Craps How to Play — Complete Beginners Guide for 2026
Craps has a reputation for complexity that puts many beginners off — but the core game is simpler than it looks. Once you understand the Pass Line and Odds bets, you have access to some of the best value in the casino. This guide strips craps back to what a beginner actually needs to know.
The Basic Structure
Craps is a dice game. Players bet on the outcome of dice rolls. One player (the shooter) rolls two dice. The total of the two dice determines the outcome. The game progresses through two phases: the Come Out roll and the Point phase.
The Come Out Roll
The Come Out roll starts a new round. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win immediately (called a natural). If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line bets lose immediately (called craps). Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the Point. A marker is placed on that number and the Point phase begins.
The Point Phase
The shooter continues rolling until they roll the Point number again (Pass Line wins) or roll a 7 (Pass Line loses — called seven out). All other numbers during the Point phase are irrelevant to the Pass Line bet.
The Pass Line Bet — Start Here
The Pass Line is the fundamental craps bet. House edge: approximately 1.41%. You win on Come Out 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12, then win if the Point is rolled before a 7. This is the best starting bet for any craps beginner and the one all other bets connect to.
The Odds Bet — The Best Bet in the Casino
After a Point is established, you can place an Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet. The Odds bet pays true mathematical odds and has zero house edge — the only bet in any casino with no house advantage. Most casinos allow 2x, 3x, or higher odds bets. Always take the maximum odds allowed — it reduces the combined house edge on your total Pass Line plus Odds position significantly. At 3x odds, the combined house edge drops to approximately 0.47%.
Other Recommended Bets
Come bet: works like a Pass Line bet but placed after the Point is established. Don Pass and Don Come: opposite of Pass and Come — win when others lose. House edge approximately 1.36%. Place bets on 6 and 8: house edge approximately 1.52% — reasonable options for additional action.
Bets to Avoid
Proposition bets (Any 7, Any Craps, hardways): house edges of 9-16%. Big 6 and Big 8: same as Place 6/8 but pay even money instead of 7:6 — significantly worse. Field bet: house edge 2.78-5.56% depending on version. These bets should be avoided by beginners and recreational players entirely.