Craps Dice Combinations: Guide to Probabilities and Odds

Craps dice combinations are the 36 possible outcomes created when two six-sided dice are rolled together. Each combination produces a total between 2 and 12, but not all totals appear with equal frequency, and that uneven distribution drives every betting decision at the table.

Once you know how many ways each number can appear, the game's logic clicks into place. Look, once you see all 36 combinations laid out, you'll know exactly which bets make sense and which ones are just burning money.

What are craps dice combinations?

When you throw two dice, you get 36 different ways they can land. Each die shows 1 through 6. Throw both, and you'll get anything from 2 to 12.

Here's the thing that makes craps interesting: not all totals appear with equal frequency. Some numbers have multiple dice pairs that produce them, while others have just one. A total of 7, for example, can be rolled six different ways. A total of 2? Only one way, with both dice showing 1.

Once you understand how combinations work, the logic behind craps odds starts to click. Every bet on the table ties back to how many ways a number can appear versus how many ways it can't.

All 36 dice combinations in craps

Two dice create exactly 36 unique outcomes. Six options on the first die, six on the second. That's where the 36 total combinations come from. But here's where it gets interesting: some numbers show up way more than others.

See how the numbers mirror each other? That's not random. Seven's dead center with six ways to hit. Snake eyes and boxcars? Just one shot each. Numbers the same distance from 7 have the same number of ways to hit.

Combinations for totals 2 through 6

The low numbers don't have many ways to show up. Rolling a 2? That's snake eyes only. That's the only way to hit that total.

A 3 doubles your chances with two possible pairs: (1,2) and (2,1). Then it ramps up: 4 gives you three ways, 5 gives you four, and 6 gives you five. You see where this is going.

That's why prop bets on 2 or 3 pay big but almost never come through. Less ways to hit means you won't see them often.

Combinations for rolling 7

Seven runs this game. Six ways to roll it: (1,6), (6,1), (2,5), (5,2), (3,4), and (4,3). No other total comes close to this frequency.

Everything in craps revolves around that seven. On the come-out roll, a 7 wins for pass line bettors. After a point is established, rolling a 7 ends the round and loses pass line bets. The same number that helps you in one phase hurts you in the next.

Anyone who's played craps knows the seven's gonna show up more than anything else. It hits more than any other number, so every bet you make has to account for that.

Combinations for totals 8 through 12

The high side mirrors the low side perfectly. The high side mirrors everything. Eight and six both have five ways. Nine and five? Four ways each. Same goes for ten and four with three, eleven and three with two. Boxcars and snake eyes sit alone with one combination each.

That mirror effect comes from basic dice math. Numbers the same distance from 7 hit at the same rate. That's why you'll hear people talk about 6 and 8 together, or pair up 5 and 9, or lump 4 and 10.

Probability and odds for each dice total

Once you know the combinations, you can eyeball any bet's real chances in seconds. The math's simple. Take the number of ways to roll something and divide by 36.

• Rare rolls (2 and 12): One combination each out of 36 outcomes. You'll see each one about once every 36 rolls.
• Uncommon rolls (3 and 11): Two combinations each. Still infrequent, but twice as likely as the extremes.
• Moderate rolls (4, 5, 9, 10): Three to four combinations. Regular appearances, but not dominant.
• Common rolls (6 and 8): Five combinations each. Frequent enough to build betting approaches around.
• Most common roll (7): Six combinations. Appears roughly once every six rolls.

The casino's advantage comes from knowing these probabilities better than you do. Ignore the math, and the house crushes you. Stick with bets that match the real probabilities, and you'll last longer.

Why 7 is the key number in craps

Seven shapes every aspect of craps. Six ways to hit means seven shows up more than anything. Four or ten? Just three ways each. Huge difference.

During the come-out roll, a 7 means instant wins for pass line bettors. Once a point is set, though, the 7 transforms into the shooter's opponent. Rolling it before hitting the point ends the round and loses pass line bets.

That flip is what makes craps intense. Players cheer for 7 at one moment and dread it the next. Doesn't matter what phase you're in, though. The seven still has more ways to hit than anything else.

How to use combination knowledge when betting

Once the math clicks, you'll bet totally different. No more guessing. You'll know exactly which bets have real odds behind them.

Pass line and come bets

Pass line bets work with the math on the come-out. Seven or eleven wins you (that's eight ways). Craps loses you (four ways). The odds actually favor you here.

Once there's a point, throw odds behind your bet. Cuts the house edge even more. Odds bets pay true odds with zero house advantage, making them one of the best plays available at any casino table game.

Come bets work like pass line bets, but you make them after the point's up. Same math, different timing.

Don't pass and don't come bets

Don't pass bets flip the script. You're betting that the 7 will appear before the point. Seven has six ways to hit. Most points have three to five. The math usually backs this bet after the come-out.

The trade-off? Some players feel awkward betting against the shooter, since most of the table typically roots for the point to hit. But the math doesn't care about table dynamics.

Place bets and buy bets

Want a specific number? Place a bet it. No waiting for the come-out. Six or eight are solid because you've got five ways to hit each. Four or ten? Riskier. Just three ways to get there.

Buy bets work similarly but pay true odds minus a commission. Buy bets make sense on 4 and 10 because place bets don't pay you what they should.

Best and worst craps bets based on dice odds

Some bets are trash. Others are worth your money. The math shows you exactly which bets are worth it.

Low house edge bets worth playing

• Pass/Don't pass with odds: Max out the odds and the house edge tanks.
• Come/Don't come with odds: Same good odds, different timing.
• Place 6 and 8: Five ways to hit means they come up often enough to make the payout fair.

These bets work with the math instead of against it. They won't produce quick wins, but they extend your time at the table.

High house edge bets to skip

• Proposition bets (any 7, any craps, specific hardways): Big payouts look good, but the odds are terrible because there aren't many ways to hit.
• Big 6 and Big 8: Pay even money for the same outcome that place bets pay 7:6. Big 6 and Big 8 make zero sense when place bets pay better on the same numbers.
• Hardway bets without context: Only one way to win makes these bets longshots.

Longshots are fun once in a while, but don't build your strategy around them. Smart bankroll management applies whether you're at the craps table or exploring other casino games.

Hardway dice combinations explained

Hardway bets win when you roll doubles before hitting the easy way or sevening out. For example, hard 8 means rolling (4,4) before any other 8 combination or a 7 appears.

They call it hardway because there's only one way to hit doubles, but lots of ways to lose.

Hard 4 and hard 10

Hard 4 requires (2,2). Making 4 the easy way means (1,3) or (3,1). Two ways to lose right there. Throw in six ways to hit 7, and you're looking at eight ways to lose against one way to win.

Hard 10 follows the same pattern with (5,5). Same math means same house edge on both.

Hard 6 and hard 8

Hard 6 requires (3,3), while hard 8 requires (4,4). Each has four easy-way combinations plus six 7s working against it. Better ratio than hard 4 and 10, so the house edge isn't quite as bad.

Still not favorable, but less punishing if you enjoy occasional hardway action.

Craps table calculations made simple

You don't need complex formulas to think like a sharp craps player. Just count winning combinations, count losing combinations, and stack them up.

For any bet, ask yourself how many of the 36 possible outcomes help you, and how many hurt. Payout doesn't match the real odds? That's house edge. A bigger gap between true odds and payout means a worse bet.

Learn those combination counts, and you'll spot good and bad bets instantly. That's why the math matters.

FAQs about craps dice combinations

What does ballerina mean in craps terminology?

Ballerina is dealer slang for rolling a pair of twos (2,2), totaling four. The nickname comes from "two-two" sounding like "tutu," the skirt ballet dancers wear. Craps tables are full of colorful terms like this one.

Does dice control actually improve your odds in craps?

Dice control means trying to influence rolls by throwing the same way every time. Most casino experts remain skeptical because dice are required to hit the back wall and bounce unpredictably. Some players swear by dice setting, but there's no proof it actually works.

How do online craps games generate random dice outcomes?

Online craps runs on random number generators (RNGs) that create each roll. Provably fair sites go further. You can verify results with cryptographic proof, so you know nothing got rigged.

Which craps bets offer the lowest house edge?

Pass and don't pass bets backed with maximum odds offer the best returns. Place bets on 6 and 8 are solid too. These bets follow the math, so your money lasts longer.