Understanding the Mechanics of Come and Don't Come Bets

Come and Don't Come bets are essentially Pass Line and Don't Pass bets made after a point has been established, and they move to their own “mini-point” once the next roll is not an immediate win or loss. If you place a Come bet when the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the next roll, the Come bet wins immediately; if the next roll is 2, 3, or 12, the Come bet loses (12 is a push in many casinos on the Come). If the next roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the Come bet’s individual point and the Come bet is placed on that number. From then on, you are backing that particular point: if the shooter rolls that number before a 7, your Come bet wins; if a 7 comes first, your Come bet loses. The Don't Come is the mirror image: a 2 or 3 on the next roll wins, 7 or 11 loses, and 12 is often a push; if a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled, it becomes the Don't Come’s point and you are betting that a 7 will appear before that point is made.

A useful way to think about Come bets is that each is a separate Pass Line wager with its own timeline. That means you can have many Come bets active simultaneously on different numbers, each with its own odds. This modularity is powerful: you can diversify exposure across numbers and layer odds behind each, increasing potential returns without changing the house edge on the flat Come or Don’t Come portion. Casinos also allow you to take "free odds" on these bets: after a Come bet becomes a point, you can place an additional odds bet behind it, which pays true odds with no house edge. Mastering the timing — when to place a Come or Don't Come versus when to simply take odds on existing points — is a core mechanical skill that influences expected value and volatility.

Odds, Probabilities, and House Edge Explained

Understanding the exact probabilities and payoffs for each number is essential to optimizing Come and Don't Come play. The raw Pass/Come bet has a built-in house edge because the payouts on wins are not true to the actual probabilities of rolling particular numbers before a 7. The house edge for Pass/Come bets is about 1.41%, and for Don’t Pass/Don’t Come it’s slightly better at about 1.36% due to the 12 push rule in many casinos. Where skillful play reduces effective house cost is the odds bet: casinos pay true odds on odds bets (for example, 2:1 on the 4/10, 3:2 on the 6/8, and 6:5 on the 5/9, depending on the casino), meaning there is no house edge on that portion. Combining a small flat Come/Don't Come bet with a larger odds stake effectively dilutes the house edge.

Probabilities for hitting a point before a 7 vary significantly by number. For instance, the chance of rolling a 4 before a 7 is 3/9 (25%), while for a 6 it’s 5/11 (~45.45%). These relative probabilities directly determine the fair odds: the 4/10 should pay 2:1, 5/9 should pay 3:2, and 6/8 should pay 6:5 (common casino payouts vary but should match these ratios to be true odds). Since Come and Don't Come bets each become a point with those same probabilities, you should allocate odds proportionally if you’re aiming to minimize house edge per dollar risked.

Another numerical nuance: the Don't Come has a slightly lower house edge on the flat bet because a 2 and 3 result in immediate wins while 12 is a push (in many casinos), versus Come where 12 is a loss. This asymmetry makes the Don't Come marginally better mathematically, but it is psychologically different because you’re rooting for a 7 to appear, often while the shooter is still rolling, which some players find counterintuitive. Knowing these numbers helps you decide whether to prioritize Don't Come with heavier odds (to capitalize on its tiny edge) or to use Come bets for compatibility with shooter momentum and betting aesthetics.

Strategies and Bankroll Management for Consistent Play

A practical strategy for most players blends conservative flat Come/Don't Come bets with aggressive odds behind those points. Because odds bets carry no house edge, increasing their proportion relative to the flat bet improves expected value. For example, a common conservative plan is to place a small $5 Come bet and then lay $20–$25 in odds behind it (if the casino allows 4x or 5x odds). This approach reduces the overall house edge on your total wager while keeping your base bet small to limit variance. If you prefer lower variance, you can use Don’t Come with odds — it offers the same advantage but often feels less emotionally satisfying.

Bankroll sizing is critical. Decide on a session bankroll and use units tied to the flat bet, not the odds. Because you can layer odds that are several times the flat bet, looking only at table minimums can be deceiving. For example, if you intend to take 10x odds on a $5 flat bet, your effective exposure per point is $55; losing several points in a row can drain your bankroll quickly if you haven't planned for it. A conservative rule is to have at least 50–100 times your flat bet available for a session, more if you plan to use high odds or play in a volatile streak.

Betting sequencing matters too. Many experienced players recommend entering Come bets after a few rolls post-point to avoid early 7-outs; others like to wait for the shooter to demonstrate “hot” behavior (consistent point rolls) before committing larger odds. Another strategy is to stagger Come bets so not all points are active at once, thereby smoothing variance. Finally, use stop-loss and stop-win thresholds: decide ahead of time when to walk away from a table to preserve profits or limit losses. Discipline with these rules separates recreational bettors from consistent, disciplined players.

Common Mistakes, Table Etiquette, and Advanced Tips

Several common mistakes undermine otherwise solid Come/Don't Come strategies. One is over-leveraging by taking maximum allowed odds without sufficient bankroll or risk controls. While odds are mathematically favorable, large odds amplify variance and can lead to rapid bankroll swings. Another mistake is emotional switching — chasing a hot shooter with larger bets or switching from Don't Come to Come because of table energy; these behaviors often increase losses because they abandon pre-planned edge management.

Table etiquette also matters and can even affect your comfort at the table. Always place Come and Don't Come bets in the appropriate area (the box marked “Come”) and avoid obstructing dealers by asking for odds to be placed behind the point stick. Signal to the dealer clearly where you want odds placed — push the odds chips behind the Come bet, and never place chips directly on the layout area the dealer uses to pay. When laying Don't Come odds, some dealers prefer specific chip placement to avoid confusion. Tip dealers politely if they help manage multiple odds for you during busy times.

Advanced players use combinations and controlled staking to shape variance and expected returns. For instance, pairing a small Pass Line or Come bet with a larger Don't Come on other numbers hedges exposure while exploiting slight edges. Some skilled players memorize house limits and payout structures at different casinos and choose venues with higher allowed odds (10x or 100x in some high-limit rooms) because those give the best effective house edge when odds are used. Also consider situational play: when you have a short target session (e.g., a half-hour), favor higher volatility with larger odds to chase value; for longer sessions, prefer steadier, lower-variance sizing.

In summary, Come and Don't Come bets are versatile tools in a craps player's arsenal. Mastering their mechanics, combining them with properly sized odds, managing bankroll, and avoiding common pitfalls will improve both your enjoyment and your expected results over many sessions.