Don’t Pass Bet Patterns
| Updated: Don’t Pass Craps Betting Strategy to Try at Online Casinos
There are multiple ways to play craps at online casinos. While players typically choose straightforward wagers on 7 or other dice totals, they can also explore more complex and interesting strategies. One of these involves the classic Don’t Pass bet, which wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 on the come-out roll or rolls a 7 before the point. Don’t Pass betting patterns can help players cover multiple dice outcomes and manage their potential losses.
Although strategies can reduce exposure to risk, many players stick to simpler bets such as the Pass Line or the Come wager. There is nothing wrong with placing simpler bets, but those who wish to explore different approaches can consider more complex wagers and betting patterns. These strategies are based on so-called “wrong-side” betting, which means betting against the dice and taking the opposite position from most players at the craps table.
The Don’t Pass wager is the most fundamental “wrong-side” bet in craps. Once players learn how to place it, they can incorporate it into their betting strategies. The article below explains what the Don’t Pass bet is and how it can be used to lower the casino’s built-in advantage. We will begin by examining the basics of the Don’t Pass bet and then focus on several popular Don’t Pass betting patterns.
-
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
Basics of the Don’t Pass Bet
The Don’t Pass wager is one of the two fundamental bets in craps, with the other being the Pass Line. The two bets can be considered opposite sides of the same coin: when one wins, the other loses, and vice versa. Players who place the Pass Line win when the dice total 7 or 11 on the come-out roll and lose when the total is 2, 3, or 12. The Don’t Pass is the opposite bet, losing if a 7 or 11 is rolled on the come-out and winning on a 2 or 3. However, rolling a 12 is considered a push, so the bet neither wins nor loses.
Like the Pass Line bet, the Don’t Pass bet is placed before the come-out roll at the beginning of a new round. It is a multi-roll wager that may take several throws of the dice to resolve. Because the dice can produce totals from 2 to 12, a win with 2 or 3 and a loss with 7 or 11 are not the only possible outcomes. When any other eligible number is thrown, it becomes the point for the following rolls. The Don’t Pass bet then wins if 7 appears before the point. If the point number, which can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, is thrown first, the bet loses.
This wager offers an even-money payout, but the odds still slightly favor the house. On the come-out roll, the losing combinations for the Don’t Pass bet outnumber the winning ones. There are only three ways to win at the beginning of each round: 1-1, 1-2, and 2-1. There are eight ways to lose because 7 can be thrown in six different ways and 11 can be rolled with two combinations, 5-6 and 6-5.
Using the same logic, we can calculate the probabilities of this bet losing or winning during subsequent rolls. Determining the overall odds requires more complex calculations, which produce odds of 976:949. Expressed as percentages, the probability of winning is 47.93%, compared with 49.29% for losing and a 2.78% chance of a push. This shows that the casino has a slight advantage over players who place this bet. The house edge is 1.36%, one of the lowest percentages found in casino games. On average, this represents an expected casino profit of $1.36 for every $100 wagered.
Like its “right-side” counterpart, the Don’t Pass bet can be supported with an Odds bet after the point has been established. This is an additional wager placed as a multiple of the original bet, usually 1x, 2x, or 3x its amount. With this side bet, players can lay odds against the point number, and the payout is based on the true odds of the wager. The payout varies depending on the point number: 1:2 against 4 or 10, 2:3 against 5 or 9, and 5:6 against 6 or 8.
The key advantage of the Odds bet is that it has no built-in casino advantage. When used with a Don’t Pass wager, it lowers the combined house edge. Another important point is that when laying odds against the point number after placing a Don’t Pass bet, players must wager more than their potential return. Consider a $5 Don’t Pass bet with a point of 10. If we lay 2x odds, the additional wager is $10, and the payout is 1:2. If 7 appears before 10, the original bet returns a $5 profit and the Odds bet returns another $5. The total profit is $10 on the combined $15 wager.
Importance of Betting Patterns in Craps
Once players understand the Don’t Pass bet, they can place it on its own or combine it with other wagers. Laying the maximum available odds can reduce the combined house edge substantially. With 1x odds, the combined wager has a house edge of 0.682%; with 2x odds, the edge falls to 0.455%; and with 3x odds, it is 0.341%. Some casinos may offer up to 100x odds to attract more players to the craps table. With 20x odds, the edge is 0.065%, while with 100x odds, it drops to 0.014%.
Laying odds against point numbers after making a Don’t Pass wager can be an effective strategy when available, but not all casinos offer Odds bets. Another option is using different betting patterns that combine two or more wagers. Their purpose is to increase potential payouts during favorable rolls while limiting losses during unfavorable ones. However, players should not assume that combination betting directly reduces the house edge or turns the odds in their favor.
This misconception is common among less experienced bettors and can lead to significant financial losses. Craps strategies and betting patterns should be used cautiously and only after careful consideration. They are not advisable for inexperienced players who do not understand the game in detail. They may also be unsuitable for those with limited bankrolls or little tolerance for risk.
Popular Don’t Pass Bet Patterns
Using “wrong-side” and “right-side” strategies in craps is not fundamentally different because the most basic bets, the Pass Line and the Don’t Pass, are closely related. Patterns that incorporate the Don’t Pass wager may generate winnings at a slower pace, but outcomes can still vary significantly, particularly when a strategy is aggressive or involves large wagers.
To support long-term bankroll management, craps strategies can follow the popular 3% Rule. This concept states that players should avoid bets with a house edge above 3%. Many players still place high-risk, high-reward bets, but their use should be kept to a minimum.
Don’t Pass Bet with 1 Don’t Come Bet
This pattern is relatively conservative, limiting players’ exposure to risk while offering modest potential returns. It combines two of the simplest wagers in craps, both of which are on the “wrong” side of betting. To use this pattern, players start by placing a Don’t Pass bet. Once the point is established, they lay full double odds against it. With this side bet, the combined house edge falls to 0.431%.
The next step is to place a Don’t Come bet, which is essentially the same type of wager but is made after the point has been established. If the dice total 7 on the following throw, the Don’t Pass and Free Odds bets win, while the Don’t Come bet loses. The Don’t Come bet wins if 2 or 3 is rolled. If another eligible number appears, it becomes the Don’t Come point. Players can then lay the highest available odds against this second point.
On subsequent rolls, a 7 appearing before either point allows the corresponding Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet to win. If the Don’t Come point appears first, the player can replace the lost wager with another Don’t Come bet and add odds after a new point is established. If the Don’t Pass point appears, however, the Don’t Pass bet loses and the round comes to an end.
Don’t Pass Bet with 2 Don’t Come Bets
This pattern is more aggressive because it includes three separate bets, each supported with Free Odds. As a result, the amount of money that must be wagered increases significantly. At the same time, up to half of the available point numbers may have odds laid against them. Depending on when 7 appears, the risk can be considerable.
Players have the chance to receive an attractive payout if the shooter rolls a 7 before any of the point numbers appear. The risk is higher, but so are the potential winnings. This pattern is not suitable for players with smaller bankrolls, and it is not recommended for novices at the craps table. Tracking the different dice throws and identifying the come-out roll can be difficult for inexperienced players. When several point numbers are active, following all the associated bets can also become challenging.
Don’t Pass Bet with 2 Don’t Come Bets Plus a Field and Lay Bets on 4 and 10
This is another risky pattern that offers substantial potential rewards. It starts with a Don’t Pass bet and a Field bet before the come-out roll. The Field covers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. It is a single-roll bet, and players are advised to use it only for the initial roll because its house edge can reach 5.56%. Some tables offer higher payouts when 2 or 12 is rolled, such as 2:1 for 2 and 3:1 for 12, reducing the house advantage to 2.78%.
After placing these two wagers, players make two Don’t Come bets and support them with the maximum odds available. In addition, Lay bets on 4 and 10 can increase the potential return if 7 appears first. These wagers can be added as part of the pattern after the Don’t Come bets have been placed. With a Lay bet, the player wagers that 7 will appear before a particular number. The Lay bet can be placed or removed at any time, either before the come-out roll or after the point has been established. If you place a Lay bet on 5, for instance, you win if 7 rolls before 5. If the shooter throws 5 first, the bet loses.
Lay bets are placed with the dealer’s help. Unless you want to let them “ride” on subsequent rolls, you must ask the dealer to turn them off. You can also lay against multiple numbers at the same time. These wagers pay according to the same true odds as Odds bets but include a 5% commission on the winnings. The house edge is relatively low, ranging from 1.67% to 2.27%, depending on the selected number. If the casino charges the commission even when the bets lose, the house edge rises significantly to 4%. Because this pattern includes Lay bets on 4 or 10 only, the house advantage will be between 1.67% and 2.44%.
This pattern may appear complex, but it consists of wagers that are individually simple and straightforward. Once players learn how to place each wager separately, they can combine them in different strategies, including this one. Because the pattern involves multiple bets, players may prefer to keep their Don’t Pass and Don’t Come wagers at the table minimum. They can then decide how much to commit to the Free Odds while remaining within their bankroll limits.
It is also recommended that the Field bet be the same size as the Don’t Pass wager. The Field bet should be placed only at the beginning of each round, before the come-out roll. This can help keep the total wager per roll and per round manageable, especially for players with limited bankrolls. The amount committed to the Lay bets on 4 or 10 should also remain within the player’s predetermined betting limits.
Are Don’t Pass Bet Patterns Useful in Craps?
Betting patterns that involve different wagers placed at various times during the game can be useful for structuring a craps strategy. However, players should follow several basic guidelines. The first is to have a thorough understanding of the game, its different bets, and the associated payouts and house-edge percentages. It is also important to track the dice rolls and distinguish between the come-out roll and subsequent rolls.
Breaking the 3% Rule should be avoided whenever possible, as a house edge above 3% leads to a higher expected loss over time. Bets with a lower house advantage do not guarantee a profit, but they reduce the casino’s expected return on the amount wagered. The house-edge percentage is a mathematical representation of the casino’s built-in advantage over its players.
Finally, players should carefully consider the size of every bet they place. It may be preferable to keep the original wagers small and use Free Odds only when the additional amount remains within a predetermined bankroll. Free Odds have no house edge and can reduce the casino’s overall advantage on the combined wager.