How to Play Crapless Craps: Rules & Strategy Guide
Crapless Craps (also called "Never Ever Craps") eliminates the possibility of losing on the come-out roll by turning craps numbers (2, 3, 12) into point numbers. Sounds great, but there's a catch—the house edge more than triples compared to standard craps.
Table of Contents
- What Is Crapless Craps?
- Rule Differences
- The Hidden Cost
- Odds and House Edge
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Crapless Craps?
In standard craps, rolling 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out loses immediately (craps). In Crapless Craps, these numbers become points instead—you can never lose on the come-out roll.
The Appeal
- No instant losses on come-out
- 2, 3, 11, and 12 become point numbers
- Feels safer and more player-friendly
The Reality
The 11 (normally an instant win) also becomes a point. Losing the automatic win on 11 costs far more than gaining protection from 2, 3, and 12.
Rule Differences
Come-Out Roll Comparison
| Roll | Standard Craps | Crapless Craps |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lose (craps) | Point |
| 3 | Lose (craps) | Point |
| 7 | Win | Win |
| 11 | Win | Point |
| 12 | Lose (craps) | Point |
Point Numbers
| Version | Point Numbers |
|---|---|
| Standard | 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 |
| Crapless | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Establishing Points
New points (2, 3, 11, 12) are very hard to make:
| Point | Ways to Make | Ways to Seven-Out | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 6 | 14.3% |
| 3 | 2 | 6 | 25.0% |
| 11 | 2 | 6 | 25.0% |
| 12 | 1 | 6 | 14.3% |
Compare to standard points like 6 or 8 at 45.5% win probability.
The Hidden Cost
Why Losing 11 Hurts So Much
In standard craps:
- Rolling 11 on come-out: Instant win (5.56% chance)
- Rolling 2, 3, 12 on come-out: Instant loss (11.11% chance)
You lose more often than win on these numbers, but the 11 is valuable because it's common (two ways to roll it).
Net Effect
| Event | Standard | Crapless |
|---|---|---|
| Come-out wins (7, 11) | 22.22% | 16.67% |
| Come-out losses (2, 3, 12) | 11.11% | 0% |
| Points established | 66.67% | 83.33% |
You establish points much more often, and those additional points (2, 3, 11, 12) are the hardest to make.
Odds and House Edge
Pass Line House Edge
| Version | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Standard Craps | 1.41% |
| Crapless Craps | 5.38% |
Nearly 4x the house edge!
Don't Pass Not Available
Crapless Craps doesn't offer Don't Pass or Don't Come bets. These would have a massive player advantage if the craps numbers became points.
Free Odds
Most Crapless Craps tables still offer free odds bets, but you need them more than ever to offset the terrible base bet.