The C and E Bet in Craps: Payouts, Odds, and How It Compares to the Horn
Jake WilfredThe stickman calls out “C and E, who wants it?” between rolls, and a few chips fly toward the center. The C and E bet in craps is one of the most commonly called proposition bets on the table, and one of the most misunderstood.
It’s actually two bets packaged as one: half your wager goes on “Any Craps” (2, 3, or 12), and the other half goes on “Eleven.” If either side hits, you win. If neither does, both halves are gone. The combined bet covers 6 out of 36 dice combinations, giving you a 16.67% chance of winning on any given roll.
That sounds decent until you check the house edge: 11.11%. This guide breaks down exactly how the C and E works, what each half pays, how it stacks up against the horn bet, and whether it deserves any of your chips.
- The C and E is a split bet: half on Any Craps (2, 3, or 12) at 3:1 net, half on Eleven at 7:1 net
- The house edge is 11.11% on both halves, making it one of the more expensive center-table wagers
- You win on 6 out of 36 dice combinations (16.67% probability) but lose the other half of your bet even when you win
- The C and E bet must be placed in even amounts ($2, $4, $6, etc.) since it splits evenly between two wagers
- The horn bet covers the same four numbers but with a different payout structure and slightly higher blended house edge
What Is the C and E Bet?
The C and E stands for “Craps and Eleven.” It’s a one-roll wager that splits your bet into two equal halves:
The “C” half is an Any Craps bet, which wins if the next roll is a 2, 3, or 12.
The “E” half is a Yo (Eleven) bet, which wins if the next roll is an 11.
Together, the C and E covers four numbers: 2, 3, 11, and 12. These are the same four numbers covered by the horn bet, which is why the two bets are often confused with each other.
The C and E is a split bet. When one half wins, the other half loses. If you bet $2 on C and E and the shooter rolls a 3, your $1 Craps half wins but your $1 Eleven half loses. You don’t keep both halves. This “lose one side even when you win” mechanic is what makes the C and E more expensive than it initially appears.
You’ll find the C and E section in the center of the craps table layout, near other proposition bets. The area is typically marked with a “C” circle and an “E” circle. Toss your chips to the stickman and call “C and E” before the next roll. The stickman splits your wager between the two sections.
C and E Bet Payouts and House Edge
Here’s where the C and E gets tricky. The payouts look different depending on whether you’re looking at the individual halves or the net result after losing one side.
The Raw Payouts
| Roll | Which Half Wins | Raw Payout on Winning Half | Losing Half |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 (snake eyes) | Craps (C) | 7:1 on the C half | E half lost |
| 3 (ace-deuce) | Craps (C) | 7:1 on the C half | E half lost |
| 12 (boxcars) | Craps (C) | 7:1 on the C half | E half lost |
| 11 (yo) | Eleven (E) | 15:1 on the E half | C half lost |
| Any other number | Neither | Both halves lost | Both halves lost |
What You Actually Take Home
The raw payouts above apply to the winning half of your bet only. Since the other half always loses, your net return is lower than it first appears.
You bet $2 on C and E. That’s $1 on Craps, $1 on Eleven. The shooter rolls a 3. Your Craps half wins at 7:1: that’s $7 in profit plus your $1 back = $8 returned. Your Eleven half loses the other $1. Net profit: $7 – $1 = $6 on a $2 bet. Effective net payout: 3:1 on your total wager.
Same $2 bet. The shooter rolls an 11. Your Eleven half wins at 15:1: $15 profit plus your $1 back = $16. Your Craps half loses $1. Net profit: $15 – $1 = $14 on a $2 bet. Effective net payout: 7:1 on your total wager.
So the real-world payouts on a C and E bet are 3:1 net when craps numbers hit and 7:1 net when the 11 hits. The house edge on both halves is 11.11%, which makes the blended house edge on the entire C and E wager 11.11%.
The C and E must be bet in even amounts ($2, $4, $6, etc.) because the stickman splits it 50/50. If you toss a $1 chip and say “C and E,” some tables will accept it and alternate which half gets the extra half-unit. Others won’t accept odd amounts at all. Keep your C and E bets in even increments to avoid confusion. For more on bet sizing conventions, check our craps etiquette guide.
The Math Behind the C and E
Let’s count the dice combinations to see exactly what you’re working with.
There are 36 possible outcomes on two dice. The C and E covers these:
The 2 can be rolled 1 way (1+1). The 3 can be rolled 2 ways (1+2, 2+1). The 12 can be rolled 1 way (6+6). The 11 can be rolled 2 ways (5+6, 6+5). That’s 6 winning combinations and 30 losing combinations. Your win probability per roll is 6/36, or 16.67%.
But winning 16.67% of the time doesn’t mean the bet is fair. The true odds against hitting any of those four numbers are 30:6, or 5:1. A fair combined payout would need to average out to 5:1 across all winning outcomes. The actual blended payout? Considerably less than that after you factor in the lost half.
If you want action on the same four numbers (2, 3, 11, 12) but prefer a different payout structure, consider the horn bet. The horn splits your wager four ways instead of two, and each number has its own payout (30:1 on 2 and 12, 15:1 on 3 and 11). The mechanics differ, but the numbers covered are identical. We’ll compare them in detail below.
C and E Bet vs. Horn Bet: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Players constantly mix these two bets up. Both cover 2, 3, 11, and 12. Both sit in the center of the table. Both are one-roll propositions. But the split structure and payout math differ significantly.
| Feature | C and E Bet | Horn Bet |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers Covered | 2, 3, 11, 12 | 2, 3, 11, 12 |
| How It Splits | 50/50: half on Any Craps, half on Yo | 25/25/25/25: one unit each on 2, 3, 11, 12 |
| Minimum Bet | $2 (splits to $1/$1) | $4 (splits to $1/$1/$1/$1) |
| Payout on 2 or 12 | Net ~3:1 (7:1 on C half minus lost E half) | Net 27:4 (30:1 on winner minus 3 lost units) |
| Payout on 3 or 11 | Net ~7:1 on 11; ~3:1 on 3 | Net 12:4 on 3 or 11 (15:1 on winner minus 3 lost units) |
| Blended House Edge | 11.11% | 12.50% |
The C and E has a slightly lower blended house edge (11.11% vs. 12.50%) because its split structure treats the 2, 3, and 12 as a group rather than individual bets. The horn bet gives you better individual payouts on the 2 and 12 (30:1 on those specific numbers) but worse overall efficiency because you’re losing three units instead of one when any single number hits.
Horn bet ($4): $1 on each of 2, 3, 11, 12. The 12 hits at 30:1 = $30 profit. You lose the other three $1 units. Net profit: $27 on a $4 bet. C and E bet ($4): $2 on Craps, $2 on Eleven. The 12 hits at 7:1 on the C half = $14 profit on the $2 Craps portion. You lose the $2 Eleven portion. Net profit: $12 on a $4 bet. The horn pays more when the rare numbers (2 or 12) hit. The C and E pays more efficiently overall because it loses less on each win.
Which is better? Neither is a “good” bet by strict mathematical standards. If you’re picking between the two, the C and E costs you less per dollar wagered (11.11% vs. 12.50%). If you’re specifically chasing the big 30:1 pops on snake eyes or boxcars, the horn gives you that individual upside. For a full breakdown of every bet’s edge, check our craps payout chart.
How to Place a C and E Bet
The process is the same as any center-table proposition bet.
Toss your chips toward the center of the table before the next roll. Call out “C and E” clearly. The stickman catches your chips and splits them between the C (Any Craps) and E (Eleven) sections, placed in a position that corresponds to your spot at the rail.
The bet resolves on the very next roll. If 2, 3, 11, or 12 appears, the stickman announces the winner and the dealer pays you. Anything else, your chips get swept.
You can place a C and E on any roll. Come-out, mid-point, between games. No restrictions. If you want to keep the action going, you need to call “C and E” again before each subsequent roll. It doesn’t carry over.
Some players call “C and E every roll” to keep the bet active continuously. This is expensive. At $2 per roll across a session averaging 100 rolls per hour, that’s $200 in C and E action per hour. At 11.11% house edge, the expected loss is $22.22 per hour. That’s more than you’d lose making $10 pass line bets with odds for the same time period. Keep C and E occasional, not automatic.
C and E Bet vs. Other Proposition Bets
Where does the C and E rank among center-table wagers?
| Bet | Payout | House Edge | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| C and E | Net 3:1 (craps) / 7:1 (yo) | 11.11% | 16.67% |
| Any Craps | 7:1 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Yo (11) | 15:1 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Hi-Lo (2 or 12) | 15:1 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Horn Bet | Varies | 12.50% | 16.67% |
| Hardways (6/8) | 9:1 | 9.09% | Varies |
| Any Seven | 4:1 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
The C and E shares the same 11.11% house edge as Any Craps, Yo, and the Hi-Lo. It’s cheaper per dollar than the horn (12.50%), the whirl bet, and far cheaper than Any Seven (16.67%).
The C and E’s advantage over betting Any Craps and Yo separately is convenience. One call, one toss, both bets placed. The math is identical whether you place them individually or as a C and E. The stickman just handles the split for you.
Is the C and E Bet Worth It?
The C and E wins on 6 out of 36 rolls. That’s a 1-in-6 hit rate, which feels frequent enough to be entertaining. The net payouts (3:1 on craps numbers, 7:1 on the 11) are satisfying when they land. And at $2 minimum, it’s not going to wreck your session.
- Covers four numbers in a single call, convenient and fast
- 16.67% win probability means you’ll hit roughly once every 6 rolls
- Net 7:1 payout on the 11 delivers a nice pop for a small bet
- House edge (11.11%) is lower than the horn, whirl, and any seven bets
- At $2 per bet, the absolute dollar risk is minimal
- 11.11% house edge is roughly 8 times the pass line’s 1.41%
- You always lose one half of your bet even when you win
- One-roll resolution means you’re exposed to the house edge on every throw
- Money on C and E could be backing your pass line with free odds at 0% house edge
- Calling it every roll burns through money faster than most players realize
Like every center-table bet, the C and E belongs in the “fun money” category. Your session backbone should be built on the best craps bets: pass line or don’t pass with maximum odds, plus place bets on 6 and 8 if your bankroll supports it. The C and E is the occasional side action that makes a come-out roll more interesting, not a pillar of your craps strategy.
The C and E Bet: Know the Split, Control the Spend
The C and E bet is a convenient, fast-resolving way to get action on the four most dramatic numbers in craps. The 2, 3, 11, and 12 are the come-out roll’s heroes and villains, and the C and E lets you bet on all of them in a single call. At 11.11%, it’s cheaper than the horn and cheaper than most individual proposition bets on the boxcars or snake eyes.
Just remember the split. When you win, you still lose half. That hidden cost is what keeps the house edge at 11.11% even though you’re hitting roughly once every six rolls. Keep the bet small, keep it occasional, and let the real work be done by your line bets and odds. Practice the rhythm of it on our free craps simulator before spending real chips at a live table.
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C and E Bet FAQs
If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, the Craps half pays 7:1. If the shooter rolls an 11, the Eleven half pays 15:1. But since the losing half is subtracted, the net payouts on your total wager are approximately 3:1 when craps numbers hit and 7:1 when the 11 hits. Check the full payout structure in our craps payout chart.
No, though they cover the same four numbers (2, 3, 11, 12). The C and E splits your bet two ways: half on Any Craps and half on Eleven. The horn splits it four ways: one unit each on 2, 3, 11, and 12. The horn has a higher blended house edge (12.50% vs. 11.11%) but offers bigger individual payouts when the 2 or 12 hit (30:1 on the winning unit vs. the C and E’s 7:1 on the Craps half).
Not from a mathematical standpoint. The 11.11% house edge means you’ll lose roughly $11 for every $100 wagered over time. Compare that to the pass line at $1.41 per $100 or free odds at $0. The C and E works as a small, occasional fun bet alongside your core strategy, but it shouldn’t be a regular part of your approach.
Bet the table minimum ($2 at most tables) and do it sparingly, not every roll. If you’re betting C and E every roll for an hour at $2 per throw, that’s roughly $200 in action with an expected loss of $22. Keep C and E as an occasional side play and direct the bulk of your bankroll toward lower-edge bets.
