Do Craps Strategies Work?
Craps is a game of chance so there are no strategies that will create a house edge that is to your advantage. That being said, there are some tips and strategies that can reduce the house edge so that your chances of winning are increased.
Decreasing the House Edge through Bets
There are many different bets that can be placed during a game of craps and each of these has a different house edge. It is important to understand the odds of each bet before you begin to play so that you can make sure to only place the bets that have the best odds. This will ensure that the house edge stays as small as possible.
The simplest bet to place is the pass line bet. The pass line bet has a house edge of 1.41% which is lower than all the other bets, except for the don't pass bet which has a house edge of 1.36%. Despite the fact that the don't pass bet has a lower house edge, it is not recommended that you place that bet often. It is a bet against the other players and you will not be popular for it.
The most advantageous bet to place is the free odds bet. The free odds bet has no statistical advantage over the player and if you combine your win from your free odds bet with the come out roll, the house advantage decreases. The more you bet on the free odds bet, the more the house advantage will decrease. If you manage to find a casino that allows 100 x odds on the free odds bet, you can reduce the house edge to as low as 0.02%.
Come bets are also popular bets, but they should only be played when the current shooter tends to throw a large volume of point numbers and if you are ahead in the game.
Proposition bets should be avoided. Some players are attracted to proposition bets because of their high payouts, but the house has a huge advantage over the player in these types of bets. The house advantage varies depending on the type of proposition bet, but it ranges anywhere from 9.09% for some hardways bets up to as high as 16.67% for any 7 one roll bets.
Have a Long Term Strategy in Craps
Because craps is a random game, it is highly unlikely for a player to win constantly. As with most casino games, you should expect to win some bets and lose some bets. It is a good strategy to raise as you win and lower as you lose.
Have a Specific Bankroll
Make sure to come to a craps game with a specific bankroll and to always keep this in mind as you play. It is a good idea to start small and to increase your bets as you begin to increase your stack of chips. Do not risk your entire bankroll on your initial bets and do not overstretch yourself at any point in the game..