Craps rules — the complete rule set.
Every rule in craps comes down to one loop: a come-out roll, a point, and a race between that point and a 7. Learn the loop and every payout slots into place. This is the full reference — phases, payouts, odds limits, and etiquette — in plain English.
1 · The core loop
Everything else is a side bet on thisA craps round is a state machine with exactly two states. It always starts in the come-out state. A roll either resolves the round immediately or sets a point and moves to the second state, where the shooter rolls until the point repeats (Pass wins) or a 7 appears (Pass loses). Then it resets. That is the entire game. New to it? Start with the how-to-play craps overview.
2 · Come-out roll rules
The first roll of every roundThe shooter must throw both dice so they hit the far wall. On the come-out roll:
• 7 or 11 ("a natural") → Pass Line wins even money. Don't Pass loses. Round ends, new come-out.
• 2 or 3 ("craps") → Pass Line loses. Don't Pass wins even money.
• 12 ("craps") → Pass Line loses. Don't Pass pushes (tie — this single rule is the house's edge on Don't Pass).
• 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 → that number becomes the point; the puck flips ON.
Only Pass / Don't Pass and a few one-roll props are live on the come-out. Place bets are typically "off" unless you ask otherwise.
3 · Point phase rules
The race: point vs. 7With a point established, the shooter keeps rolling. Now:
• The point repeats → Pass Line wins even money; free odds win at true odds; Don't Pass loses.
• A 7 rolls first ("seven-out") → Pass Line and odds lose; Don't Pass and its odds win; the dice pass to the next shooter.
• Any other number → the line bet rides; Place / Come bets may resolve.
A point that wins is also called "making the point" — the same shooter keeps the dice and a fresh come-out begins. A Come bet made during this phase runs its own private come-out on the very next roll.
4 · Full payout table
What every bet pays, and its house edgeStandard fair-2d6 payouts. The house edge is the long-run share of every wagered dollar the house keeps — the single number that should decide whether a bet is worth making.
| Bet | Pays | House edge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line / Come | 1 : 1 | 1.41% | Smart |
| Don't Pass / Don't Come | 1 : 1 | 1.36% | Smart |
| Free Odds — point 4/10 | 2 : 1 | 0.00% | Elite |
| Free Odds — point 5/9 | 3 : 2 | 0.00% | Elite |
| Free Odds — point 6/8 | 6 : 5 | 0.00% | Elite |
| Place 6 / Place 8 | 7 : 6 | 1.52% | Smart |
| Place 5 / Place 9 | 7 : 5 | 4.00% | Marginal |
| Place 4 / Place 10 | 9 : 5 | 6.67% | Marginal |
| Field (2 pays 2:1, 12 pays 3:1) | 1 : 1 / 2 : 1 / 3 : 1 | 2.78% | Skip |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9 : 1 | 9.09% | Skip |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 7 : 1 | 11.1% | Skip |
| Any 7 | 4 : 1 | 16.7% | Worst bet |
5 · The 3-4-5× odds rule
How much free odds you're allowed to takeFree odds is capped by a table limit. The near-universal modern standard is 3-4-5×:
• Point 4 or 10 → up to 3× your line bet in odds
• Point 5 or 9 → up to 4×
• Point 6 or 8 → up to 5×
It looks arbitrary but it's elegant: those multipliers are chosen so the maximum odds win is always exactly 7× your line bet, whatever the point — which keeps dealer payout math simple. Always take the maximum; the full reasoning and blended-edge numbers are in the odds bet guide.
6 · Table etiquette
The unwritten rules- Handle the dice with one hand and throw so they hit the back wall — both are anti-cheat conventions.
- Don't say "seven" out loud during the point phase. It's superstition, but the table takes it seriously.
- Keep your hands clear of the table area when the shooter is about to throw.
- Put cash down, not into a dealer's hand, and let the dealer place center-table prop bets for you.
- None of this affects the math — but it's how you avoid being the person the table groans at. (Online, none of it applies; the software runs every role.)
7 · FAQ
Common rules questionsWhat are the basic rules of craps?
What is the 3-4-5× odds rule?
What does "seven-out" mean?
Does the come-out roll affect Place bets?
Rules learned. Now run a real round.
You know the loop, the payouts and the odds rule. The fastest way to make it stick is to play one. On LiveRoll craps is free, no signup, no real money — and every roll is driven by a live MLB pitch, not an RNG.
Play LiveRoll Craps — Free →