If you learn one bet in craps, make it the Pass Line. It is the most fundamental wager in the game, it has one of the lowest house edges on the casino floor (1.41%), and when you add Free Odds behind it, the combined edge drops below half a percent. No other bet in the building comes close.
You place a Pass Line bet before the come-out roll (the first roll of a new round). The chip goes on the long strip labeled "PASS LINE" that runs along the edge of the table closest to you. Then the shooter rolls, and one of three things happens:
Pays 1:1
"Craps"
Game continues
If a point is set, the dealer places a puck (a black-and-white disc) on that number. Now the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happens:
The Point Hits Again = You Win
If the shooter rolls the point number before rolling a 7, your Pass Line bet wins and pays even money (1:1). The puck turns off, and a new come-out roll begins.
A 7 Rolls = You Lose ("Seven Out")
If a 7 shows up before the point, your Pass Line bet loses. The dice pass to the next shooter, and a new round begins. Every other number is irrelevant. During the point phase, only the point number and 7 matter for the Pass Line.
Once a point is set, you have access to the single best bet in any casino anywhere: the Free Odds bet. You place it directly behind your Pass Line chip (just outside the line, toward you). No announcement needed. The dealer will see it.
The Free Odds bet pays true mathematical odds. No markup, no edge, no casino profit. It is the only bet in any casino game where the payout exactly matches the probability. Here is what it pays:
| Point | Odds Payout | True Probability | Ways to Win vs Lose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 33.3% | 3 ways to hit, 6 ways to seven out |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 40.0% | 4 ways to hit, 6 ways to seven out |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 45.5% | 5 ways to hit, 6 ways to seven out |
Notice the pattern: points 6 and 8 are the easiest to hit (5 ways each), so they pay the least. Points 4 and 10 are the hardest (3 ways each), so they pay the most. The payouts perfectly match the math. There is no gap for the casino to profit from.
Your Pass Line bet carries a 1.41% house edge. That never changes. But the odds bet behind it has 0% edge. The more of your total action that sits on the odds bet, the lower your blended house edge becomes:
At 3-4-5x odds (the most common offer at casinos), you are playing with a 0.37% combined edge. That is better than basic strategy blackjack and dramatically better than roulette (5.26%), slots (5-12%), or any other table game.
Place Your Pass Line Bet
Before the come-out roll, put your chips on the Pass Line. This is the long strip running along the table edge nearest to you.
Wait for a Point to Be Set
If the come-out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the dealer places the puck on that number. Now you can take odds.
Place Your Odds Bet Behind the Line
Stack your odds chips directly behind (toward you from) your Pass Line bet, just outside the marked area. You do not need to announce it. The dealer will confirm. The maximum you can place depends on the casino's odds policy (1x, 2x, 3-4-5x, 10x, etc.).
Wait for the Resolution
If the point hits: your Pass Line pays 1:1 and your odds bet pays true odds (2:1, 3:2, or 6:5 depending on the point). If a 7 comes first: you lose both bets. Any other number: nothing happens, roll again.
Can I Remove My Pass Line Bet After the Point Is Set?
No. Once a point is established, the Pass Line bet is locked. This is actually in the casino's favor because the come-out roll slightly favors the player (8 ways to win vs 4 ways to lose), while the point phase favors the house. You can, however, remove or reduce your odds bet at any time, though there is no mathematical reason to do so.
What About the Don't Pass?
The Don't Pass is the mirror image of the Pass Line. You win on 2 or 3 on the come-out (12 is a push), and during the point phase, you win if 7 comes before the point. The house edge is slightly lower at 1.36%. The downside is social: you are betting against the shooter and the rest of the table. At a hot table, this makes you unpopular. The math is marginally better, but the experience is different.
Should I Always Take Maximum Odds?
Mathematically, yes. Every dollar on odds costs you nothing. But practically, taking maximum odds increases your total money at risk per round, which means bigger swings. If your bankroll is tight, taking 1x or 2x odds is still much better than no odds at all. Match your odds to your bankroll, not your ego.
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