Don’t Pass Bet
| Updated: A Deep Dive Into the Intricacies of the Don’t Pass Bet
As one of the most exciting and intriguing casino games, craps remains an integral part of the game collections at online and brick-and-mortar casinos. The game is believed to have evolved from an English game called “hazard.” One reason craps is so popular is that it is among the most action-packed casino games. As one of the fastest-paced games, craps is often considered complicated and confusing, especially by complete beginners. At first glance, the rules might seem difficult, but once everything falls into place, you can enjoy yourself at the craps table for hours.
The sheer number of bets available in craps can intimidate newcomers. In this article, we will focus on the Don’t Pass bet and explain how this interesting wager works. This information can help craps players gain the confidence needed to place a Don’t Pass bet at land-based or online casinos.
-
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $100
100% Bonus!9.7 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $30000
100% Bonus!9.4 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $1000
200% Bonus!9.3
Don’t Pass Bet Explained
Experienced craps players probably know that placing a Don’t Pass bet is the direct opposite of placing a Pass Line bet. In fact, this particular bet is also known as wagering the wrong way or wagering against the dice. These descriptions are largely tied to superstition, specifically the idea that the Don’t Pass bet is a wager “against” the shooter and “for” the house. Some superstitious craps players believe that Don’t Pass bettors are rooting for the house instead of their fellow players, hence the term “wrong” bet.
The Don’t Pass bet is a self-service wager, meaning players can position their chips in the designated area of the betting layout themselves. The Don’t Pass area of the table layout is also known as the “back line,” and it is located next to the Pass Line.
Another important point about the flat Don’t Pass bet is that it must be placed before the come-out roll. In other words, players cannot make a flat Don’t Pass bet after the point has been established.
When it comes to the possible outcomes, players placing a Don’t Pass bet should know that the most favorable come-out roll is a 2 or 3, as either result makes the bet a winner. If a 12 appears, the result is a tie, and your bet neither wins nor loses. However, if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, your bet loses and is resolved immediately.
If you take a closer look at the betting layout, you may notice an area labeled “Bar 12.” If 12 is rolled during the come-out roll, the bet pushes. The “Bar 12” label indicates that 12 is an excluded number, preventing the player from gaining an advantage over the house. Players may also encounter tables that feature “Bar 2,” which means that 2 is the excluded, or barred, number. If the shooter throws a 2 at such a table, the bet pushes, meaning that you neither win nor lose.
After a point has been established, the Don’t Pass bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 before repeating the point. In such cases, the bet pays even money. However, if the shooter makes the point, the Don’t Pass bet loses. It is important to note that players can place or increase their Don’t Pass bet only during the come-out roll.
One distinctive feature of this bet is that players can decrease or remove their wager at any time, even after the point has been established. This is because a Don’t Pass bettor gains an advantage over the house once a point is established.
Another important consideration is that players who have placed a flat Don’t Pass bet are not permitted to place a Put Bet. A Put Bet is a late wager placed after the come-out roll.
Don’t Pass Bet Odds
Many gamblers are drawn to craps because of its low house edge. As already mentioned, a winning Don’t Pass bet pays even money, meaning that your winnings equal the amount of your stake. If you stake $10 and your bet wins, you receive $10 in winnings.
Once the point is established, the advantage shifts from the house to the player. Regardless of the point, players have a better chance of winning by rolling a 7 than by rolling the established point. Another benefit of the Don’t Pass bet is that players can reduce the house advantage further by placing a Don’t Pass odds bet.
Many craps players prefer Don’t Pass bets because of the low house edge. The house advantage is 1.36% per bet made, while the house edge is 1.40% per bet resolved. The advantage per roll is 0.40%.
Possible Outcomes of the Don’t Pass Bet
Players who decide to place a Don’t Pass bet should know that there are four possible outcomes. The Don’t Pass bet generally produces the opposite result of the Pass Line bet, although a 12 is typically a push for the Don’t Pass bet.
If you have placed a Don’t Pass bet and the shooter throws a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, your bet loses and is resolved immediately. If the shooter throws a 2 or 3 on the come-out roll, your bet wins and pays even money. The bet is also resolved immediately. The other possibility is a 12, which results in a tie; you neither win nor lose, and another come-out roll follows.
The game continues when a point is established. This happens when one of the point numbers appears. These numbers include 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. If one of these numbers is rolled, the round proceeds. If a 7 appears before the point number, the Don’t Pass bet wins. Conversely, if the point number is rolled first, the Don’t Pass bet loses and the round ends.
Playing the Don’t Pass Bet
Once you understand the basics of the Don’t Pass bet, you can proceed to actual play. Let’s go through one possible scenario to make everything clear.
Assume that you place a $5 Don’t Pass bet. At the beginning of the game, a new shooter rolls a 12 on the come-out roll. As you may remember, this results in a push. Because a 12 is a tie for the Don’t Pass bet, the dealer leaves your chips in the same area of the betting layout.
The shooter then prepares for another come-out roll. This time, the result is 7. When a 7 is rolled during this initial phase of the game, a Don’t Pass bet loses. While the shooter prepares for the next roll, you place another $5 Don’t Pass bet.
Suppose the shooter now rolls a 4, establishing the point. If the shooter subsequently rolls a 10, for example, the round continues because that number does not affect the bet. On the next roll, a 7 appears. This is good news for you because the 7 appeared before the established point, meaning that your bet wins. You therefore receive $5 in winnings.
Laying Odds on Don’t Pass Bet
An important detail concerning the Don’t Pass bet is that once the point is established, players can place an odds bet. This is also known as laying odds on the established point.
Players should distinguish between the two types of odds wagers: taking odds and laying odds. Players can take odds only on Pass Line bets. By taking odds, the player wagers that the shooter will make the point. The payout is determined by the point.
Laying odds, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the best wagers a player can make because the house edge on this bet is zero. For this reason, it is also known as a free odds or true odds bet.
Because players have this advantage, they can lay odds if they want to place a larger wager on the shooter failing to make the point. If the point is 6 or 8, players are paid $5 for every $6 they lay. If the point is 5 or 9, they receive $2 for every $3 they lay. Finally, if the point is 4 or 10, they receive $1 for every $2 they lay.
You may wonder how to lay odds. You can do so by “heeling” or “bridging” your odds bet. When making an odds bet, place the higher-denomination chips on the bottom and the lower-denomination chips on top of the stack.
If the amount of a winning Don’t Pass flat bet matches the payoff from the odds bet, you can bridge the two wagers. To bridge your bet, place a portion of your odds bet next to your flat bet, creating two separate piles. This portion should equal the amount of your flat bet. Then, position the remaining chips from the odds bet on top of the two stacks, bridging them.
The other option is to heel your odds bet, which is possible only when the payoff for your Don’t Pass odds bet is higher or lower than the flat-bet amount. To heel your odds bet, place your odds-bet chip stack next to your flat bet. Then, slide the stack slightly so that only the bottom chip remains on the layout, allowing the stack to lean over.
Don’t Pass Bet and Pass Line Bet Compared
Placing a Pass Line bet is considered the right way to wager, while placing a Don’t Pass bet is known as wagering against the dice. Both Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets are self-service wagers, meaning that players can place their chips in the designated areas of the betting layout without the dealer’s assistance. The Pass Line area is also known as the front line, while the Don’t Pass area is called the back line. These areas are adjacent on the betting layout, and both bets pay even money.
The minimum and maximum flat bets are the same for both wagers. However, this does not apply to odds bets, as there are certain differences players should consider.
Another difference is that the odds wagers made after the point is established are called taking odds and laying odds for the Pass Line bet and the Don’t Pass bet, respectively.
A further distinction is that a Don’t Pass odds bet can be bridged or heeled, while the chips for a Pass Line odds bet must be placed in a single pile.