What Is the Don't Pass + Lay Odds?
Don't Pass + Lay Odds is the mathematically optimal craps strategy — the lowest combined house edge of any approach at the table. You're betting against the shooter, backing it with Lay Odds that pay true mathematical odds, and grinding at 0.27% house exposure. The math doesn't get better than this anywhere in a casino.
How It Works
After placing your Don't Pass bet and surviving the come-out roll, a point is established. You can then place Lay Odds behind your Don't Pass bet.
Lay Odds pay the inverse of Free Odds — you're laying the point number, so you put up more to win less:
- Point 4 or 10: Lay 2:1 — bet $2 to win $1
- Point 5 or 9: Lay 3:2 — bet $3 to win $2
- Point 6 or 8: Lay 6:5 — bet $6 to win $5
You're putting up more money because the 7 is more likely to appear than any specific point number — your probability of winning in the point phase is over 50% on every number. Zero house edge on the Lay Odds portion.
50,000-Roll Simulation
Run the simulation below to see how the Don't Pass + Lay Odds performs across 50,000 dice rolls. Every run uses a fresh random seed — notice how individual sessions vary due to variance, while the long-run trend converges toward the theoretical house edge of 0.27%.
Strategy & Tips
The same principle as Pass + Odds in reverse: minimize your flat Don't Pass bet, maximize your Lay Odds. The flat bet carries 1.36% edge; the Lay Odds carry 0%. Shift as much money as possible to Odds.
One practical note: Lay Odds require a larger bet to win the same dollar amount compared to Free Odds, so you need a bigger bankroll to run this strategy at the same payout level. Budget accordingly — roughly 40-60x your flat Don't Pass bet for a comfortable session.
Compare with Doey-Don't if you want to access Pass Line Odds while playing the dark side. Different entry point, similar mathematical destination.
How It Compares
| Bet | House Edge | Payout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Pass + Lay Odds | 0.27% | — | This page |
| Pass Line + Max Odds | 0.37% | Varies | Lowest combined edge |
| Don't Pass + Lay Odds | 0.27% | Varies | Lowest edge overall |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | 1:1 | Best flat bet |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | 7:6 | Best place bet |
| Field Bet | 2.78–5.56% | 1:1/2:1 | High action |
| Any 7 | 16.67% | 4:1 | Avoid |
FAQ
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Practice the Don't Pass + Lay Odds on a live shared table. No signup, no download. $500 starting bankroll.