Dice Odds in Craps

I’m assuming you’ve seen a pair of dice at some point in your life so I will spare you a description of what they look like. The main thing to keep in mind with dice is that there are 11 different values you can throw with them (2 through 12), and there are 36 possible number combinations that can be rolled.

Using the fact that there are 36 possible number combinations with the dice, you can easily determine odds once you know how many dice combos will result in a certain number. For instance, there are 6 combinations that can make a seven so your odds of rolling a seven are 5:1 (36/6).

One more thing that should be discussed before launching into the odds of hitting different combinations is dice etiquette. Always remember that real casinos don’t operate like the movies so you can’t shake the dice around in both of your hands while yelling, “Daddy needs to feed his kids.” Casinos only allow you to pick the dice up with once hand so as to screen out cheating. Now…on to the number combinations!

Commonly referred to as “snake eyes”, a two is one of the most dreaded rolls in all of craps. That’s because a casino craps 2 is a natural loser on the come out roll. If you happen to roll a two on the come out roll, you will lose your pass line bet, but keep your roll. Luckily, there is only one combination that will result in a 2 so your odds (35:1) are pretty good for avoiding a two on the come out roll.

Just like the two, rolling a 3 will result in a natural loser on the come out roll in which you’ll lose your pass line bet, but keep rolling. Since there are only two combinations that will yield a three, the odds of throwing this is 17:1.

Place bets on the number 4 pay out pretty good at $9 to $5 because there are only three combinations that will result in this number. Your odds of hitting a four on any roll are 11:1.

Four out of the thirty six possible dice combinations will result in a 5. So your odds of rolling a 5 with the dice are 36:4, or more simply put, 8:1. Place bets on a 5 will pay out at $7 to $5.

There are 5 possible number combinations that will yield a six in craps. So your odds of hitting a six on any roll are around 6.5:1. In other words, you will roll a six a little less than 14% of the time.

Not only is seven a very lucky number, but it is also a very popular combination in craps. If you throw a seven during the come out roll, you will have a natural winner. Your odds of rolling a seven on the come out roll, or on any other roll, are 5:1 because there are six different dice combinations that will result in seven.

Figuring your chances of rolling an eight in craps is a little trickier since it doesn’t provide an even number in terms of odds. 5 combinations will result in a six, which means you have around a 6.5:1 shot at throwing an eight. Odds bets on an 8 pay out at $6 to $5 while a place bet pays at a $7 to $6 rate.

A nine in craps shares similarities to the 5 because there are four possible number combinations which can result in it, and you have 8:1 odds of rolling a 9. Place bets on the nine yield $7 to $5 payouts while odds bets result in a $3 to $2 payout.

Like the number 4, you also have 11:1 odds of rolling a ten since there are 3 possible number combos that will deliver this number. Place bets on the ten also provide a $9 to $5 payout, and odds bets offer a $2 to $1 payout.

Eleven’s are called “yo” by the stickman at the table so nobody confuses this number with a seven. An 11 differs greatly from the 3 because it is a natural winner on the come out roll. However, the eleven does offer the same odds as a 3 at 17:1 with two possible combinations making this number. 

Much like rolling a two, rolling a 12 on the come out roll is a natural loser and will result in you crapping out. You also lose your pass line bet, but keep your roll. You won’t have to worry too much about this though because the odds of rolling a casino twelve are only 35:1.