Ask ten craps newcomers what separates a Come bet from a Pass Line bet and most will say \”timing.\” That’s partially right — but the real distinction runs deeper into how each bet interacts with the shooter’s roll sequence, how odds attach, and what happens when the table runs hot for several consecutive points. Getting this wrong costs nothing dramatically; getting it right unlocks the kind of structured play that keeps your bankroll working efficiently for a full two-hour session.
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The Pass Line: A Single-Point Commitment
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The Pass Line activates only before the come-out roll. You place your chip on the Pass Line, the shooter rolls, and if the result is 7 or 11 you win immediately (even money). If it’s 2, 3, or 12 — the craps numbers — you lose. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes \”the point.\” From that moment your Pass Line bet is locked: it cannot be removed because it’s now a contract bet with a house edge of approximately 1.41%. Once a point is established, you add odds — up to 3-4-5x at most Strip properties — directly behind the Pass Line. These odds carry zero house edge.
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The Come Bet: A Mid-Roll Pass Line Clone
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A Come bet is structurally identical to a Pass Line bet, but it can be placed at any point after the come-out roll — while the shooter is working toward an established point. When you drop a Come bet, the very next roll becomes that bet’s personal come-out roll. A 7 or 11 wins immediately; 2, 3, or 12 loses. Any other number sends your Come bet to that number’s box on the layout. Now the dealer moves it there, and you can place odds on top of it. The crucial detail: odds on Come bets are \”off\” (not working) on the come-out roll by default, unless you call them \”on.\”
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Why the Default Odds-Off Rule Matters
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Imagine you have a Come bet sitting on the 6 with $30 in odds attached. The shooter is about to roll the come-out for a new point. By house default, your $30 odds on the Come 6 are turned off. If the shooter rolls a 6 — your number — the flat Come bet wins even money ($15), but the odds are returned, not paid. You’ve missed a chance at a 6:5 odds payout on $30. Calling \”odds on\” before the come-out protects you in this scenario. Most dealers will acknowledge the call without hesitation; just speak clearly before the dice leave the shooter’s hand.
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Stacking Multiple Come Bets: The Spread Strategy
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A common approach for experienced players is to establish two or three Come bets across different numbers after the Pass Line point is set. If the point is 8, placing Come bets on the next two rolls could land you on the 5 and 9, for example. Now you have action on three numbers. Each has full odds attached. The risk: a 7-out wipes all three bets simultaneously — Pass Line, Come 5, and Come 9 all lose in one roll. This is the structural vulnerability of the spread strategy that no amount of pass-line-only play creates.
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- Pass Line only: one number in play, one point to survive a 7-out.
- Pass Line + two Come bets: three numbers in play, same one 7-out kills all three.
- Odds-to-flat ratio: keep it consistent across all bets; inconsistency signals poor session planning.
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House Edge Comparison Side by Side
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Both Pass Line and Come bets carry the same 1.41% house edge on the flat portion. Both accept true odds with zero house edge. The math is identical. The strategic difference lies entirely in timing and exposure. A player who uses only Pass Line bets will see fewer decisions per hour; a Come bet player generates more decisions, which statistically means more volatility in either direction during a session.
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When to Use Each Bet: Scenario Thinking
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Short session, limited bankroll: stick to Pass Line plus maximum odds on a single point. One number, maximum odds leverage, minimum exposure to a 7-out cascade. Longer session with healthy bankroll: add one Come bet after the point is established. This increases your coverage to two numbers without the full three-bet exposure. Hot table with a shooter who has rolled seven consecutive points: the Come bet spread starts to look attractive statistically — but remember, the dice have no memory. Each roll is independent regardless of prior outcomes.
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A Note on Don’t Come Bets
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The mirror image of the Come bet is the Don’t Come bet, which wins on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and ties on 12 after the come-out. Once a number is established for the Don’t Come, the bet wins on a 7-out — making the Don’t Come player quietly cheer against the rest of the table. The house edge on Don’t Come is 1.36%, marginally better than the Come bet’s 1.41%, but socially and psychologically, it’s a different game entirely.
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Putting It Together at the Table
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Before your first chip touches the layout, decide which structure fits your bankroll and session length. Pass Line alone is defensible, mathematically sound, and requires the fewest decisions. Adding Come bets expands your action and coverage but concentrates your losses on any 7-out. Neither choice is wrong; the mistake is using Come bets without understanding why the next roll is that bet’s private come-out, or forgetting to call odds on when you want them working. Those two details separate informed craps play from expensive guesswork.