“Press” in craps means increasing your bet after a win — usually by adding your winnings (or part of them) back onto the same number. It’s how experienced players turn small bets into large ones during hot rolls, compounding their profits without reaching into their rack for more money.
This guide covers everything from the basic concept of pressing to advanced power pressing strategies used by players like Color Up to build massive bets from minimal starting points.
What Does “Press” Mean in Craps?
When a Place bet wins, you have three options:
- Same bet — collect all winnings, leave your original bet unchanged
- Press — add some or all of the winnings back onto the bet to increase it
- Take it down — collect everything (winnings + original bet)
To press, simply tell the dealer “press it” or “press my [number]” after a win. The dealer will add the appropriate amount to your bet and return any change.
Types of Presses
| Press Type | What It Means | Example ($12 Place 6 wins $14) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Press | Double your current bet | $12 → $24 (collect $2 change) |
| Half Press | Add half your bet amount | $12 → $18 (collect $8) |
| Unit Press | Add one unit ($6 for 6/8) | $12 → $18 (collect $8) |
| Power Press | More than double — add rack money too | $12 → $30+ (add from rack) |
| Same Bet | Don’t press, collect all winnings | $12 stays, collect $14 |
Power Pressing Explained
Power pressing is an aggressive approach where you add money from your rack to boost a press beyond what the winnings alone would allow. The goal is to reach high bet levels as fast as possible so that when the number hits at the elevated level, you collect a massive payout.
Standard press example (Place 6):
- $12 → wins $14 → full press to $24 (collect $2)
- $24 → wins $28 → full press to $48 (collect $4)
- $48 → wins $56 → full press to $96 (collect $8)
- $96 → wins $112 → COLLECT $112
Power press example (Place 6):
- $12 → wins $14 → add $4 from rack → press to $30
- $30 → wins $35 → add $1 from rack → press to $66
- $66 → wins $77 → add $1 → press to $144
- $144 → wins $168 → COLLECT $168
The power press reaches higher bet levels faster by supplementing winnings with rack money — so when you finally collect, the payout is significantly larger.
Common Pressing Progressions
Place 6 & 8 Progression (7:6 payout)
| Hit # | Full Press | Payout at Level | Power Press | Payout at Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $12 | $14 | $12 | $14 |
| 1st | $24 | $28 | $30 | $35 |
| 2nd | $48 | $56 | $66 | $77 |
| 3rd | $96 | $112 | $150 | $175 |
| 4th | $192 | $224 | $330 | $385 |
Place 5 & 9 Progression (7:5 payout)
| Hit # | Full Press | Payout | Power Press | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $10 | $14 | $10 | $14 |
| 1st | $25 | $35 | $25 | $35 |
| 2nd | $60 | $84 | $60 | $84 |
| 3rd | $100 | $140 | $150 | $210 |
Pressing Strategies
Double-Tap
Press a number twice, then collect the third hit. Reset and repeat. This gets you to a meaningful bet level before collecting a real payout.
- Hit 1: Full press
- Hit 2: Full press
- Hit 3: COLLECT (then regress back to starting bet)
Triple Lux
Press three times before collecting — more aggressive than double-tap but bigger payouts when the 4th hit comes.
- Hit 1: Power press
- Hit 2: Power press
- Hit 3: Power press
- Hit 4: COLLECT everything, regress to start
Collect and Press (Alternating)
The most conservative pressing approach — alternate between collecting and pressing. You always take profit between presses, so even a 7-out after a press only loses one level of gains.
- Hit 1: Press
- Hit 2: Collect
- Hit 3: Press
- Hit 4: Collect
- (Continue alternating)
When to Press vs. Collect
- Press when: You’re in profit for the session, the shooter has been rolling well (4+ rolls without a 7), you can afford to lose the pressed amount
- Collect when: You’re behind for the session, you’ve hit your win goal, the shooter seems cold (short rolls)
- Never: Press with money you can’t afford to lose. Every pressed bet is at risk of a 7-out.
Pressing FAQs
What does “press it” mean at the craps table?
It means “double my bet on that number.” When you tell the dealer “press it” or “press my 6,” they’ll take enough from your winnings to double the current bet and return the change to you.
What’s the difference between pressing and parlaying?
Pressing applies to Place bets — you’re adding winnings to your existing bet. Parlaying applies to proposition bets (Hardways, Horn, Yo) — you’re betting all of your winnings on the next roll. Same concept, different bet types.
Is pressing a good strategy?
Pressing doesn’t change the house edge — Place 6 still has a 1.52% edge whether you’re betting $12 or $120. What pressing does is let you capitalize on hot rolls by having larger bets in play when numbers are repeating. The risk is that a 7 wipes out all your pressed bets at once. The key is having a plan: know when to press, when to collect, and when to take everything down.
How do I tell the dealer I want to press?
Common callouts: “Press it” (full press/double), “Press for one unit” (add one unit), “Press it to [amount]” (specific level). The dealer will handle the math and return your change.
Related Strategies
- All Craps Strategies — complete strategy guide
- Parlay Bets — compounding on proposition bets
- Place Bets Guide — the bets you press
- Iron Cross Strategy — popular strategy that uses pressing
- Payout Calculator — calculate payouts at any bet level
