What is the come-out roll?

Every round of craps opens with one make-or-break throw. The come-out roll either settles the round on the spot or sets up the chase that gives craps its drama.

Quick answer: The come-out roll is the first roll of a new craps round. For pass line bettors, a 7 or 11 wins instantly, a 2, 3 or 12 (craps) loses, and any other total - 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 - becomes the point that the shooter then tries to repeat before rolling a 7.

The three outcomes

Bet the pass line, then roll. A 7 or 11 is a natural - pass wins even money immediately. A 2, 3 or 12 is craps - pass loses (don't pass wins on 2 and 3, and pushes on 12). Any other total - 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 - doesn't end anything: it becomes the point, and the round moves to phase two.

The puck tells you the phase

Watch the puck. When it shows OFF, the next roll is a come-out. When a point is set, the puck flips to ON and sits on the point number, and the table changes character: now 7 is the enemy instead of an instant winner. That flip also switches which bets are working - place bets, for example, only work while a point is on.

Why the come-out favors the shooter

On the come-out, the pass line has 8 winning combinations (six 7s, two 11s) against just 4 losers (2, 3 and 12 combined) - it's the best moment the bet ever has. The catch is that most come-outs set a point instead, where the 7's frequency turns against you. That built-in seesaw is exactly why the pass line edge nets out to only 1.41%.

Roll a come-out now

Related questions

What is the point in craps?

The point is the number set when the come-out roll lands on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The puck flips to ON, and the shooter tries to roll that number again before a 7 - make it and the pass line wins, seven-out and it loses.

What is the pass line?

The pass line is the main bet in craps - the one the whole table plays together. It wins even money on a come-out 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise wins if the point is rolled before a 7. Its 1.41% house edge is among the best in any casino.

What is a seven-out?

A seven-out is when the shooter rolls a 7 while trying to make a point. It loses the pass line, wins don't pass, sweeps most working bets off the table and passes the dice to the next shooter. It's the single most consequential roll in craps.