Welcome to our expert guide on how to shoot dice in craps! Craps is an exciting casino game that involves rolling dice, and understanding the techniques behind dice shooting can greatly enhance your chances of winning. In this article, we will introduce you to the world of craps, explain the basic rules, and provide expert tips on how to shoot dice like a pro. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to improve your craps game. So let’s roll the dice and get started!
How to Shoot Dice in Craps: Rules, Odds and the Dice-Control Myth
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Shooting the dice in craps is simple: pick two dice, throw them in one hand so they bounce off the far wall of the table, and let the total decide the round. In online craps you just press Roll, and a random number generator or a live dealer handles the throw. Either way, how you throw does not change the odds. What matters is which bets you make.
This guide covers how the shooter’s roll works, the probability of every total, the shooting rules at a real table, what the evidence says about dice control, and the bets with the lowest house edge. For the full rules and table layout, see our online craps guide.
Table of Contents
How a shooter’s round works
Every round starts with the come-out roll. Its result decides whether the round ends at once or a point is set.
- 7 or 11 on the come-out: Pass Line bets win, Don’t Pass bets lose.
- 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out (“craps”): Pass Line bets lose. Don’t Pass wins on 2 or 3; a 12 is usually a push.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10: that number becomes the point. The shooter keeps rolling until either the point comes again (Pass wins) or a 7 appears (Pass loses, and the dice pass to the next shooter).
That last outcome is called “seven-out”. A shooter can keep the dice for many rounds as long as they keep making points or rolling naturals on the come-out.
The odds of every dice total
Two six-sided dice give 36 equally likely combinations. Seven is the most common total because six of those combinations add up to it.
| Total | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or 12 | 1 each | 2.78% each |
| 3 or 11 | 2 each | 5.56% each |
| 4 or 10 | 3 each | 8.33% each |
| 5 or 9 | 4 each | 11.11% each |
| 6 or 8 | 5 each | 13.89% each |
| 7 | 6 | 16.67% |
This table explains most of craps. Once a point is set, a 7 is more likely than any point number, which is why making a 4 or 10 is hard and why the bets on them pay more.
How to throw the dice at a real table
Land-based casinos have a few shooting rules that keep the roll random. Online craps has none of these, since the result is generated for you.
- Pick two dice from the ones the stickman offers and keep them over the table.
- Throw with one hand. Using both hands or hiding the dice is not allowed.
- Make both dice hit the far wall. The rubber pyramids on the wall scramble the bounce. If a die misses the wall, the stickman may call the roll invalid or warn you.
- Keep the dice on the table. If one flies off, the roll is void and the shooter usually picks a replacement die.
You can choose to pass the dice when it is your turn. You still bet in the usual way.
Does dice control work?
Dice control, also called dice setting or controlled shooting, is the idea that a practised shooter can set the dice in a certain way and throw them gently enough to make some totals more likely, usually to avoid 7s. It is popular in books and courses, but there is no reliable independent evidence that it works under real casino conditions, where both dice must hit the bumpy back wall.
In online craps the question does not even arise. RNG craps produces each roll in software, and live dealer craps uses a dealer or a mechanical shaker. Nothing you do changes the result, so any course promising to improve your shooting online is selling you nothing.
Which craps bets have the lowest house edge?
Your bet choice affects your expected loss far more than your throw. The core bets are among the best value in the casino, while many centre-table bets are expensive.
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Free odds (behind Pass or Don’t Pass) | 0% |
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | 1.36% |
| Pass Line / Come | 1.41% |
| Place 6 or 8 (pays 7 to 6) | 1.52% |
| Field (12 pays 3 to 1) | 2.78% |
| Field (12 pays 2 to 1) | 5.56% |
| Any 7 | 16.67% |
The free odds bet is the only casino bet with no house edge. Once a point is set, you can add it behind your Pass or Don’t Pass bet, and it pays true odds: 2 to 1 on 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on 5 and 9, and 6 to 5 on 6 and 8. How much odds you can add depends on the table, so check the limit in the game rules.
A simple approach for new players
If you want the most playing time for your money, keep it simple.
- Bet the Pass Line (or Don’t Pass if you prefer betting against the shooter).
- Add the free odds once a point is set, as far as your budget allows.
- Skip the proposition bets in the centre of the layout, such as Any 7, Any Craps and the hardways. They pay big but carry much higher edges.
- Try free craps first. Demo games are the easiest way to learn the come-out and point rhythm without risking money.
Play craps responsibly
Craps can be fast and social, which makes it easy to keep adding bets. Set a budget before you start, stick to a few bet types, and use the deposit limits and time-outs your casino offers. Our responsible gambling page lists the main tools and where to find help.
FAQ
Can you control the dice in craps?
There is no reliable independent evidence that dice control works under casino rules, where both dice must bounce off the textured back wall. In online craps the roll is generated by software or a live dealer, so the shooter has no influence at all.
What is the most common roll in craps?
Seven. Six of the 36 possible combinations add up to 7, so it comes up about once every six rolls on average.
What happens if a die leaves the table?
The roll is void. The stickman usually brings the die back or offers a replacement, and the shooter rolls again.
What is the best bet in craps?
The free odds bet has no house edge, but you can only place it on top of a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet. Of those, Don’t Pass has a 1.36% edge and Pass Line 1.41%.
Is online craps fair?
At licensed casinos, yes. RNG craps uses tested random number generators, and live craps is filmed in real time. The house edge comes from the payouts, not from rigged rolls.
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