Course contents
Reading the Table
The craps layout has roughly a dozen betting zones, but only a handful matter for new players: pass line, don't pass, the field, and the place bet boxes for 4 through 10.
A craps table looks intimidating because of how much is printed on the felt. Most of it is variations on a small number of ideas you already met in how to play, step by step. Once you know the zones, the layout stops being noise.
Pass line and don't pass. These run along the outer edge, closest to you. Pass line bets win with the shooter; don't pass bets win against the shooter. Both are placed before the come-out roll.
The come and don't come. Slightly behind the pass/don't pass lines, these work the same way but get placed after the point is already set, letting you start a fresh point-vs-seven race mid-round.
Field bet. A single-roll bet in the middle section of the layout. It wins if the next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12, and loses on 5, 6, 7, or 8. It resolves every roll, unlike pass line bets.
Place bet numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10). These boxes sit above the field. You bet a number will roll before a 7. You can make or remove these bets any time, which is different from the locked-in pass line.
Proposition bets. The center section, usually run by the stickman. These are single-roll bets like "any seven" or the hardway bets (rolling a double before a 7 or an easy version of that number). They carry the worst odds on the table — the best bets ranked lesson shows exactly how much worse.
If you only learn one zone this lesson, learn the pass line — it's the lowest-edge bet most tables offer and the one every other bet gets compared to.
Zone | Location | Bet type | When it resolves |
|---|---|---|---|
Pass/Don't Pass | Outer edge | Come-out based | End of round |
Come/Don't Come | Behind pass line | Come-out based, mid-round | End of that bet's cycle |
Field | Center-front | Single roll | Every roll |
Place numbers | Above field | Number vs. 7 | Until it hits or 7 shows |
Proposition | Center, dealer-run | Single roll | Every roll |
The stickman controls the dice and calls the proposition bets. Two dealers on either side of the boxman manage payouts for place, come, and don't come bets on their side of the table. The boxman supervises chips and buy-ins. You don't need to interact with any of them beyond placing bets and asking questions — dealers expect new players and will usually help you place bets correctly if you ask.
Online and live-dealer versions replicate this layout on screen, usually with clickable betting zones that highlight when you hover. The math and the zones are identical; only the physical hardware changes. Next up: the vocabulary you'll hear thrown around the table, so none of it catches you off guard.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: Craps — house edge for odds, place, and proposition bets (retrieved July 2026)
- Hard Rock Bet: How to Play Craps — Odds — pass, don't pass, come, and field bet house edges (retrieved July 2026)
- Casino.org: The Craps Table Layout Explained — table zones, place-bet boxes, and hard-way payouts (retrieved July 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Is the field bet part of the come area?
No. The field bet has its own dedicated rectangular box on the rail, separate from the come area. The come area works like a delayed pass line bet, while the field resolves on a single roll.
Why does the field bet's payout change from casino to casino?
Because casinos differ in how they pay the 12 (and sometimes the 2) within the field bet. Some pay double on 12, others pay triple, and that single difference shifts the house edge from about 2.7% up to 5.5% (Casino.org). Always check the numbers printed inside the field box before betting it.
Can I place a bet on the don't pass bar at any time?
No. Like the pass line, the don't pass bar can only be bet before the come-out roll for a new shooter. Once a point is established, you can't add a fresh don't pass bet, though existing wagers keep working until the round resolves.
Why are hard ways and proposition bets placed in the center of the table?
They're shared bets that both sides of the table can see and place, and the stickman — positioned in the middle — controls that betting area directly. It also means the highest house-edge bets sit farthest from where most players naturally rest their hands.
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