Craps can feel complex, but the math behind common bets is stable. This guide shows how to read a craps odds chart, which bets offer the lowest house edge, and how to use Odds to reduce expected loss while managing variance. The focus is practical, evidence-based choices rather than systems that chase short-term wins.

A craps odds chart helps compare flat-bet edges and permissible Odds multiples so you can reduce expected loss.

Take the table maximum Odds behind Pass or Don’t Pass to lower combined house edge.

Avoid single-roll proposition bets if your priority is minimizing long-term expected loss.

What a craps odds chart tells you

How to read true odds versus payout tables

A craps odds chart is a compact way to compare the expected loss on different bets, and it is the starting point when you want to pick the lowest-cost choices at the table. The chart lays out flat bet house edges, how Odds are shown, and the payout ratios you will see on the layout or on a posted house chart, which helps you translate payouts into long-term efficiency. More explanation at LiveAbout.

Flat bets such as the Pass Line and Come have a measurable house edge on the flat portion of the wager, while the separate Odds bet pays true odds and therefore carries no house edge; those relationships are the essential numbers on any good craps odds chart, and they are the reason the chart is useful for comparing options Wizard of Odds craps overview.

Download a one-page craps odds cheatsheet

Download a printable odds chart or subscribe for a one-page cheatsheet to keep at the table, showing Pass, Don’t Pass, Odds multiples, and common Place bet edges.

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Most U.S. casino charts list Odds as a multiple of the flat bet, commonly as 3-4-5x, meaning the casino allows backing your flat bet with up to three, four, or five times that amount depending on the point; the odds chart will show those limits and the corresponding payoff ratios so you can compute combined efficiency quickly Craps overview on Wikipedia.

When you read an odds chart, look for three things: the flat-bet house edge numbers, the maximum Odds multiple allowed for each point, and any listed payout convention that affects proposition or Place bets. Together those items let you compare the effective house edge per dollar risked when you combine flat bets and Odds.

Core probabilities and house-edge figures

Why Pass and Don’t Pass are mathematically strongest

The standard house-edge benchmarks are compact and stable: Pass Line and Come carry about a 1.41 percent house edge on the flat bet, while Don’t Pass and Don’t Come are slightly better at about 1.36 percent on the flat portion, figures that form the baseline for choosing low-cost play Wizard of Odds house edge appendix.

The Odds bet itself pays true odds and therefore has a zero percent house edge; adding Odds behind a flat line bet reduces the combined expected loss versus playing the flat bet alone because the Odds portion contributes no long-term loss, a point made clearly on math-focused pages about craps house advantage Wizard of Odds craps overview.

It is important to note that lowering your expected loss per unit of edge does not eliminate variance. Taking full Odds increases the total dollars you have at risk when a point is live, and that raises session volatility even as it reduces the expected loss on average UNLV Center for Gaming Research on house advantage.

A practical framework: focus on line bets and take full Odds

Step-by-step bet selection at the table

Start by choosing a flat side, Pass Line or Don’t Pass, and place the flat bet before the come-out roll, then immediately plan to back that flat bet with the maximum Odds the table allows once a point is established; that pattern minimizes expected loss for most players because it concentrates play on the lowest-edge options Wizard of Odds craps overview.

estimate combined house edge for a flat bet plus Odds

Use this to compare scenarios

Sizing Odds within common table limits is straightforward, for example with 3-4-5x Odds you will typically be able to back Pass or Don’t Pass with up to three times the flat bet on some points and larger multiples on others, which the posted table limits and dealer will confirm when the point is set Craps overview on Wikipedia.

Regulatory and house rules affect how you can place or remove bets during a point, so keep in mind that Pass and Don’t Pass are treated as contract bets once a point is established, which means you cannot reduce or withdraw that flat bet after the dealer moves the dice to the box or otherwise declares the point active Washington State Gambling Commission approved rules for craps.

Only Place 6 or Place 8 approach the efficiency of the line bets, carrying about a 1.52 percent house edge, while Place 5 or 9 are materially worse at around four percent, and Place 4 or 10 are worse still at roughly 6.67 percent, so if Odds are available you are usually better off taking Odds than using Place bets, except when Odds are restricted or not offered Wizard of Odds craps overview.

Single-roll propositions like Any 7 and Any Craps are high-cost relative to line play, with Any 7 at roughly 16.67 percent house edge and Any Craps near 11.11 percent; these bets are the least efficient and do not belong in a low-edge plan Wizard of Odds house edge appendix.

If you want low expected loss and straightforward session management, avoid single-roll props and most Place bets other than 6 or 8, and reserve Place action for situations where Odds are not available or when you prefer smaller bankroll swings for other reasons. See Pinnacle's guide.

Bankroll planning and volatility when using Odds

Why adding Odds raises session variance

Adding Odds lowers the combined house edge per unit of flat bet, but because you increase the total money at risk on a live point, variance grows; be prepared for larger win and loss swings in any given session when using large Odds multipliers UNLV Center for Gaming Research on house advantage.

Funded Plays Challenges

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Sizing a bankroll for points and losing streaks

Rather than offering fixed bankroll numbers, plan around tolerance for streaks: set a stop-loss and a win target, check the table Odds limits before play, and keep your session bet sizes consistent so you can weather variance without needing a recovery progression that increases expected loss Wizard of Odds craps overview.

Practicing Odds-first sizing in a simulated environment helps build comfort with the higher variance while confirming that the combined edge improvement matches expectations; this is a risk management step, not a guarantee of winning sessions. See how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Common mistakes and myths in craps strategy

Betting progressions and why they fail

No betting progression can create a positive expected value for negative-EV flat bets, and systems that escalate flat bets to chase losses simply increase the risk of large drawdowns without changing the underlying probabilities Wizard of Odds house edge appendix.

Misreading odds charts or payout tables

A frequent error is confusing a payout table with true odds; a payout may look generous for a single roll or a proposition, but the odds chart reveals the long-term house edge that payout implies, which is the measure that matters for strategy decisions UNLV Center for Gaming Research on house advantage.

Avoid chasing losses by increasing flat bets on the come-out roll, and instead use Odds to reduce the flat portion of your expected loss if your objective is minimizing long-term cost.

Decision checklist: choosing the most successful approach at the table

Checklist items

1. Pick your flat side, Pass Line or Don’t Pass, before the come-out roll.

2. Plan to take the table maximum Odds behind your flat bet when a point is set.

What is the most successful craps strategy?

The most successful strategy to minimize expected loss is to play Pass or Don’t Pass and always back those flat bets with the table maximum Odds when available, while managing bankroll and avoiding high-edge proposition bets.

3. If Odds are unavailable, consider Place 6 or Place 8 rather than Place 5 or Place 4.

4. Avoid single-roll proposition bets like Any 7 and Any Craps for low-edge play.

5. Set a bankroll stop-loss and a modest win goal, and track session results.

Quick decision flow for bet selection

Flow: flat bet first, then full Odds, then optional Place 6 or 8 only if you prefer that action or if Odds are limited; always confirm table limits and contract-bet handling with the dealer or pit rules before committing to a plan Washington State Gambling Commission approved rules for craps.

Practical session plan: pre-game and in-game tracking prompts

Pre-session checklist

Before you sit: check the posted Odds limits, decide which flat side you will play, set a stop-loss and a win goal, and decide the exact Odds multiplier you will take when the point is established. See our blog for session templates.

In-session tracking points

During play, keep a simple log: note the point numbers, record how much Odds you placed on each point, and tally session wins and losses; that record helps you evaluate whether your chosen Odds multiplier and flat-bet side are producing the expected combined-edge benefit over time Wizard of Odds craps overview.

Minimalist vector craps odds chart showing a clean horizontal bar infographic on a dark Funded Plays style background with stylized dice icons and accent highlights

Sticking to a short checklist and a consistent recording habit reduces impulse decisions and keeps variance manageable, because you can see whether an adjustment is necessary after a full session rather than reacting mid-game.

How casino rules and regulations affect strategy

What 'contract bet' means for Pass/Don’t Pass

Regulatory documents treat Pass and Don’t Pass as contract bets, meaning once a point is established those flat bets are subject to the contract and cannot be reduced or withdrawn by the player, a detail that matters if you plan to change stakes mid-point New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement permissible wagers.

Regulations and house procedures vary by jurisdiction and by casino, so always confirm local handling of Odds and contract-bet procedures at the table before you commit to a sizing plan; posted rules and the dealer should be your primary source.

Advanced topic: combining Place bets and Odds for specific goals

When a mixed approach can be logical

When Odds are restricted or small, a mixed approach that uses Place 6 or 8 can be logical because those Place bets have an edge close to line bets and can offer steady action without increasing flat-bet exposure, but weigh that choice against the outright advantage of backing a flat bet with full Odds when Odds are available Wizard of Odds craps overview.

Tradeoffs between edge and variance

Adding Odds reduces the combined house edge but raises variance, while choosing Place bets instead of Odds lowers the total money at risk on live points and can reduce short-term swings at the cost of a higher long-term edge; there is no combination that turns negative-EV bets into positive expectation Wizard of Odds house edge appendix.

Short reference: key house edges and payout notes

Pass and Come, flat bet, about 1.41 percent house edge.

Don’t Pass and Don’t Come, flat bet, about 1.36 percent house edge.

Odds bet, pays true odds, zero percent house edge.

Place 6 or 8, about 1.52 percent house edge.

Place 5 or 9, about 4.00 percent house edge.

Place 4 or 10, about 6.67 percent house edge.

Any 7, about 16.67 percent house edge.

Any Craps, about 11.11 percent house edge.

These figures and the explanation that Odds pay true odds are summarized in the reference sources used throughout this guide Wizard of Odds house edge appendix.

For the underlying math and comprehensive calculations, the Wizard of Odds pages provide detailed house-edge breakdowns and scenario tables, making them a practical starting point for verifying figures used in this article Wizard of Odds craps overview.

The UNLV Center for Gaming Research provides accessible context on casino math and house advantage that helps explain why Odds reduce expected loss but increase variance, which is important for bankroll planning UNLV Center for Gaming Research on house advantage.

Regulatory documents from state agencies describe contract-bet handling and permissible wagers, and they are the authoritative source when determining how a given jurisdiction requires dealers and tables to treat Pass, Don’t Pass, Odds, and other wagers Washington State Gambling Commission approved rules for craps.

Conclusion: what is the most successful craps strategy?

The evidence-based answer is clear, and practical: minimize expected loss by centering play on Pass or Don’t Pass and by taking the table maximum Odds whenever possible, because Odds pay true odds and that reduces combined house edge compared with flat betting alone Wizard of Odds house edge appendix. Learn more at Funded Plays.

No betting progression will convert negative expectation into a winning long-term strategy, so focus on low-edge bets, disciplined bankroll limits, and consistent in-session tracking; consider simulated practice or structured challenge play to build comfort with Odds sizing without risking live funds.

What does the 'Odds' bet mean in craps?

The Odds bet is a side wager placed behind a Pass or Don’t Pass flat bet after a point is established, and it pays true odds with no built-in house edge.

Should I ever play Any 7 or other single-roll props?

If your goal is minimizing expected loss, avoid single-roll proposition bets like Any 7 and Any Craps because they carry much higher house edges than line or Odds-backed bets.

Does using Odds guarantee I will win more sessions?

No, taking Odds lowers expected loss per unit of initial bet but increases variance, so it does not guarantee more wins and requires bankroll planning.

Minimizing loss at the craps table means clear choices: pick a flat side, take full Odds, avoid high-edge props, and track your sessions. Practice in a simulated setting or a structured challenge environment to refine sizing and tolerance, and always confirm table rules before you play.