The Hop Bet
| Updated: Understanding Craps Hop Bets
Craps is one of the most entertaining casino games, and its wide variety of wagering options contributes to its popularity. When you approach the craps table, you will notice several betting sections on the layout. These sections help players place wagers on the different craps bets. While there are two identical side sections, there is also a central section shared by everyone who has joined the game.
Although the table layout displays plenty of options, one bet is familiar mainly to experienced players: the hop bet. The hop bet does not appear on the table layout, but players can still place this type of wager.
Hop bets are lesser-known wagers that new players may not be familiar with. They are similar to the Hardways, but they offer much higher payouts when successful. This guide explains how hop bets work so that you can decide whether this so-called “secret bet” is worth placing.
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What Is a Hop Bet in Craps?
Whenever you wager on the exact numbers that will appear on the two dice during the next roll, you are making a hop bet. If you want to bet on one die rolling a 4 while the other shows a 1, you can tell the dealer “4-1 hopping” or “4-1 on the hop”. This is equivalent to betting on an easy, or soft, 5.
A hop bet is a single-roll wager that applies only to the next throw of the dice. Using the example above, there are two possible combinations that would make your bet a winner: 4-1 and 1-4. While the true odds against rolling this soft 5 are 17 to 1, the actual payout for this type of bet is 15 to 1. These odds apply to any soft hop, and the house edge is estimated at 11.11%.
In addition to the easy, or soft, hops mentioned above, there are also hard hops. These are bets on combinations consisting of identical numbers. For example, if you wager on 4 and 4 hopping, it is the same combination as a hard 8. However, a Hardways bet pays 9 to 1. By comparison, if you choose 4 and 4 on the hop, you will be paid 30 to 1. The hop bet differs because it applies to only one roll of the dice.
The high payout for hard hops stems from the fact that, unlike soft hops, there is only one possible winning combination. The true odds against rolling a hard number are 35 to 1, which is higher than the payout. However, winning 30 times your stake can still appear attractive. Even with this generous payout, the house edge remains high at an estimated 13.89%.
You can also place hop bets on the dice total. In this case, you tell the dealer the total and specify that you are betting on the hop. This covers all possible combinations that produce the selected total. For example, if you place money on 10 on the hop, you will win whenever the dice roll 4-6, 6-4, or 5-5.
If you bet $2 on 10 hopping, it is similar to betting $1 on easy 10 and $1 on hard 10. If the dice roll 4-6 or 6-4, you will receive a payout of 15 to 1. However, you will lose the $1 wagered on the possibility of rolling 5-5. The same principle applies if the dice roll a hard 10. You will receive the payout of 30 to 1, but you will lose the $1 wagered on the soft 10. In short, when you hop a total, you collect the winnings for whichever soft or hard combination makes your bet a winner. Despite winning the overall bet, the house collects the corresponding wager placed on the losing portion of the hop total.
As you can see, there are different ways to place hop bets in craps, and each offers a fast and exciting outcome because it is resolved in a single roll.
How to Make a Hop Bet
As mentioned earlier, the hop bet differs from most other craps wagering options. It does not appear anywhere on the table layout, and it can be placed only verbally. This is why it is often referred to as a “secret bet.”
If you want to bet on a number hopping or on a specific dice combination, simply place your chips on the craps table layout and tell the dealer which bet you want to make. To place money on a soft hop, you should tell the dealer that you are betting on “5-4 on the hop/hopping” or another combination you believe will appear on the next roll.
The same process applies when betting on a hard hop. Simply place your chips on the table and tell the dealer that you are betting on “4-4 on the hop/hopping.” You can also bet on a total by telling the dealer something such as “10 on the hop/hopping.”
Before the stickman gives the shooter the dice for the next throw, players have an opportunity to place their bets. This is also the time to put your chips on the table and tell the dealer which hop bet you want to place. Once the dice are given to the shooter, you cannot make any additional bets.
The Odds of the Hop Bet
In craps, two dice can produce a total of 36 different combinations. If you bet on a soft hop, there are only two ways to roll the combination you selected. This means there are 34 possible outcomes in which you could lose your bet.
The odds against winning are therefore 34 to 2, which simplifies to 17 to 1. These odds do not favor the player, and the situation is even less advantageous when placing a hop bet on a hard number.
When you choose to bet on a hard hop, there is only one possible winning combination. This means there are 35 losing outcomes, giving the house a significant advantage. The odds against winning are therefore 35 to 1.
You can calculate the house edge for a hop bet on a soft number. If you wager $36 by placing $1 on the same combination across 36 rolls and assume each possible outcome appears once, you will win twice. You will keep your $2 in winning stakes and receive $15 in winnings for each of the two successful bets. This produces a total return of $32, which results in a $4 loss compared with the $36 staked. Dividing the $4 loss by the $36 wagered gives 0.1111, or 11.11%. This is the estimated house edge for placing a hop bet on a soft number in craps.
When wagering on a hard number, the true odds against winning are 35 to 1, while the actual payout is 30 to 1. Using the same method to calculate the house edge, you get 13.89%, which represents the casino’s advantage in this case. You can also hop totals, for which hard hops pay 29 to 1 and soft hops pay 14 to 1. In this case, the house edge rises to 16.67%, giving the casino an even greater advantage.
Should Players Make Hop Bets When Playing Craps?
When deciding whether to place a particular bet in craps, you should consider two main factors. The first is the house edge, which represents the casino’s mathematical advantage. The second is the payout you will receive if the bet wins. You should also consider the type of gambling experience you prefer. Players seeking excitement may appreciate riskier bets.
The house edge for a hop bet varies depending on its type. If you bet on a soft, or easy, number, you have a better chance of winning than you do with a hard hop. Easy hops consist of two different numbers, creating two ways to roll the winning combination. Although the chances are better with a soft number, the player remains at a disadvantage because the losing combinations greatly outnumber the two winning ones.
When betting hard hops, the high payout may appear appealing. A wager such as “4-4 on the hop” may resemble a Hardways bet on 8, but the two wagers are different. If you bet on 8 rolling the “hard way,” you will be paid 9 to 1. If you bet on the same hard 8 on the hop, you will receive a more generous payout of 30 to 1. However, the hop is a single-roll bet. This means that the next throw of the dice determines whether you win or lose. A Hardways bet remains active until it wins or loses, regardless of how many throws it takes to reach that outcome.
If you are looking for an exciting game of craps, placing a hop bet can make your play more interesting. A single roll determines whether you win or lose, and a successful bet can provide a generous payout. However, if you prefer a more advantageous game, you should avoid this wager because many other options have a much lower house edge.
Hop Bet Strategy
Despite not appearing on the table layout, the hop bet is still considered one of the proposition bets in craps. As such, it is one of the least advantageous options for players.
However, many players still enjoy this wager as part of their game. Some use a particular betting system to structure their play. As with every casino game, no strategy can guarantee a win, but a system can provide a more organized approach to managing your wagers.
If you are interested in hop bets, there are several tactics you can use to manage your wagers. One involves hopping 7 on the come-out roll. As mentioned earlier, players rarely make hop bets before the come-out roll. This approach is risky and is not suitable for every craps player.
A player may choose to bet on 7 on the hop before the come-out roll. This bet wins if any of the six combinations totaling 7 appears. If you roll a 7, you will collect $32. You would then keep $2 and parlay, or re-bet, the remaining $30. If you throw another 7, you will receive a payout of $160. The next step is to keep $10 and parlay $150. After the second parlay, you would have your initial bet back and an additional profit of $6. This approach works only if you manage to throw a 7 twice in a row.
Another strategy uses the Fibonacci progression when hopping 7s. With this system, you add your previous two bets and wager the resulting total. This betting system is suitable only for players with a sizable bankroll who can afford higher stakes. If you start with a $3 stake, your wagers will follow the pattern 3, 3, 6, 9, 15, and so on. A win after a short losing streak may produce a substantial payout. However, you must have enough money to continue playing through longer losing streaks.
Although hop bet strategies may not be among the most advantageous systems in craps, they can still make the gambling experience more exciting and potentially rewarding.