Pass Line Bet Patterns
| Updated: How to Apply Pass Line Bet Patterns on the Craps Table
Because craps offers many wager types, you have several options when placing bets. Of all the available wagers, the Pass Line bet is one of the most popular. It is fundamental to the game and serves as a cornerstone of craps betting. In this guide, we explain how to vary your gameplay by combining the Pass Line bet with other wagers.
This article first examines the basics of Pass Line bets. It then discusses three combinations players can use during their craps sessions: a Pass Line bet with 1 Come bet, a Pass Line bet with 2 Come bets, and a Pass Line bet with 2 Come bets and two Place bets on 6 and 8. Ultimately, players should carefully evaluate the risk and potential reward associated with each betting pattern to ensure it suits their playing style.
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Pass Bet Explained
Before looking at more advanced strategies, it is helpful to review how the Pass bet works. To begin, the Pass bet is placed on the Pass Line position on the craps table. If the come-out roll results in a 7 or 11, you win even money. However, if it results in a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. If any other number appears, it becomes the point, and the dealer places an “ON” marker on that number. The shooter then continues rolling until either the point or a 7 appears. If the point is rolled again, you win even money; if a 7 is rolled first, you lose the bet.
The Pass bet is relatively simple once you understand its rules. It generally comes with a house edge of around 1.40%, making it a relatively low-house-edge option compared with many other available wagers. It also offers a smaller house advantage than many other casino wagers that pay even money.
Examples of Popular Pass Line Betting Patterns
Having covered the basics of the Pass bet, we can examine the different wager combinations you can use during your craps sessions. Craps offers many bet types, allowing you to create numerous combinations at both land-based establishments and online casinos. Below, you will find explanations of some common Pass Line betting patterns.
Pass Line Bet with 1 Come Bet
This is one of the simplest betting patterns you can use at the craps table, making it relatively easy to understand and apply. To begin, place one Pass Line wager and back it with double odds once the point is established.
Next, place chips on Come. If the Come bet moves to a number, back it with double odds. This gives you action on two numbers at the same time, spreading your wagers across more than one possible outcome. Remember that the Come bet follows its own initial-roll rules, while the odds become active only after a Come point is established.
If either the Pass Line point or the Come point is rolled again and the respective bet wins, you may place a new wager. More specifically, after a Come bet wins, you can place another Come wager and back it with double odds once it moves to a number. Throughout this process, the standing Pass Line bet remains active until it is resolved.
This betting pattern is common, especially among newer or more cautious players. It spreads the action across two numbers while limiting the number of simultaneous wagers. Placing the bets as outlined above and using double odds can reduce the effective house edge on the total amount wagered to approximately 0.6%. However, this does not eliminate the risk of losing, and the exact result of any session remains unpredictable. A conservative pattern such as this also limits potential winnings compared with more aggressive combinations.
Still, this method can provide a straightforward introduction to combined craps wagers without requiring as many simultaneous bets as the other patterns in this guide. Moreover, the simplicity of the pattern makes it accessible to both new and experienced players.
Pass Line Bet with 2 Come Bets
This betting pattern offers greater potential for larger wins while still keeping the effective house edge relatively low. However, it also requires more money to be placed at risk. If you have some experience with craps, you may want to consider how this pattern fits your bankroll and risk tolerance.
This pattern is not too different from the one detailed above, requiring you to place a Pass Line bet complemented by 2 Come wagers, each backed by double odds after moving to a number. The difference is that you cover three numbers at a time rather than two, although this requires you to wager more money.
Much like the previous combination, the Pass Line bet with 2 Come bets keeps the effective house edge relatively low when double odds are played on all established numbers. More specifically, it typically remains in the 0.5% to 0.6% range. You should also remember that the odds on established Come bets are commonly inactive during a new come-out roll unless you ask for them to be working, subject to the table’s rules. When the odds are inactive, they can neither win nor lose on that roll.
Pass Line Bet with 2 Come Bets and Two Place Bets on 6 and 8
This is the riskiest pattern presented in this guide because it puts more money into action at the same time. It covers more numbers than the previous patterns but can also produce larger losses. In this combination, you place a Pass Line bet followed by 2 Come wagers with double odds while also maintaining Place wagers on 6 and 8. Place bets on 6 and 8 carry a house edge of approximately 1.52%, compared with the lower effective edge associated with the previous patterns. You can choose to bet on one of these numbers, both of them, or neither, depending on your bankroll and risk tolerance.
Begin the pattern by placing a Pass Line bet with double odds. Then make two Come bets, also supported by double odds once they move to numbers. If neither 6 nor 8 is covered by the wagers already in play, you can make a Place bet on the uncovered number or numbers. Set each stake according to your bankroll and the table’s wagering requirements. When fully established, this pattern can account for up to five numbers at once.
Therefore, approach the craps table knowing that this pattern may require a substantial amount of money. You should use it only if you understand the game, the wagers involved, and the potential losses. After all, this is the most aggressive betting pattern featured in this article and, as such, involves the greatest amount of money at risk. It can produce larger swings in either direction. If you are not comfortable with this level of exposure, consider using one of the other two patterns. You can also read our guide to bankroll management in craps for more information about planning your stakes and deciding when to stop playing.
Is It Worth Using a Bet Pattern?
The key question is whether betting patterns are worth using. There is no single answer. Each pattern has its own advantages and disadvantages, and every option involves putting money at risk. Some betting patterns involve higher or lower levels of risk than others. For example, the third pattern covers a wider range of numbers but requires a larger total wager. This creates the potential for larger wins while also increasing the amount you can lose.
Betting patterns do not change the random nature of craps or guarantee that one wager will recover another loss. Instead, they combine multiple wagers so that if one bet loses, another may still win. This can distribute the action across several numbers, but it also increases the total amount at risk. In the first two patterns, using odds wagers can reduce the effective house edge on the total amount wagered to less than 1%.
Betting patterns require a certain degree of knowledge to implement properly, and you must understand the role each wager plays in the overall combination. They can add variety and structure to your craps sessions, but you need to learn how a particular pattern works before applying it.
Conclusion
Having reviewed all three betting patterns, we can now summarize their purpose. Betting patterns provide a structured way to combine wagers and vary your gameplay. Craps offers many betting possibilities, but you need a clear understanding of the game before attempting a multi-bet pattern. Each wager in a strategy serves a particular purpose, and failing to understand it can lead to mistakes. Before implementing a pattern, review the relevant rules and make sure you understand how each component works.
Another benefit of betting patterns is that they provide different ways to approach craps. Because you can place multiple wagers at once, you can adjust each pattern to match your preferred level of risk. You can choose how much risk to accept and, as a result, how much money to put into action. Odds wagers can reduce the effective house edge of some combinations, but no pattern removes the casino’s advantage or guarantees a profit. Carefully review the three patterns above and decide which, if any, best suits your bankroll, experience, and risk tolerance.