- This is probably the most popular bet in all of craps. It is a bet that
the dice will "pass" - as explained below. But first, a little
bit of terminology:
- The "Come Out Roll" is the most significant roll in
craps. It is the first roll of the dice for a new shooter, and for the
Pass Line bettor, it may be a winner, a loser, or it may establish a new
"Point Number"(described below). When it is the Come Out Roll,
the Pass Line bet wins with a 7 or 11, loses with any Craps (2, 3, or
12), and establishes a new Point Number otherwise.
- The "Point Number" is the number that the Pass Line bettor
is betting will repeat before a 7 is rolled. Whenever there is a Point
Number established, the "ON puck" will be positioned above the
number; otherwise this marker puck will say "OFF" and will sit
in the upper left corner of the board.
- After a Point Number has been established (no longer the Come Out Roll),
the Pass Line bet wins if that Point Number is repeated before a 7 is
rolled; when the Point Number repeats like this, the dice are said to
have passed.
- To summarize, the Pass Line bet behaves differently depending on whether
or not there is a Point Number established. If there is a Point Number,
then the bet wins if the dice pass (the Point Number repeats),or it loses
if a 7 is rolled (all other numbers are inconsequential). If there is
no Point Number, then it is said to be the Come Out Roll, in which case
the Pass Line wins on a 7 or 11, and loses on a 2, 3, or 12.
- Pass Line bets, once a Point Number is established, may not be removed,
but may be increased.
- When the Pass Line bet wins, it pays even money.
- Pass Line bets allow so-called "Free Odds" side bets(explained
below). In the case of the Pass Line, the Free Odds bets are placed in
the unlabelled area "behind the line" - underneath the Pass Line
region.