There’s no single “best” craps strategy — but there are strategies that give you the lowest house edge, the best chance of walking away with profit, and the most enjoyment for your bankroll. This guide covers every major craps strategy, ranked by risk level and mathematical cost, so you can find the approach that fits your playing style.
Whether you’re a conservative grinder looking to minimize losses or an aggressive player chasing big payouts, there’s a system here for you. Each strategy links to a dedicated page with full breakdowns, step-by-step instructions, and calculators.
The Best Craps Strategies, Ranked by House Edge
| Strategy | Combined House Edge | Risk Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line + Max Odds | 0.18% – 0.37% | Low | Mathematically optimal, low variance |
| Don’t Pass + Lay Odds | 0.12% – 0.27% | Low | Best edge, but “wrong” bettor stigma |
| 3 Point Molly | 0.37% (with 3-4-5x odds) | Low-Medium | Spreading action across multiple numbers |
| Place 6 & 8 Only | 1.52% | Low | Simple, consistent, good for beginners |
| Iron Cross | ~3.9% blended | Medium | Winning on every roll except 7 |
| Inside Bets + Regression | 1.5% – 4% | Medium | Quick profit then protect capital |
| Power Press | 1.5% – 4% | High | Compounding bets during hot rolls |
| Hardways + Parlay | 9% – 11% | Very High | Entertainment, big payout potential |
Low-Risk Strategies (Under 2% House Edge)
These strategies give you the best mathematical chance of winning. They’re not exciting — they’re effective.
Pass Line + Maximum Odds
The gold standard. Bet the Pass Line (1.41% edge), then take maximum Odds behind it (0% edge). With 3-4-5x odds, your combined edge drops to 0.37%. With 10x odds, it’s 0.18%.
- How it works: Bet Pass Line → point is established → take max odds → wait for point or 7
- Bankroll needed: 50x your Pass Line bet per session (e.g., $500 for $10 Pass Line)
- Pros: Lowest combined house edge, simple to execute
- Cons: Only one number working at a time, can feel slow
3 Point Molly
The 3 Point Molly spreads your action across 3 numbers while maintaining the low Pass Line + Odds edge. You make a Pass Line bet, then two Come bets, each with Odds. This gives you 3 numbers working simultaneously — all at 0.37% combined edge.
- How it works: Pass Line + Odds → Come bet + Odds → Come bet + Odds → maintain 3 points
- Bankroll needed: 100x your base unit per session
- Pros: Multiple numbers working, still low edge, exciting
- Cons: Higher variance, vulnerable to 7 on come-out of Come bets
Read the full 3 Point Molly guide →
Place 6 & 8 Only
The simplest possible strategy. Place the 6 and 8 and collect 7:6 on every hit. At just 1.52% house edge, these are the best non-line bets on the table. There are 10 ways to roll a 6 or 8 combined vs. 6 ways to roll a 7.
- How it works: Place 6 for $12, Place 8 for $12 → collect $14 every time either hits
- Bankroll needed: 30x your combined bet (e.g., $360 for $12 each)
- Pros: Dead simple, low edge, frequent hits
- Cons: Small payouts, no action on other numbers
Medium-Risk Strategies (2-5% House Edge)
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross covers every number except 7 — you win on 30 out of 36 possible outcomes (83.3%). Place the 5, 6, and 8 plus a Field bet. The trade-off: when 7 rolls, you lose everything.
- How it works: Place 5 ($10), Place 6 ($12), Place 8 ($12) + Field ($10) = win on every roll except 7
- Blended house edge: ~3.9%
- Bankroll needed: 10x your total outlay per shooter
- Pros: Win on almost every roll, exciting, feels like you can’t lose
- Cons: 7 wipes everything, house edge adds up fast
Read the full Iron Cross guide →
Inside Bets + Regression ($44/$66/$110 Inside)
Start with a larger bet on the inside numbers ($44, $66, or $110 inside), collect 1-2 hits to recoup your investment, then “regress” (reduce) your bets down to the table minimum. This locks in profit early and lets you play with house money.
- How it works: Bet $66 inside → collect 2 hits (~$42) → regress to $22 inside → play with profit
- Bankroll needed: 5-10x your starting outlay
- Pros: Quick profit capture, disciplined approach, works on choppy tables
- Cons: Large initial outlay, a quick 7-out before first hit hurts
Squeeze Play
A specific regression strategy: start at $66 inside, use the first hit to spread to the 4 and 10, press on the second hit, then regress to $64 across on the third hit. You end up with all numbers covered, paid for within 3 hits.
- How it works: $66 inside → 1st hit: cover 4/10 → 2nd hit: press to $88 inside → 3rd hit: regress to $64 across
- Bankroll needed: $660 for 10 shooters
- Pros: Structured approach, gets you across all numbers quickly
- Cons: Still vulnerable to early 7-outs
High-Risk Strategies (Big Payouts, Bigger Losses)
Power Press
Instead of collecting winnings, you press (add to) your bets aggressively. A $12 Place 6 becomes $30, then $66, then $150 — compounding exponentially during a hot roll. Popularized by the Color Up YouTube channel.
- How it works: Every time a number hits, press the full winnings back onto the bet (or add more from your rack)
- Bankroll needed: Large — you’re reinvesting all profits
- Pros: Explosive payouts on hot rolls, turns small bets into massive wins
- Cons: One 7 wipes out all accumulated pressed bets
See also: Parlay Bets for a similar compounding approach on prop bets.
Triple Lux
A pressing progression where you power press a number three times before collecting. Each hit presses the bet higher. On the 4th hit, you collect a large payout and regress back to the starting bet.
- Example (Place 6): $12 → press to $30 → press to $66 → press to $150 → collect $175, regress to $12
- Pros: Big payoff if you hit 4 times, structured pressing rules
- Cons: Need 4 hits before the 7 — statistically unlikely on most hands
Dark Side Strategies (Betting Against the Shooter)
“Dark side” or “wrong way” strategies use Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets. They have a slightly lower house edge (1.36%) and benefit from the 7 — the most likely number to roll.
Don’t Pass + Lay Odds
The mathematically optimal craps strategy. Don’t Pass (1.36% edge) with maximum lay odds gives you the lowest possible combined edge (0.12% with 10x odds). Once the point is set, you’re favored to win.
3 Point Dolly (Dark Side Molly)
The dark-side equivalent of the 3 Point Molly. Don’t Pass + 2 Don’t Come bets, each with lay odds. Three numbers working against the shooter simultaneously.
Choosing the Right Strategy for You
| If You Want… | Use This Strategy |
|---|---|
| Lowest possible house edge | Don’t Pass + Max Lay Odds |
| Low edge + multiple numbers working | 3 Point Molly |
| Simple and effective | Place 6 & 8 Only |
| Win on every roll (except 7) | Iron Cross |
| Quick profit capture | $66 Inside Regression |
| Explosive payouts on hot rolls | Power Press / Triple Lux |
| Play for a long time on small bankroll | Pass Line + Odds (no Place bets) |
| Maximize comps | Multiple Come bets + high odds |
Strategy Fundamentals
No matter which strategy you choose, these principles apply:
- Stick to bets under 2% house edge as your core — Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come, Odds, Place 6/8
- Set a bankroll and stick to it — bring 50-100x your base bet per session
- Have a win goal AND a loss limit — walk away when you hit either
- Don’t chase losses — increasing bets after losing is the fastest way to go broke
- Prop bets are entertainment, not strategy — Horn, Hardways, Any 7 are fun but expensive (9-17% house edge)
Craps Strategy FAQ
What is the best craps strategy?
Mathematically, Don’t Pass with maximum lay odds (0.12% – 0.27% combined edge). Practically, Pass Line with 3-4-5x odds (0.37% edge) is the most popular choice because it’s low edge without the social stigma of betting against the shooter.
Can you actually win at craps long-term?
The house always has an edge, so statistically no one wins long-term. However, craps has some of the lowest house edges in the casino (0.18% – 1.52% for the best bets), which means your money lasts longer and winning sessions are common. Good bankroll management and discipline determine whether you leave a winner on any given night.
What’s better — betting with or against the shooter?
Mathematically, betting against (Don’t Pass, 1.36% edge) is slightly better than betting with (Pass Line, 1.41% edge). The difference is 0.05% — negligible for a single session. Choose based on what you enjoy. Most players prefer the camaraderie of betting with the table.
How much should I bring to a craps session?
Bring 50-100x your base bet. For a $10 table with Pass Line + Odds, bring $500-$1,000. For $66 inside regression, bring $600-$1,000. The more bankroll you have, the more likely you survive short-term variance and have a winning session.
All Craps Strategy Guides
- 3 Point Molly — Low-edge multi-number strategy
- Iron Cross — Win on every roll except 7
- Parlay Bets — Compounding winnings for big payouts
- Advanced Strategy — Combined approaches for experienced players
- Dice Control — Physical skill approach to influencing outcomes
- Payout Calculator — Calculate payouts for any bet
- Payout Chart — Complete odds reference
