As already mentioned in the previous chapters of this guide, the game of craps can be quite hard, especially when it comes to players who are not experienced enough. The great variety of bets and options can also be a bit scary for a player who is not used to the craps table layout and the game's rules.
The Don't Pass Bet
The Don't Pass bet is another popular wager in the game of craps. An interesting fact is that players who prefer to use the Don't Pass bet are normally known as “wrong” players as what they do looks like betting against the shooter, who is considered a “right” player.
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This is exactly why the players who prefer Don't Pass bets are recommended to keep a low profile. After all, they are the only ones to win when the rest of the players lose, and vice versa.
In fact, the Don't Pass bet is almost exactly the opposite of the Pass Line bet. Just like the Pass Line bet, it is a self-service bet. This means that players are allowed to place their chips in the special Don't Pass area by themselves without the dealer's assistance.
The essence of the Don't Pass bet is that the players who choose it hope that the dice will land on 2, 3 or 12 after being rolled by the shooter. As already explained earlier, these three numbers are called “the craps numbers”. Landing the dice on any of them, in this case, is when you win.
The Don't Pass bet is the opposite one of the Pass bet, which basically means that the player loses if the numbers 7 or 11 come out after the dice is rolled.
Players are allowed to remove or reduce their Don't Pass bet once the shooter has come-out on a point. These bets lose in case that the shooter makes his point, but they win even money if a “seven-out” is thrown by the shooter.
The Don't Pass bets pay 1 to 1 odds, which makes them quite fair. The actual odds of winning such a bet are 976:946, which is actually quite close to the even payout. In addition, mathematically this is the best bet a player could possibly choose, not to mention the additional don't pass odds bet, which would reduce the house advantage to almost nothing.
When using the Don't Pass bet, players are provided with the opportunity to make a bet on don't pass free odds in addition to their initial bet. The odds bet feature has no house edge, which is great on a mathematical point of view. Players, however, should be aware of the fact that this bet is not displayed anywhere on the craps table, which is exactly why the don't pass free odds bet is sometimes known as a secret bet.
As mentioned above, the house edge of the casino for the Don't Pass bet is quite small, which makes this type of craps bet one of the best options for players. The house advantage for the Don't Pass is 1.36% per bet made. The casino advantage equals to 1.40% per bet resolved and is only 0.40% when calculated per roll.
Possible Outcomes of the Don't Pass Bet
Several outcomes are possible when a player chooses the Don't Pass bet.
As this bet is almost the exact opposite of the Pass Line bet, the player who prefers to place their wager on the Don't Pass line wins whenever everyone else loses. And vice versa, whenever the rest of the players around the craps table are winning, the player who has placed a Don't Pass bet is losing.
If we need to put this rule in other words, by using the Don't Pass bet a player actually bets against the “natural” numbers 7 and 11. This basically means that whenever 7 and 11 come out, the player loses.
On the other hand, if a 2, 3, and 12 is rolled by the shooter, the Don't Pass bet wins.
Players who choose the Don't Pass bet should also be aware of the fact that there are some casinos that would not let them win in case a 12 comes out. The exception was needed to be made by such casinos in order for them to give the house a certain percentage on Don't Pass Bets.
In fact, such a bet neither wins, nor loses. Instead, if a 12 is rolled, such casinos consider that the wager results in a push (a draw), so they refund the money. If there is such an exception, it would be listed on the craps table layout as “Bar 12”, with “bar” meaning the same as “except” in this case.
FAQs
Yes. Don’t Pass bet is definitely a good option and not only for beginners. When followed by a maximum odds bet, it reduces the house edge, therefore offers better chances to win.
This popular game has no shortage of various tactics, described in detail in many books and online guides. However, effective methods are not necessarily complicated. Actually, betting on the Don’t Pass line and making a maximum odds bet then is so far one of the best ways to reduce the house edge.
Yes. Since it is the opposite of Pass Line bet, you can remove it anytime, even after the point is established.
First of all, many land-based casinos will gladly offer you free lessons, mainly in the mornings when they are not crowded and can afford to spend some time and teach you all ins and outs of different games.
If your neighborhood lacks brick-and-mortar gambling venues, simply take advantage of free titles available at numerous online casinos. In this case, your opportunities are unlimited since you can play when you want and as much as you like.
Perhaps, the main reason is that people often do not feel comfortable to play against other punters instead of teaming up with the rest of the table. On the other hand, craps can brag of a pretty wide range of bets, so everyone sticks with his/her own fit.
No. Placed prior to the come-out roll, it can be removed but not increased.
When you take odds, it doesn’t improve your Don’t Pass bet directly but it will reduce the overall house edge and, as a result, you will have a better shot at winning.
It is your right to make your own decision whether you want (or not) to play against the shooter and other punters you share the table with. At the end of the day, you can spend your money as you want.
Still, if you prefer to avoid a bunch of disapproving looks, follow the example of some seasoned players that find it more convenient to use the Dark Side approach when playing online.
Oh yes, they do. If used wisely, various online bonuses can be a great option not only to study and practice on the house but also get some fuel for your bankroll.
Yes. All you need is a stable internet connection that allows you to access rich libraries of mobile casinos and enjoy your favorite game on the go. Thanks to the state-of-the-art technologies, vibrant titles on your tablet or smartphone can rival their desktop counterparts in all aspects.
