setting and betting strategy. A strategy for players with less bankroll to work with might be to place the extreme outside numbers for $6 and $8 each, then buy them out of the payoff on the first hit.However, the vig on this bet is substantially higher than on the buy bet.Whenever possible, it is best to pay the additional $12 plus the commission for a correct payoff.Remember, too, that money management is the cornerstone of any good betting strategy.With that in mind, plan to incorporate at least one regression move in your play, with an eye toward locking up a small win or minimizing potential losses.But any good strategy should focus on signature numbers for the dice arrangement to be used. Is online poker legal in indiana. Since the game is 'crapless,' on the come-out roll you want your best shot at hitting a seven – or establishing a point of 2, 3, 6, 8, 11 or 12.The recommended arrangement for these numbers is the hard-ten set – the 5-5 up, the 6-6 and 1-1 facing up and down table, the 3-4 on the sides.When rolled on axis, four out of sixteen possible combinations of the dice add up to seven, four combinations yield the six or eight, while six out of sixteen combinations add up to an extreme outside number.That's one way to make the two or twelve, and two ways to make the three or eleven.If you score a seven on the come-out roll – great.If you get up on any of our favored points – that's great, too.You'll want to play maximum free odds behind your line bet in order to reduce the vig and take advantage of the huge potential payoffs on these numbers.But once the point is established you should change your set for the balance of your roll. Assuming you are successful in establishing one of your preferred points, the correct dice set is one you are all familiar with by now - the crossed-sixes.In this arrangement, one die has the 3-4 on the sides, and the other has the 5-2 on the sides.Rolled on axis, this set reduces the number of combinations that add up to seven from four to two.You have one way each to make the two, three, eleven and twelve, plus two ways each to make the six and eight.That's a total of eight ways to win versus two ways to lose on the seven. So next time you're at Sam's Town in Tunica, The Isle of Capri in Kansas City, or yes, even the Stratosphere in Vegas – step up to the old Crapless game, wait for the dice, put five on the line and give it a whirl.With a little luck and a lot of skill – it might be the most fun you've ever had shooting dice. Back To Heavy On.. Copyright 2001 by Stephen Haltom - all rights reserved. |
Craps is one of the oldest casino games, and has existed in its current form for over a century.
Crapless craps, also known as Bastard Craps, is a simple version of the original craps game, and is normally played as an online private game. The biggest difference between crapless craps and original craps, is that the shooter (person throwing the dice) is at a far greater disadvantage and has a house edge of 5.38%. The crapless craps rules alter the casino's edge in their own favor, with a house edge for crapless craps being around 5.4%. That's much higher than the standard house edge of 1.4% on the pass bet in a standard craps game with standard rules. Ruse craps (same as crapless) for example works the same as the normal craps game. Any number besides a 7 will be marked as the point number. The difference between the crapless variety and the typical game is when the shooter rolls an 11.
This long history means craps is a popular game that has passed the test of time. But casinos like to put a fresh spin on older casino games – especially if it increases their edge.
Enter crapless craps, which is a variation on this time-honored game. Crapless craps add an interesting rule where you can't lose on a pass line bet.
But does this variation help you win more often? Or is this just a gimmick by casinos?
Find out as I cover the rules of crapless craps, why you should play this game, the downside of crapless craps, and how this version compares to traditional craps.
Rules of Crapless Craps
Pass line is a bet that you make on the come out roll, which is the first roll of a new round. This wager wins when a 7 or 11 is tossed on the come out, and loses when a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled.
Any other number establishes a point. The point must be rolled before a 7 in order for pass line to win.
Crapless craps differ because you can't lose on the come out roll. The reason is because 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers in crapless craps.
But the catch is that 11 is also a point number. This means that the only way for you to win on the come out roll is by tossing a 7.
Once you get past the come out, normal pass line rules apply. This means that you need the point number to be rolled before a 7 in order to win.
Also, keep in mind that don't pass line and don't come bets aren't available in crapless craps. This is bad because you don't have a viable alternative to pass line.
Why You Should Play Crapless Craps
The main reason to play crapless craps is if you want to try something different than the regular game.
Perhaps you're bored with how pass line bets work at regular craps tables. In this case, crapless craps offer an interesting alternative.
Another reason to try this game is if you have bad luck on the come out roll.
Maybe 2, 3, and/or 12 come up far more often than you'd like on the come out. In this case, you'll be glad to know that these numbers won't cause you to lose in crapless craps. Erik dahlberg poker.
Another bonus is that the 7 at least gives you one option to win on the come out roll.
This is good because 7 has better odds than any other number in craps. 6 out of the possible 36 dice combinations can form a 7.
Downside of Crapless Craps
The biggest problem with crapless craps is that its pass line bet carries a 5.38% house edge.
This is really bad in comparison to a regular pass line wager, which has a 1.41% house edge. If your primary goal is to win, then you need to avoid crapless craps.
Why does crapless craps give you such a poor chance of winning?
This game seems good at face value because 2, 3, and 12 don't cause you to lose on pass line. Instead, they're neutral because they become point numbers.
The only thing that you're sacrificing is the ability to win with an 11 on the come out roll. But if you take a deeper look at the math, this is a bad tradeoff.
Your odds of getting a 2 or 12 on the come out are 17:1. Your odds of landing a 3 or 11 on the come out are 9:1.
The problem here is that converting 2, 3, and 12 to point numbers doesn't offset what you lose by not winning with 11.
This is why you face a 5.38% house edge, which is among the worst in table games. Let's look at how crapless craps' pass line bet compares to other casino games:
- Video poker = 0.46% house edge (9/6 Jacks or Better)
- Blackjack = 0.5% to 2.0% (varies by table rules)
- Baccarat = 1.06% (betting on banker hand)
- French roulette = 1.35%
- Regular craps = 1.41% (pass line bet)
- Pai gow poker = 1.46%
- European roulette = 2.70%
- Let It Ride = 3.51%
- Online scratch cards = 5.0% (varies by provider)
- Caribbean stud = 5.22%
- American roulette = 5.26%
- Crapless craps (pass line) = 5.38%
- Keno = 10% to 40%
Strategy for Crapless Craps
Crapless craps is different from standard craps in terms of strategy.
This is because you're facing a 5.38% house edge with the pass line bet. And you can't get around this by making don't pass line and don't come bets because they don't exist.
This means your best option is to make a Place 6 or Place 8 wager. Both of these bets have a 1.52% house edge, which makes them the best in crapless craps.
With Place 6, you need a 6 to be rolled before a 7. The payout for winning is 7:6, and your true odds are 6:5.
Place 8 works the same as Place 6 in terms of the payout and true odds. But the difference is that you need an 8 to be rolled before a 7 to win.
Keep in mind that some casinos only let you make place bets on 2, 3, 11, or 12 in crapless craps.
This is a huge problem, because Place 2 and Place 12 carry a 7.14% house edge, while Place 3 and Place 11 have a 6.30% house advantage. This makes these bets even worse than the pass line wager.
One more point worth making here is that some casinos allow you to place free odds behind 2, 3, and 12.
This is good because an odds bet doesn't have a house edge. Instead, it pays at your true odds of winning.
Odds behind 2 and 12 offer a 6:1 payout, while odds behind a 3 deliver a 3:1 payout. Here's a look at how the house advantage changes based on the amount of odds you bet:
- 1X odds = 2.94% house edge
- 2X odds = 2.02%
- 3X odds = 1.54%
- 5X odds = 1.04%
Craps Vs Crapless Craps Vs
Even at 1x odds, you're almost cutting the house edge in half. Taking 3x odds makes these bets about as good as a Place 6 or Place 8 wager.
If you're able to bet 5x odds or higher, then you're dealing with an even lower house edge than a regular pass line or don't pass line bet.
Here are the instructions for how you place odds bets in crapless craps:
1. Make a Place 2, 3, or 12 bet.
2. Tell the dealer that you're going to put odds behind your wager.
3. Place your chips behind your original bet (there's no official space for odds).
4. You need your place bet number to be rolled before a 7 for both your regular bet and odds to come through.
How Does Crapless Craps Compare to Regular Craps?
The biggest difference between standard craps and crapless craps is the latter's pass line rules.
As covered before, the pass line bet can't lose on the come out because 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers. But the drawback is that 11 also becomes a point, rather than delivering a win.
In standard craps, pass line wins with a 7 or 11 on the come out roll. And it loses with a 2, 3, or 12.
The other big difference is that crapless craps doesn't offer don't pass line and don't come. This is a major downside because these wagers would normally help you bypass the unfavorable pass line wager.
Another notable change is that crapless craps allows you to bet free odds behind Place 2, 3, and 12.This doesn't suddenly make crapless craps a great game, but it does help you reduce the house edge.
What's the Best Craps Strategy?
If you want to exercise good craps strategy, then your first rule should be to avoid crapless craps.
This game features really bad odds on the pass line bet, despite the fact that you can't lose on the come out roll. What's worse is that you're not able to make don't bets.
Crapless craps only becomes further unplayable when you can't make Place 6 and Place 8 wagers.
The best craps strategy begins with finding a regular table. If your casino only offers crapless craps, then you're going to be at a major disadvantage.
The second step to perfect craps strategy is making either a pass line or don't pass line bet and backing it with odds.
As explained earlier, odds bets don't have a house edge. This means that you can improve your overall chances of winning by making this wager.
You must wait for a point number to be established before placing an odds bet behind your pass line or don't pass line wager. You 'take odds' when backing a pass line bet, and 'lay odds' when betting behind don't pass line.
Taking odds requires the shooter to roll the point before a 7 for you to win. Here are payouts on taking odds:
- 2:1 on point numbers of 4 and 10.
- 3:2 on points of 5 and 9.
- 6:5 on points of 6 and 8.
Laying odds requires the shooter to roll a 7 before the point for you to win. Here are payouts on laying odds:
- 1:2 for points of 4 and 10.
- 2:3 for points of 5 and 9.
- 5:6 for points of 6 and 8.
It's to your advantage to take the highest odds available. But most casinos cap the amount of available odds to 5x or less.
Here's how much the house edge drops based on the size of your odds bet:
Odds | Pass Line/Come | Don't Pass Line/Don't Come |
---|---|---|
0x | 1.41% house edge | 1.36% house edge |
1x | 0.848% | 0.682% |
2x | 0.606% | 0.455% |
Full Double Odds | 0.572% | 0.431% |
3x | 0.471% | 0.341% |
3x 4x 5x | 0.374% | 0.273% |
5x | 0.326% | 0.227% |
10x | 0.184% | 0.124% |
20x | 0.099% | 0.065% |
100x | 0.021% | 0.014% |
The Cromwell in Las Vegas is the only place I know of that has 100x odds. Vegas' Main Street Station is one of the few that offers 20x odds. Casino boat in baton rouge.
Of course, you need to be wary of making bigger odds wagers, because you also need the money to back them. Here's an example:
Craps Vs Crapless Craps Game
1. You place a $5 pass line bet.2. You take 20x odds.
3. This means you have to bet another $100, or $105 total.
Most craps players don't have $105 to place on every bet, even if there isn't a house edge. This is why you need to take your bankroll size into consideration along with the odds.
Conclusion
New casino games are fun to try, especially when you're tired of classic games like baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette. But as we've covered with crapless craps, you also need to be careful when playing gimmicky games.
Crapless craps fools players with the promise that pass line bettors can't lose on the come out roll. But the rules behind this proposition create a 5.38% house edge.
What's worse is that you can't make don't pass line and don't come bets. Sometimes you can't even choose Place 6 or Place 8 wagers, which takes away all of your good options.
If you must try crapless craps, then I suggest keeping your bets as low as possible. This is, after all, just a gimmick used to boost the casino's advantage.
Ideally, you'll play regular craps games and back your pass line and don't pass line bets with odds. This gives you the best chance to win and is much better than crapless craps.