How many dice are used in craps?

Two dice - but the way two dice behave is the secret engine of the entire game, so it's worth ten seconds to see why.

Quick answer: Craps uses two standard six-sided dice, giving totals from 2 to 12. The 7 is the most common total - 6 of the 36 combinations - which is why the whole game revolves around it. One variant, Die Rich, plays with just a single die.

Two dice, 36 combinations

Two six-sided dice produce 36 equally likely combinations but only 11 totals, and they're not equal. There's exactly one way to roll a 2 (snake eyes) and one way to roll a 12 (boxcars), but six ways to roll a 7. That pyramid of probabilities is why 7 wins the come-out but ruins the point phase, and why payouts differ on every number.

Why 7 rules the table

A 7 appears on 6 of 36 combinations - once every six rolls on average - more than any other total. Every bet on the table is priced around it: the 6 and 8 (five combinations each) are the safest points, while the 4 and 10 (three each) pay the best odds because the 7 beats them twice as often. Understanding the 36-combination chart is understanding craps.

The one-die exception

Die Rich Craps strips the game down to a single die: a 6 wins the come-out, a 1 loses, and 2 through 5 becomes your point - roll it again before a 1 to win. It's a fun way to feel the come-out/point rhythm with the simplest possible dice math. Every other variant here, from Street Craps to Hazard, uses the classic pair.

Try one-die craps - Die Rich

Related questions

What is Die Rich Craps?

Die Rich is craps played with one die instead of two. On the come-out a 6 wins even money and a 1 loses; anything else - 2, 3, 4 or 5 - becomes your point, which you must roll again before a 1 shows. It's the fastest, simplest table on the site.

How do you play craps?

Place a bet on the pass line and roll two dice. On that first roll a 7 or 11 wins, a 2, 3 or 12 loses, and any other total becomes your point. Then keep rolling: make the point before a 7 and you win; roll a 7 first and the round is lost.

What are the odds in craps?

It depends entirely on the bet. Odds bets have zero house edge, the pass line gives up just 1.41% and don't pass 1.36%, while one-roll props like Any 7 cost 16.67%. Knowing this table is the single most useful piece of craps knowledge.