A craps odds chart compares what each bet needs to win, what makes it lose, how it pays, and how costly it is. The most important split is true-odds bets versus casino-priced bets. Odds bets pay fair mathematical odds. Most other craps bets pay less than true odds, which creates the house edge.
Quick Facts
- Use odds charts before betting, not after losing.
- Pass Line and Come are low-edge even-money bets.
- Don’t Pass and Don’t Come are slightly lower-edge but less socially popular.
- Odds bets pay 2:1, 3:2, or 6:5 depending on the point.
- Place 6 and 8 are the strongest common place bets.
- Field payouts vary by casino rules.
- Proposition bets usually have the worst chart values.
Plain Talk
A chart is useful only if it answers the right question.
A payout chart tells you how much a winning bet pays. An odds chart tells you whether that payout is fair compared with probability. A house-edge chart tells you how much the casino expects to keep over repeated betting.
This page combines all three at a practical level. For deeper probability, read craps odds. For payout detail, read Craps Payouts. For casino advantage, read craps house edge.
External references for comparison include the Wizard of Odds major craps house-edge table, the Wizard of Odds house-edge derivations, and the Massachusetts craps rules for formal wager and payout references.
How It Works
Core Craps Odds Chart
| Bet | Wins when | Loses when | Common payout | Probability / edge note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7/11 come-out or point before 7 | 2/3/12 come-out or 7 before point | 1:1 | About 1.41% house edge |
| Don’t Pass | 2/3 come-out or 7 before point | 7/11 come-out or point before 7 | 1:1 | About 1.36%; 12 often pushes |
| Come | Same as Pass, after point is on | Same as Pass, after point is on | 1:1 | About 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | Same as Don’t Pass, after point is on | Same as Don’t Pass, after point is on | 1:1 | About 1.36% |
| Odds on 4/10 | Point 4/10 before 7 | 7 before point | 2:1 | 0% house edge |
| Odds on 5/9 | Point 5/9 before 7 | 7 before point | 3:2 | 0% house edge |
| Odds on 6/8 | Point 6/8 before 7 | 7 before point | 6:5 | 0% house edge |
| Place 6/8 | 6/8 before 7 | 7 before number | 7:6 | About 1.52% |
| Place 5/9 | 5/9 before 7 | 7 before number | 7:5 | About 4.00% |
| Place 4/10 | 4/10 before 7 | 7 before number | 9:5 | About 6.67% |
| Field | Next roll 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 | Next roll 5, 6, 7, 8 | Rule-based | Often about 2.78% or 5.56% |
| Hard 6/8 | Hard pair before easy number or 7 | Easy number or 7 | Often 9:1 | Higher edge |
| Hard 4/10 | Hard pair before easy number or 7 | Easy number or 7 | Often 7:1 | Higher edge |
| Any Seven | Next roll is 7 | Any other total | Often 4:1 | About 16.67% edge |
| Any Craps | Next roll is 2, 3, or 12 | Any other total | Often 7:1 | High edge |
Point Odds Reference
| Point | Point combinations | Seven combinations | Chance point wins race | Fair odds payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 6 | 33.33% | 2:1 |
| 5 | 4 | 6 | 40.00% | 3:2 |
| 6 | 5 | 6 | 45.45% | 6:5 |
| 8 | 5 | 6 | 45.45% | 6:5 |
| 9 | 4 | 6 | 40.00% | 3:2 |
| 10 | 3 | 6 | 33.33% | 2:1 |
One-Roll Dice Probability Chart
| Total | Ways | Probability | Common table meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2.78% | Craps, field bonus, aces |
| 3 | 2 | 5.56% | Craps, field, ace-deuce |
| 4 | 3 | 8.33% | Point, field, hard/soft 4 |
| 5 | 4 | 11.11% | Point |
| 6 | 5 | 13.89% | Point, place number |
| 7 | 6 | 16.67% | Natural or seven-out |
| 8 | 5 | 13.89% | Point, place number |
| 9 | 4 | 11.11% | Point, field |
| 10 | 3 | 8.33% | Point, field, hard/soft 10 |
| 11 | 2 | 5.56% | Natural, field, yo |
| 12 | 1 | 2.78% | Craps, field bonus, boxcars |
Craps Table Example
You are at a $15 table and want action on 6 and 8.
Choice A: $18 Place 6 and $18 Place 8. If either hits, it pays $21. The bets are easy to understand and have about a 1.52% edge each.
Choice B: $15 Pass Line with $30 odds after the point becomes 6 or 8. The Pass Line has about a 1.41% edge, and the odds portion has 0% edge. But the money is attached to the point, not both 6 and 8.
Choice C: $5 hard 6 and $5 hard 8. The payout looks bigger, but the bet loses if the number comes the easy way or if 7 rolls first.
The chart does not tell you what you must enjoy. It tells you what you are paying for each kind of enjoyment.
From the Casino Side:
Dealers do not need a printed chart in front of them because payout knowledge is part of the job. But the mental chart is always there: correct unit, correct player, correct bet state, correct payout, correct collection.
The boxman and floor care about chart accuracy when disputes happen. If a player says a Place 6 should pay like odds, the crew must explain the difference. If a player makes an improper unit, the dealer may convert, cut, or explain the payout. If a side bet has a special paytable, the floor must know which version is approved at that table.
Surveillance uses the chart differently. They watch whether payouts match the bet, whether late bets were accepted, whether chips were added after the outcome, and whether dealer mistakes repeat in one direction.
Common Mistakes
- Reading only the payout column.
- Assuming higher payout means higher value.
- Forgetting that some bets are one-roll and others are multi-roll.
- Confusing place-bet charts with odds-bet charts.
- Ignoring field-bet rule differences.
- Treating house edge as a next-roll prediction.
- Using charts to justify too much total action.
Hard Truth
A chart is not a strategy. It is a price tag. If the price is bad, the dice do not owe you a discount.
FAQ
What is the most important number on a craps odds chart?
Seven. It has 6 combinations out of 36 and drives both natural wins and seven-outs.
Which common craps bets have the lowest house edge?
Don’t Pass and Don’t Come are slightly lower than Pass Line and Come. Odds bets have 0% house edge but must attach to those bets.
What is the best place bet on the chart?
Place 6 and Place 8 are usually the best standard place bets, commonly carrying about a 1.52% house edge.
Why are 4 and 10 worse as place bets?
They have only 3 combinations each, while 7 has 6. The common 9:5 place payout is short of fair 2:1 odds.
Why does the field bet change by casino?
The payout on 2 and 12 can vary. That changes the expected value and house edge.
Are hardways one-roll bets?
No. Hardways can stay active across rolls, but they lose if the easy version of the number appears or if 7 appears.
Should beginners memorize the whole chart?
No. Learn the line bets, odds payouts, place 6/8, field rules, and the warning signs around proposition bets first.
Deeper Insight
A good odds chart separates three things players often blend together.
First, raw probability: how often a dice total appears.
Second, conditional probability: how often a point appears before 7 once the race is active.
Third, payout pricing: how much the casino pays compared with the fair price.
Most poor craps decisions come from mixing those categories. A player sees that 6 is common and assumes all 6 bets are good. But Place 6, odds on 6, Hard 6, and hopping 6 are completely different wagers. Same total. Different conditions. Different payouts. Different house edge.
A chart should make that visible.
Formula / Calculation
P(total) = combinations / 36
P(point before 7) = point combinations / (point combinations + 7 combinations)
True Odds Payout = losing combinations / winning combinations
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House EdgeExample: $500 total action on Place 6/8 at about 1.52% edge:
$500 × 0.0152 = $7.60 expected loss$500 total action on Any Seven at about 16.67% edge:
$500 × 0.1667 = $83.35 expected lossFormula Explanation in Plain English
The chart shows that two bets can use the same dice but charge very different prices. If you push the same $500 through a low-edge bet, the theoretical cost is small. If you push it through a high-edge one-roll bet, the theoretical cost is much larger. The dice are not different. The payout is.
Related Reading
Use Craps Odds for the full probability explanation behind this chart. Use Craps Payouts for unit handling and returned-stake confusion. Then go to craps house edge to rank the bets by cost. For practical checks, use the craps odds calculator, house edge calculator, and expected loss calculator. If a low edge makes you overbet, read why low house edge does not mean safe.