Are you ready to learn everything there is to know about the come bets in craps? Look no further!
This comprehensive guide will cover all the important aspects of come bets, including when and how to make them, the odds of winning, and strategies for maximizing your winning odds.
Plus, I will provide some pro tips to help you get the most out of your come bets.
Key Takeaways on the Come Bet
- Essential Understanding of Come Bets: Come bets are a foundational aspect of craps, functioning similarly to pass line bets but placed after the come-out roll. They’re essential for players looking to engage with the game’s dynamics more deeply.
- Strategic Placement: You can place a come bet at any point after the point has been established, allowing for strategic betting throughout the game. Multiple come bets can be active simultaneously, each treated as a separate wager.
- Winning Conditions: A come bet wins if the shooter rolls the come point before a 7. This offers players a chance to capitalize on the shooter’s momentum and potentially secure wins even after the come-out roll.
- House Edge Insight: The house edge on come bets is relatively low, at 1.41% for the 4 and 10, 1.52% for the 5 and 9, and 1.82% for the 6 and 8. Understanding this can help players make informed bets with a higher chance of winning.
- Advantages of Free Odds: Leveraging free odds with come bets can significantly reduce the overall house edge, offering a strategic advantage to those familiar with the nuances of craps betting.
What is the Come Bet in Craps?
As a craps player, you may have heard of come bets and wonder how they work.
Essentially, a come bet is a wager placed after the come-out roll (the first roll of the dice in a new craps round).
The come bet is similar to a pass line bet, which is a bet that is placed before the come-out roll.
However, while a pass line bet is based on the shooter’s roll, a come bet is based on the shooter’s subsequent rolls.
How Does the Come Bets Work
To make a come bet, you place your chips on the come area of the craps table. The come area is above the pass line and below the field area. Once the come-out roll has been made, the dealer will place a marker, known as a “puck,” on the number rolled.
This number is known as the “point.” If the point is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the come bet is “on”, and the game continues.
Suppose the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7. Your come bet wins.
If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again, your come bet loses. If the come-out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, the come bet loses immediately. This is because these numbers are “craps,” and a craps roll automatically loses on a come-out roll.
When Can You Make Come Bets?
You can make a come bet anytime during a craps game as long as the point has been established. This means you can place a come bet after the come-out roll or at any time during the game when the shooter is trying to roll the point again.
You can also make multiple come bets during the same game, although each come bet is treated as a separate wager.
When Does the Come Bet Win?
As mentioned above, a come bet wins if the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7. If this happens, the dealer will pay you even money on your come bet, which means you’ll receive the same amount as your original wager.
For example, if you place a $10 come bet and the point is rolled again, you’ll receive $10 in winnings.
3 Examples of the Come Bets
To better understand how come bets work, let’s look at a few examples:
Example 1:
- You place a $10 come bet on the come area of the craps table.
- The shooter rolls a 6 on the come-out roll, which becomes the point.
- The shooter rolls a 7 on the next roll, and your come bet loses.
Example 2:
- You place a $10 come bet on the come area of the craps table.
- The shooter rolls a 6 on the come-out roll, which becomes the point.
- The shooter rolls a 6 on the next roll, and your come bet wins.
Example 3:
- You place a $10 come bet on the come area of the craps table.
- The shooter rolls a 3 on the come-out roll, which is a craps roll.
- Your come bet loses immediately.
Multiple Come Bettors at the Table
Multiple players at the craps table can make come bets at the same time.
In this case, each player’s come bet is treated as a separate wager, and the outcome of each bet depends on the shooter’s rolls.
For example, if one player has a come bet on the 6, and another player has a come bet on the 8, both players will win if the shooter rolls their respective numbers before rolling a 7.
However, if the shooter rolls a 7 before either number, both players will lose their come bets.
The House Edge on Come Bets
Like all casino games, craps has a built-in advantage for the house, known as the “house edge.” The house edge on come bets is slightly lower than the one on pass line bets, but it is still present.
In craps, the house edge is determined by the number of ways a player can win or lose and the payout odds for each possible outcome.
For come bets, the house edge is 1.41% on the 4 and 10, 1.52% on the 5 and 9, and 1.82% on the 6 and 8. This means that, on average, the casino will keep a certain percentage of every come bet placed on these numbers.
For example, if you place a $100 come bet on the 6 and 8, you can expect to losabout 1.82% of your wager, or about $1.82, over time.
Free Odds on Come Bets
One way to reduce the house edge on come bets is to take “free odds.”
Free odds are an additional bet that you can place after a come bet or pass line bet, and they pay out at true odds rather than the lower odds that the casino pays on the original wager.
Free odds bets are placed on the layout behind the pass line or come area and are usually marked with the words “free odds.”
For example, if the point is a 6 or 8, the true odds of rolling the point again before rolling a 7 are 6:5.
This means that if you place a $5 free odds bet on the 6 or 8, you’ll receive a payout of $6 if the point is rolled again. Free odds bets have no house edge, meaning the casino doesn’t have an advantage on these bets.
Come vs Don’t Come Bets
In addition to come bets, there are also “don’t come” bets, which are the opposite of come bets. A don’t come bet is a wager placed after the come-out roll, and it wins if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point.
For example, if you place a don’t come bet on the 6, you’ll win if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling a 6.
Don’t come bets can be confusing for new craps players, as they seem to contradict the game’s standard rules. However, don’t come bets are simply the opposite of come bets, and they work similarly.
The main difference between come and don’t come bets is that come bets are made on the shooter’s subsequent rolls, while don’t come bets are made on the shooter’s rolls after the point has been established.
Advanced Betting: Beyond the Basics
Taking your craps game to the next level involves exploring advanced betting techniques that go beyond the basic come bet strategies. Here are ways to enhance your betting approach:
Managing Multiple Come Bets
- Portfolio Approach: Treat your craps bets like an investment portfolio. Just as diversification in investments can reduce risk, spreading your bets across different numbers through come bets can mitigate the volatility of the game. Monitor the performance of your “portfolio” and adjust as necessary.
- Selective Aggression: Be strategic about when to increase your betting size. If you notice a pattern or feel confident about the shooter, selectively place larger come bets. However, always ensure these decisions are within your bankroll management plan.
Exploiting Table Trends
- Adaptive Betting: Stay observant of table trends, such as a shooter consistently hitting certain numbers. Adapt your come betting strategy to these trends, perhaps focusing on come bets when the table is hot and pulling back when it cools off.
- Psychological Endurance: Advanced betting requires mental stamina and discipline. Don’t let emotions dictate your betting decisions; stick to your strategy but be flexible enough to adjust to the table dynamics.
Collaborative Strategies
- Team Play: While craps is an individual game, observing other experienced players and learning from their betting patterns can provide insights into effective strategies. Engage with fellow players to exchange tips and strategies.
- Learning from Losses: Every loss is an opportunity to refine your strategy. Analyze why a bet didn’t work out and adjust your approach accordingly. This continuous learning process is key to evolving as a craps player.
Come Bet Strategy: The Three Point Molly
One way to incorporate Come Bets into your betting strategy when playing craps is to use them in conjunction with Pass Line bets and free odds. This is known among craps players as the 3-Point Molly strategy.
Here’s how it works:
- Place a Pass Line bet and complement it with 2x odds after a point is rolled.
- After the point is established, make a Come bet and complement it with 2x odds as well.
- If the shooter rolls the point for the Pass Line or the come point, you win one of your bets, collect the profits, and make another Pass Line bet. The Come bet will remain on the layout.
- The goal is to always have two numbers in play on the layout.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using this strategy.
First, ignore throws of 7 and 11 on the come-out roll. If this happens and your Come bet with a come point number still stands, you will lose it but win the Pass Line bet with that 7.
Second, remember that free odds do not apply during come-out rolls. If the shooter throws a 7 on a come-out roll, the odds you have taken will be returned to you, so be sure to remove your chips from the layout.
This strategy is effective for 2 reasons. First, it’s a conservative approach as you’re only exposed to high risk with two numbers at a time. Second, by taking 2x odds, you reduce the house edge on your Pass Line and Come bets to just 0.60%.
This is a good strategy for beginners to adopt during their first sessions at the craps table.
Mastering the Come Bet: More In-Depth Strategies That Work
Mastering the come bet in craps requires more than just knowing when to place the bet; it involves strategic planning and understanding how this bet fits within the broader context of your overall game strategy.
Here are my top craps strategies to help you get the most out of your come bets:
Leveraging Come Bets with Pass Line Bets
- Harmonizing Bets: Start by placing a pass line bet with odds. Once a point is established, begin placing come bets on successive rolls. This approach allows you to have multiple numbers working for you, increasing your chances of winning on any given roll.
- Sequential Betting: After your first come bet moves to a number, place another come bet on the next roll. This strategy creates layers of bets that can capture wins across different numbers, maximizing your coverage on the table.
Utilizing Odds to Your Advantage
- Maximizing Free Odds: Always take the maximum odds allowed on your come bets. The odds bet has no house edge, which reduces the overall house edge on your total wager. This approach significantly increases your potential payout while minimizing the risk associated with the house advantage.
- Odds Strategy: Pay attention to the casino’s odds limits. Some casinos offer 3-4-5x odds, while others might offer 100x odds. Tailor your betting strategy to leverage these odds, especially on points that have a lower probability of appearing, like 4 and 10.
Strategic Betting Patterns
- The 3-Point Molly: A popular strategy among craps players. After placing a pass line bet, follow up with come bets and take full odds. Limit yourself to three active bets at any time to manage risk while keeping a strong presence on the table.
- Pressing and Regressing: After a win on a come bet, consider pressing (increasing) your next come bet or taking some profit and regressing (decreasing) your bet size. This method allows you to capitalize on a hot streak while protecting your winnings.
Pro Tip: Win More Using the Come Bet
As a seasoned craps player, I’ve learned a thing or two about come bets over the years.
One tip I always follow is to take advantage of free odds on come bets whenever possible.
As we mentioned earlier, free odds are an additional bet that you can place after a come bet or pass line bet, and they pay out at true odds rather than the lower odds that the casino pays on the original wager.
Taking free odds on come bets can significantly reduce the house edge and increase your chances of winning.
For example, if the point is a 6 or 8, the true odds of rolling the point again before rolling a 7 are 6:5.
If you place a $5 come bet on the 6 or 8, and then take $10 in free odds, you’ll have a total wager of $15 on the 6 or 8. If the point is rolled again, you’ll receive a payout of $15, which is equal to your original wager plus the free odds.
This means you’ll receive a 1:1 payout on your come bet, much better than the 6:5 payout you’d receive without free odds.
Of course, it’s essential to manage your bankroll carefully and only take free odds on come bets that you can afford to lose. However, if you’re looking to maximize your chances of winning, taking free odds on come bets is a smart strategy.
Final Thoughts
Come bets are a popular and exciting way to wager on craps. By understanding the rules and odds of come bets, you can make informed decisions and increase your chances of winning.
Whether you’re a seasoned craps player or a newcomer to the game, come bets are worth considering as part of your overall betting strategy, but you can always combine them with other bets on the table.
Just remember to gamble responsibly, within your means, and have fun at the craps table.
