The pass line and don’t pass line bets are the two most common and popular bets in craps. They are also some of the most important as well since there are other supplemental bets that go along with these two that will give you the best odds out of any casino game in the house! In fact, using these pass and don’t pass bets can actually help you reduce the house edge to nothing, nil, zero and maximize your odds as good as it gets.
First I will explain the pass line bet. This is a bet that wagers that the dice will land on a natural 7 or 11 and win. The player losses if the dice lands on one of the craps numbers: 2, 3 or 12. Notice that the odds of getting a 7 are greater than the combined probability of getting 2, 3 and 12. The round ends if the dice lands on any of these numbers and a new one starts. If you win on the come out throw, the house pays even odds or 1:1 on your dollar.
Now if the shooter throws anything else but these numbers, such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number will become the point. Then the objective is to roll the established point number again before rolling a 7. Now the odds are against you since 7 is more likely to hit than the other numbers. If you win, the payouts will be fair and even.
The don’t pass line explained: This bet is almost the opposite of the pass line bet. You wager that the shooter will roll a 2, 3 or 12 and you will lose when they roll a 7 or 11. Though in some cases, the casino will count the 12 as a push or draw and your money will be returned. Again you will be paid even odds if you win. If any of the point numbers are rolled, the dice must land on the 7 before the point number, which is the opposite of the pass line bet.
A person who bets on the pass line is known as a “right” or “win” player and the person who bets on the don’t pass line is known as a “wrong” or “don’t win” type of player since they are betting against the shooter. An important fact about these two bets is that the don’t pass bet actually has slightly better odds than the pass line. In fact, the house edge for the pass line bet is 1.41% and the edge for the don’t pass bet is 1.36%. A lower house edge means that the player’s edge increases and your odds of winning are better. You also don’t lose as much money in the long run.
In addition to these two bets, players may make free odds or pass odds bets, which I will explain at a later date. They pay true odds and they are wagered in addition to the pass or don’t pass bets after the point has been established. These are the most powerful bets in the house and hold the foundational moves in craps strategy.
