CrapsCentral Strategy Breakdown: Pass Line, Come, Place, and Lay Bets
This article breaks down the strategic roles and math behind Pass Line, Come, Place, and Lay bets in craps, showing how …
Table of Contents
Pass Line Essentials: How the Bet Works and Why Odds Matter
The Pass Line is the most fundamental and beginner-friendly bet in craps. You make it before the come-out roll. If the come-out is 7 or 11, you win immediately; if it's 2, 3, or 12 you lose (12 is a push in some rules, but typically a loss on Don't Pass); any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) establishes the point and the bet remains active. After the point is set, the shooter must roll the point before rolling a 7 for the Pass Line to win. The intrinsic value of the Pass Line is its low house edge — about 1.41% without odds — and the ability to add an Odds bet. Odds bets are offered behind the Pass Line and pay true odds with no house edge, effectively reducing the combined house edge when you take them. For example, many casinos allow 3x, 5x, 10x, or even unlimited odds; the more odds you take, the closer your overall expected loss approaches the 0% edge of the odds portion. Strategy-wise, start with a Pass Line bet for table action and always take full odds if your bankroll and table limits permit. Combining a modest Pass Line bet with larger Odds is mathematically superior to larger single-line bets because the Odds portion carries no house edge. Manage bet sizing so your combined Pass+Odds units fit your bankroll and risk tolerance; common advice is keep the flat Pass bet a small percentage of your bankroll and layer odds to capitalize on the low expected loss.
Come Bet Mechanics and Strategic Use
A Come bet operates much like a Pass Line bet but can be made any time after a point is established. When you place a Come bet, the next roll becomes your “come-out” for that bet: a 7 or 11 wins, a 2, 3, or 12 loses, and any other number sets a personal come point for that bet. Once the come point is established, you can take Odds on that Come bet in the same way as on a Pass Line point. The Come bet is valuable because it allows you to spread multiple independent bets across several points simultaneously, increasing the number of bets that can earn true-odds payouts. Strategically, using Come bets plus Odds is an effective way to diversify exposure: instead of committing more size to one point, you can layer Come bets to cover 6 and 8 (and ideally 5 and 9) where the shooter has reasonable chances. A common tactic is to make small, consistent Come bets and always take full odds behind each Come point as the table and bankroll allow. This creates a portfolio of bets each with similar expected value to the Pass Line plus odds. Be mindful of table maximums for odds and track your total exposure; because Come bets are independent, you can end up with several points active and a large aggregated Odds obligation. Also, avoid pairing aggressive Come betting with risky proposition bets — the former is a sound, low-edge approach, while the latter inflate expected losses.
Place Bets: Which Numbers to Back and When
Place bets let you wager directly on specific point numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) and win if that chosen number is rolled before a 7. Unlike Pass/Come with odds, Place bets pay fixed, table-specified payouts that diverge from true odds; therefore they carry different house edges depending on the number. Generally, Place 6 and Place 8 are the best Place bets because they pay 7:6 and have a relatively low house edge — typically about 1.52%. Place 5 and 9 usually pay 7:5 with a house edge near 4.0%, and Place 4 and 10 pay 9:5 with an edge around 6.7%. Strategy: if you want to use Place bets, prioritize 6 and 8. They give frequent, relatively low-risk wins and are favored by seasoned players who prefer simpler bookkeeping than Pass+Odds mechanics. A common approach is to make a Place 6 and 8 at the same time as a Pass Line or Come bet to increase action with decent house-edge efficiency. Conversely, avoid placing heavy amounts on 4 and 10 unless you seek volatility and understand the poorer long-term expectation. Place bets can also complement Come bets: if you consistently see the table offering favorable odds or if odds limits are restrictive, turning to Place 6/8 can be an efficient use of bankroll. Finally, because Place bets are paid at fixed odds, check your casino’s exact payout schedule — slight differences in payout fractions can materially change the house edge when scaled.
Lay Bets: Betting Against the Numbers — Risks and Uses
Lay bets are the inverse of Place bets: you bet that a 7 will come before a specific point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10). Lays typically pay at true odds less a commission (vig) on the amount won, which is why they have a house edge despite the win probability favoring the lay. For instance, laying 4 or 10 often pays 1:2 (minus a 5% commission on your winnings), while laying 6 or 8 pays 1:6 (minus commission). Typical house-edge figures vary: lay 4/10 often shows around 2.4% edge, lay 5/9 around 3.2%, and lay 6/8 worse — often above 3.8–4.0% — depending on commission and table specifics. Lay bets become strategically useful mainly for risk management and when you want to hedge an existing position. Experienced players sometimes use lay bets to lock in profits by laying against a good point late in a hot session or to reduce variance when the table is tight on odds. However, because of the commission and higher relative house edge compared to Pass/Come with Odds, laying a number purely for expected value is usually inferior to taking standard odds on Pass/Come. If you choose to lay, favor laying 4/10 when you need a lower-edge hedge, and be mindful of commission structure — some casinos apply the vig only on winning payouts, others prorate the commission in specific ways. In short, use lays sparingly as a tactical tool rather than as a primary value bet.
