The big 6 is a wager that 6 will be rolled before 7. The dice are rolled as many times as necessary until the player wins or loses. If 7 comes out before 6, you lose. The big 8 wagers are processed in the same manner. Players bet that 8 will be rolled before 7. In case any other number is rolled, the dice are rolled again. In simplest terms, it is a play in craps when a player bets whether a six or an eight will be rolled before the seven. Basically, the dice are rolled until a six or seven comes up and the player wins or loses. With the Big Six, if the six comes before the seven, the player wins. Big Six and Big Eight Craps Bet. A bet on big 6 wins if the shooter rolls a 6 before a 7. A bet on big 8 works the same way; to win an 8 has to be rolled before a 7. Big 6 and Big 8 bets pay even money. CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW BIG 6 Big 8 page. I never play Big 6 and Big 8. It's just a bad investment.
Introduction
Craps Big 6 Bet
One argument that comes up a lot is how to quantify the house edge in craps. Normally the house edge is defined as the ratio of expected loss to the initial bet. However, how do you treat bets, like the place bet for example, when many rolls may be required to resolve the bet and the player can take it down anytime? Is it a push or should we assume the bet will stay on the table until resolved? Pari match com.
Personally, I prefer to define the house edge in craps on a 'per bet resolved' basis. However, for those who disagree, I present this page, which defines the house edge all three ways.
Big 6 Grand Prix
Multi-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which may take multiple rolls to resolve. The house edge is shown three ways: per bet made, per bet resolved, and per roll. Chests of plenty.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Expected Rolls | House Edge Per Bet Made | House Edge Per Bet Resolved | House Edge Per Roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.38 | 1.41% | 1.41% | 0.42% |
| Don't Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.47 | 1.36% | 1.40% | 0.40% |
| Taking Odds 6 and 8 | 6 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 5 and 9 | 3 to 2 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 4 and 10 | 2 to 1 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 6 and 8 | 5 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 5 and 9 | 2 to 3 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 4 and 10 | 1 to 2 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Place 6 and 8 | 7 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.46% | 1.52% | 0.46% |
| Place 5 and 9 | 7 to 5 | 3.60 | 1.11% | 4.00% | 1.11% |
| Place 4 and 10 | 9 to 5 | 4.00 | 1.67% | 6.67% | 1.67% |
| Big 6 and 8 | 1 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Don't Place 6 and 8 | 4 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.56% | 1.82% | 0.56% |
| Don't Place 5 and 9 | 5 to 8 | 3.60 | 0.69% | 2.50% | 0.69% |
| Don't Place 4 and 10 | 5 to 11 | 4.00 | 0.76% | 3.03% | 0.76% |
| Buy 6 and 8 * | 23 to 21 | 3.27 | 1.46% | 4.76% | 1.46% |
| Buy 5 and 9 * | 29 to 21 | 3.60 | 1.32% | 4.76% | 1.32% |
| Buy 4 and 10 * | 39 to 21 | 4.00 | 1.19% | 4.76% | 1.19% |
| Buy 6 and 8 ** | 23 to 20 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Buy 5 and 9 ** | 29 to 20 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Buy 4 and 10 ** | 39 to 20 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Lay 6 and 8 * | 19 to 25 | 3.27 | 1.22% | 4.00% | 1.22% |
| Lay 5 and 9 * | 19 to 31 | 3.60 | 0.90% | 3.23% | 0.90% |
| Lay 4 and 10 * | 19 to 41 | 4.00 | 0.61% | 2.44% | 0.61% |
| Lay 6 and 8 ** | 19 to 24 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Lay 5 and 9 ** | 19 to 30 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Lay 4 and 10 ** | 19 to 40 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (US) | 9 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (AU) | 19 to 2 | 3.60 | 1.39% | 4.55% | 1.26% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (US) | 7 to 1 | 4.00 | 2.78% | 11.11% | 2.78% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (AU) | 15 to 2 | 4.00 | 1.39% | 5.56% | 1.39% |
Footnotes:
Craps Big 6 And 8
* Commission always paid
Craps Big 6 Big 8
** Commission on win only
AU Australia rules
US United States rules
Let me add two more things, based on frequent reader comments:
- Some of these bets may not exist anywhere on earth. For example, I've never seen a casino with buy bets on a 5, 6, 8, and 9 where the commission was payable on a win only. Nevertheless, I don't know the rules of every craps table on earth. I also know that if I omit such bets, somebody will write in and take me to task for the omission.
- The table above assumes wins are calculated exactly. In other words, no rounding up or down. Let me make it perfectly clear that you can lower the house edge if the dealers will round a win up or a commission down. A common one is a 5% commission on a $25 bet is $1.25. If the casino rounds that down to $1, then that cuts the commission to 4%. Finding other situations is an exercise left up to the reader.
Single-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which are always resolved in a single roll, except the field. Thus, there can be only one way to define the house edge.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Probability Win | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 33 | 2.78% | 5.56% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 32 | 2.78% | 8.33% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 31 | 2.78% | 11.11% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 30 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 29 | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 16 | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 15 | 5.56% | 11.11% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 14 | 5.56% | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7.5 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Any seven (US) | 4 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
| Any seven (AU) | 4.5 | 16.67% | 8.33% |
Field
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 5.56%.
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on the 2 and 3 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on the 2 and 2 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 0.00%.
Internal Links
- How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
- The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
- Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
- Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
- Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
- California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
- Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
- Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
- Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
- Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.
AU Australia rules
US United States rules
Let me add two more things, based on frequent reader comments:
- Some of these bets may not exist anywhere on earth. For example, I've never seen a casino with buy bets on a 5, 6, 8, and 9 where the commission was payable on a win only. Nevertheless, I don't know the rules of every craps table on earth. I also know that if I omit such bets, somebody will write in and take me to task for the omission.
- The table above assumes wins are calculated exactly. In other words, no rounding up or down. Let me make it perfectly clear that you can lower the house edge if the dealers will round a win up or a commission down. A common one is a 5% commission on a $25 bet is $1.25. If the casino rounds that down to $1, then that cuts the commission to 4%. Finding other situations is an exercise left up to the reader.
Single-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which are always resolved in a single roll, except the field. Thus, there can be only one way to define the house edge.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Probability Win | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 33 | 2.78% | 5.56% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 32 | 2.78% | 8.33% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 31 | 2.78% | 11.11% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 30 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 29 | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 16 | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 15 | 5.56% | 11.11% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 14 | 5.56% | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7.5 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Any seven (US) | 4 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
| Any seven (AU) | 4.5 | 16.67% | 8.33% |
Field
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 5.56%.
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on the 2 and 3 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on the 2 and 2 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 0.00%.
Internal Links
- How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
- The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
- Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
- Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
- Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
- California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
- Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
- Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
- Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
- Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.
Written by: Michael Shackleford
A bet on big 6 wins if the shooter rolls a 6 before a 7.
A bet on big 8 works the same way; to win an 8 has to be rolled before a 7. Big 6 and Big 8 bets pay even money.
CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW BIG 6 Big 8 page.
Stay away
I never play Big 6 and Big 8. It's just a bad investment. A place bet on 6 and 8 is exactly the same as making a big 6 or 8 bet, but with one major difference, the payout. A bet at Big 6 or 8 pay even money but a place bet on the same numbers pays 7 to 6. That means that there is no reason to play big 6 and big 8. I recommend that you stay away from that area of the craps lay out.
