In this guide, you will learn about Crapless Craps, a newer form of craps that does not have the don’t pass and don’t come or the lay bets.
For most players, it is harder to win at Crapless craps, as the odds are more against them.
Casinos flaunt the benefit of not being able to lose on the come-out roll, as a craps rolled on a come-out roll becomes the pass line point, instead of losing; but it is rather challenging to make a point that’s on a craps number.
Importance of knowing the rules and strategies of Crapless Craps
Crapless Craps is just different enough from Traditional Craps. As you will learn below, the better you understand the rules and what strategies work, the better your chance of winning.
Crapless Craps rolls back the addition of the don’t pass line and don’t come box and lay bets to craps tables that took place a few years ago, giving a player dark-side strategies to play successfully on cold tables, where shooting turns are short.
But you can still make Place and Buy bets and play strategies like the Iron Cross in Crapless Craps.
The famous 3-Point Molly can be much harder to win on a Crapless table when your point numbers are the extreme outside numbers, and the 3-point Molly should be avoided when playing Crapless Craps.
The first come-out roll establishes a pass line point, except when a winning 7 is rolled.
Instead of losing pass line bets to a come-out craps roll of 2, 3, or 12, the number rolled becomes the pass line point that must be repeated to win the pass line bet.
The usually winning come-out roll of 11 no longer wins pass line bets, as 11 also becomes the pass line point.
The Crapless Craps payouts and house edge are slightly different from traditional Craps.
Payouts for bets that are available only on the Crapless Craps table
You can buy the 2, 3, 11, and 12 in Crapless Craps. The buy bet on 2 and 12 pay 6:1, while the buy bet on 3 and 11 pays 3:1. Place bets on 2 and 12 pay 11:2. Place bets on 3 and 11 pay 11:4.
The Downside of Crapless Craps
You can only win on come-out rolls when the 7 rolls, as 11 no longer wins come-out rolls. Your pass line point can be much harder to make by being on an extreme outside number. You can not use any dark side betting strategies when playing Crapless.
Explanation of the House edge in Crapless Craps
The house edge on pass line bets is 5.382% in Crapless Craps vs. 1.414% in traditional craps because of fewer ways the player can win the come-out rolls on the pass line bet and possibly have more complex and less frequently won pass line bets to win once the point is established.
With all dark side bet removed, the table has to be running warm to hot to stand a good chance of winning. That usually happens on average, about a third of the time.
The house edge on place 2 and place 12 bets is 7.1429%. The house edge on place 3 and place 11 is 6.25%.
How to reduce the house edge in Crapless Craps
My advice is to just stick to making place and buy bets when playing Crapless Craps while only making pass-line bets when they are required for you to be able to shoot the dice on your turn.
If given a choice, I’ll always choose a regular craps table to play on over a crapless table.
The exception might be when the regular craps tables are all crowded while the Crapless Craps table is near empty.
That might afford me more frequent opportunities to toss the dice while betting place and buy bets.
The Key Difference between Crapless Craps and Traditional Craps
Traditional Craps affords the dark side player the chance to play their dark side strategies when the table runs towards the cold side, while that isn’t available on a Crapless table.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Game
Crapless Craps does offer an opportunity to buy the 2 and 12 at 6:1 payoffs and the 3 and 11 at 3:1 payoffs.
I’ve seen players only buying these horn numbers, with an observed advantage of seeming able to hit those hard-to-hit numbers way more frequently than usual.
Remember
Traditional Craps offers a better opportunity to win for all players, except maybe for the few who buy the extreme outside numbers and can nail their buy bets frequently.
Differences between Crapless Craps and Traditional Craps Table Layouts
A Crapless Craps table extends the table’s point boxes, from the usual 4 through 10 to include the harder-to-make 2, 3, 11, and 12 as points.
There’s only a pass line, as the don’t pass line and don’t come box are removed, and lay bets are not allowed, so you can’t bet the dark side in Crapless Craps, giving the casino more of an edge over the player.
You also can’t bet canceling-out doey-don’t line bets (betting both sides of the pass line simultaneously). The dark side bets don’t exist on a Crapless table.
The table's odds are the most important thing to consider when playing craps.
It’s always best to choose the game that offers you the best probabilities and opportunities to win. Traditional Craps is best for most craps players.
So, should you play Crapless Craps?
My opinion: Not if you can play Traditional Craps instead.
Betting strategies
Stick to place and buy bets when playing Crapless Craps and avoid betting the high-vig pass line bet on other shooters, as it can eat into your buy-in over hours of playing.
The place 6 and place 8 bets are the best bets in Crapless Craps, because they only have a 1.52% house advantage.
Bankroll management tips
Make only minimum pass-line bets when you have to make that bet and skip the odds on that bet. Odds bets carry no house advantage, but they can be challenging to win on the extreme outside numbers.
Try to avoid making pass-line bets. Stick to place and buy bets. Avoid playing 3 Point Molly, a pass line with 2 come bets. Switch to a Traditional Craps table when possible.
Tip 1. Choose the Right Table
A 12-foot table is easier to toss an influenced toss on than a longer 14-foot table. If you have the choice, take the shorter table.
Tip 2. Learn the Etiquette
The same rules of play etiquette for Traditional Craps carries over to Crapless Craps. Don’t buy-in when the shooter has the dice.
Don’t do anything to distract the shooter in any way. Keep your hands up when the shooter has the dice. Don’t try to make late bets.
Tip 3. Avoid Common Mistakes
Don’t add odds to pass line bets when Playing Crapless Craps. Stay away from the high vig prop bets in the center of the craps table.
Bet so that your buy-in will last through at least 10 different shooters. Quit on three quick losses. Don’t let greed rule your play.
Almost all other casino table games carry a lower house advantage than Crapless Craps.
Keno is higher. Caribbean Stud and American Roulette have over 5% house advantages but are still lower than Crapless Craps.
Most other table games carry less than half the house advantage that Crapless Craps holds.
Conclusion
Some players seem to like playing Crapless Craps, but your best chances of winning are when playing Traditional Craps.
Why give the casino more advantage than necessary, where you have fewer and worse betting options? Learn more about playing craps from my expert guides collection.
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Bill Collins
Professional Craps Player
About Bill Collins
Author of the craps novel, "Vegas Fever";
20+ years of successful craps experience, consistently winning since 2003;
Professional writer of Craps guides, with numerous articles published;
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