The game of craps is often intimidating for the average casino goer because of its large number of available bets. The outlandish jargon used by players at the craps tables does not make things any easier for novices, but the rules are actually beyond simple.

• Ace Deuce Craps Saying
• Ace Deuce Craps Wants Four
• Ace Deuce Craps Strategy
• Ace Deuce Craps
• Ace Deuce Craps

3 (ace-deuce): Wins if the shooter rolls a 3. Yo: Wins if the shooter rolls 11. 12 (boxcars, midnight, or cornrows): Wins if shooter rolls a 12. 2 or 12 (hi-lo): Wins if shooter rolls a 2 or 12. The stickman places this bet on the line dividing the 2 and 12 bets. Any Craps (Three-Way): Wins if the shooter rolls 2, 3 or 12.

• Ace Deuce, also known as Three Craps, is just another name for rolling a 3 since the dice will always contain a 1 and 2, which is basically an ace and a deuce. This number comes up as frequently as rolling an 11 but it has better odds than rolling a 2 or 12. Really, this is a really simple bet to make and it is included as a proposition bet.
• 2 - Snake Eyes 3 - Ace Deuce 11 - Yo 12 - Boxcars 2 or 12 - Hi Lo Any Craps C and E The Horn Bet Any Seven Whirl - World On the Hop Field Multi Roll Bets: Hard Way Easy Way Big 6 and Big 8 Place Bets Lay and Buy Fire Bet.

Despite its seeming difficulty, craps is a fascinating game of chance that lacks no excitement for seasoned and casual gamblers alike. Players are provided with a huge number of wagers to choose from, including an entire category of one-roll Proposition bets. The Horn bet also belongs to this category, giving players the chance to diversify their stay at the craps table and even pocket extra-large payouts.

The trouble is the average person has no proper understanding of how this combination bet works, let alone realize the monstrous disadvantage they are up against when making it. People would frequently confuse it for the C and E bet which covers the same numbers but is different in essence as you shall discover in a moment. This section of our craps guide introduces you to the Horn bet, its odds, house edge, and whether it is a bargain for the craps player or not.

The Horn Bet in Craps Explained

When you walk past the craps table, you will inevitably see players pushing chips toward the stickman, yelling outlandish phrases like “Horn High Yo!”, “Horn High Ace Deuce!”, “Horn High Snake Eyes!”, or “Horn High Boxcars!”. These are, in fact, the nicknames of the four Horn numbers. The 2 is referred to as “snake eyes”, the 12 is known as a “boxcar”, the 3 is called “ace deuce”, and the 11 has been given the nickname “yo(leven)”.

So, the Horn bet covers all three craps numbers (2, 3, and 12) along with the 11. This is a combination bet, which means you need to post four individual wagers on each of the four winning numbers when betting the Horn. Because of this peculiarity of the wager, players are recommended to always bet amounts that are divisible by four.

The Horn bet highlights one very unique aspect about the game of craps. Players often resort to calling the Horn numbers with their alternative nicknames for the purpose of preventing confusion because 7 and 11 are pronounced in quite a similar way.

Difference between Horn Bets and C and E Bets

This wager should not be confused with the Craps and Eleven bet (commonly known as the C and E bet). The latter covers the same numbers (2, 3, 12 and 11) but offers much lower payouts than the Horn bet because there is no need to divide the wager between four distinct winning outcomes. The stickman will divide your C and E bet equally, so that one half of the wager goes toward craps numbers 2 and 12 while the other one goes toward the 11 and the 3.

The C and E bet wins when one of the four numbers is rolled and you lose half of the original stake you have used to back the other pair of numbers. The Horn is different in that you lose three individual wagers even if one of the four winning numbers shows on the next throw.

How to Make a Horn Bet While Complying with Table Etiquette

It is of essential importance to comply with the established table etiquette when making this type of wager. You should keep in mind the Horn is not a self-service bet, meaning that the only person who can place it for you is the stickman at the table.

The chips for Horn bets are placed in the center of the table’s layout and you must request the stickman to make the wager for you. You can do this either by pushing the chips toward the stickman or by informing one of the base dealers you want to bet on the Horn. Some casinos would use separate betting grids for the individual Horn numbers while others may have an extra betting grid that reads “Horn”.

Players are recommended to use amounts that are equally divisible by four, even more so if is it difficult for them to calculate fractions in their head as otherwise, they might get shorted on the payout if they happen to win.

You toss up four $1 chips toward the stickman and say you want to bet “around the Horn”. The stickman will then take your four chips and break the wager into four equal parts so that Horn numbers 2, 3, 12, and 11 are all covered with a $1 chip each. Respectively, the payout you receive depends on which individual number wins. If the shooter rolls a 2 or a 12, the casino will pay out at odds of 30 to 1 or 31 for 1, which is the same thing. The numbers 3 and 11 pay out 15 to 1 or 16 for 1.

Let’s now take a look at an example where the amount you bet on the Horn is not equally divisible by 4. Suppose, you have no dollar chips left and you decide to wager $5 around the Horn on a craps table which has a separate betting box for Horn bets on the layout. In this instance, you perform some calculations in your head and establish you are, in essence, wagering $1.25 on each of the four Horn numbers.

So far, so good, but observe what happens if one of your numbers rolls because calculating your payout with fractions may get a little tricky. Provided that 11 rolls on the next throw of the dice, your payout will be 15 to 1 (or $18.75 in this case) but the other three $1.25 bets on 3, 2, and 12 will lose. The dealer will then have to subtract your losses of $3.75 from $18.85 to pay you out $15 in winnings. The calculations will be the same if your Horn bet had won with a 3 instead of an 11.

However, if you happen to win with craps numbers 2 or 12, the Horn bet will pay out at odds of 30 to 1. Number 12 hits so your winnings from this bet will amount to $37.50. You will again incur losses of $3.75 from the other three individual wagers on 2, 3, and 11.

The dealer will subtract these losses from your $37.50 profits and the result will be $33.75. At some craps tables, the staff does not deal with cents because they do not have such small chip denominations, so instead, your profits will be rounded down to $33. The remainder is retained by the house.

There are two choices for you if you want to prevent this from happening. You can either make wagers in multiples of 4 so that you can easily keep track of your winnings or you can make use of the remainder by making a Horn High bet. Of course, requesting a $1 change on your $5 is also an option, if small chips are available, but sometimes this can be a nuisance for the craps table staff.

Betting the Horn High

Some players shy away from requesting change on their Horn bets while others are too lazy to order their $1 chips into neat stacks and prefer to use $5 chips to save time. The High Horn bet is the perfect option for such players as it enables them to choose which Horn number they want to back with their extra chip.

In such instances, the player announces “High Horn Yo” when they want the extra dollar to sit on the 11, or would say “Give me High Horn Snake Eyes” if they want to back the 2 with the remainder of their Horn wager. So a $5 Horn High Snake Eyes would have $2 wagered on 2 and $1 on each of the remaining Horn numbers (3, 11 and 12). The payouts for Horn High bets coincide with those on regular Horn bets.

Note that you have another option if you insist on making use of the remainder of your Horn bet. You can request “Give me a Horn and a Hard 8”, for example. The stickman would then put $1 on the Hard 8 and distribute the remaining $4 equally among the four Horn numbers, which means you have an extra number you can with. If Hard 8 (4-4) indeed hits, you will collect a payout of 9 to 1. In this case, you get $9 from your Hard 8, lose $4 from the Horn bet and end up with $6 ($5 plus your original $1 wager).

The Whirl Bet

The only reason why we include the Whirl bet here is that it bears a very close semblance to the Horn bet. In essence, the Whirl is nothing more than a Horn bet that also covers the 7. In other words, you make five independent bets on numbers 2, 3, 11, 12, and 7. Respectively, you need five units to make a Whirl bet. Four of these units are wagered on each of the Horn numbers, and the fifth unit is wagered on the 7.

Similarly to Horn bettors, players who want to experiment with Whirl bets are recommended to wager amounts that are multiples of the number 5 since this helps keep things easy. The payouts on winning Whirl bets when 2, 3, 12, or 11 hit are the same as those for the regular Horn bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 on the next throw, your bet results in a push because the 7 pays at odds of 4 to 1 (0 to 1). Both the Horn and the Whirl bets do not offer favorable odds for the player. We explain why in the next section.

Odds, House Edge, and Probability for Horn Bets

Gamblers love to experiment with Horn bets because they are all so interesting to play, ignoring the fact this is absolutely one of the worst wagers a person can make in the game of craps. There are only two possible combinations that result in a roll of craps numbers 2 (1-1) and 12 (6-6) so the probability of any of the two occurring is 2/36 = 5.5%. The 3 and the 11 have a total of four possible combinations, respectively 2-1, 1-2, 6-5, and 5-6, which corresponds to a probability of 4/36 = 11.11%.

Therefore, you have six possible winning combinations out of a total of 36 possible combinations and the probability of your Horn bet winning stands at 16.66%. In contrast, the likelihood of you losing is substantial at 30/36 = 83.83%.

You are probably asking yourself why anyone would make a Horn bet if they stand such a small chance of winning. Well, the main reason is that Horn bets bring lots of excitement to the game. More importantly, they offer significant returns if one of the four winning numbers shows on the table, especially if it is the 2 or the 12 where the casino offers a payout of 30 to 1. Some establishments will list these odds as 27 to 4.

Rolling a 3 or an 11 on the next throw results in a payout of 15 to 1 (or 3 to 1 in some casinos). Keep in mind the amounts the house pays you do not reflect the true odds of winning. The combined true odds for the Horn bet are 5 to 1. Meanwhile, the true odds of rolling 2 or 12 individually are 35 to 1 because there are 35 losing combinations and only one winning combination for each of these values. Respectively, the true odds of winning with 3 or 11 individually are 17 to 1.

Despite the differences in how the payouts are expressed, Horn bettors are facing a very steep house edge. You can calculate your expected return for the Horn bet as long as you know the probabilities of winning and losing and the profits you can generate from a winning bet. However, you should not forget you are making four independent bets, so you will lose three units even if you win. If the roll results in any other number but 2, 3, 12 or 11, you will be four units down.

So the calculations of your expected return with a $4 Horn bet will run in the following manner: ((2/36) x 27 + (4/36) x 12 + (30/36) x (-4) / 4 = (-0.125) x 100 = -12.5%. This means you will be $12.50 down per every $100 you wager on Horn bets in the long run. In other words, you are battling an outrageous house edge of 12.50% when betting “around the Horn”.

Is the Horn Bet a Bargain for Craps Players

It is probably apparent what our stance in relation to betting the Horn is. In itself one of the worst casino bets ever, the Horn combines four of the worst bets you can make in craps, i.e. the individual wagers on values 2, 3, 11, and 12.

However, if you do insist, you can experiment with the Horn bet every once in a while as long as you do not overdo it. The trouble is you most likely will have to spend a little extra on gas and drive to the nearest landbased casino since Horn bets are rarely available in the online variations of the game.

That being said, some software suppliers like Wagerworks and Betsoft have indeed included it on their craps layouts. The good news is you will not have to deal with betting in multiples of four or calculating fractions. You can make this proposition wager with a single click on the section that reads “Horn” and if you happen to win, the software will calculate the exact payout for you. Experiment with the Horn bet at your leisure but do not say we didn’t warn you.

You enjoy playing craps online, or perhaps land-based casinos are more your taste? Then you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get to know the most frequently used terminology related to this popular game.

Common Craps Terms Explained

Craps is quite a beautiful and amusing game. The act of rolling the dice at the craps table, along with the anticipation of whether the desired dots will land, fill your entire body with an adrenaline rush. But, in the game of craps, there is much more going on than a mere throw of dice. There are specific rules that you must understand, and follow, to not only play the game correctly but also win some significant sums. Typically, to understand the rules, you must know specific craps terminology and even slang related to this engaging game.

Even though craps terms may sound a bit unfamiliar, you will learn them in no time. Craps lingo is not as complicated as it may seem at first glance. Don’t let the craps glossary, together with its terms and slang prevent you from playing this entertaining game. Seize this perfect chance to familiarize yourself with the most frequent craps terminology and slang.

Craps Glossary

2-Way — One-roll bet placed for both a player and a dealer.

3-Way — A 3-unit wager placed by a player. One unit is placed on 3, another on 2, and one on 12.

Ace Deuce — A one-roll suggestion wager claiming the following roll is going to be 3 (the combination of 2 and 1 on the dice).

Aces — Wagering that the following roll will amount to 2 in total. This term is also known as Snake Eyes.

Action — Bets which are placed on the craps table and are currently active.

Any Craps — Betting that the following roll will amount to 2, 3, or 12.

Any Seven — Betting that the following roll will amount to 7.

Big Red — Additional term for Any Seven, as the players refrain from uttering “seven” when playing.

Back Line — Additional term referring to the “don’t pass” line.

Bank Craps — The official and legitimate title of the game. The commonly used “craps” is derived from the official name and is far more familiar.

Big 8 — A wager where a shooter will roll 8 prior to 7.

Big 6 — A wager where a shooter will roll 6 prior to 7.

Big Red — A different way of referring to wagers placed on number 7.

Black — A slang word dealers use for the $100 chip, as those chips are primarily black in the majority of casinos.

Bones — Another term for dice.

Boxcars — A slang expression indicating the number 12. It is also known as midnight.

Boxman — A supervisor sitting at the craps table among the dealers but opposite the stickman.

Box Numbers — A bet placed on numbers 4-5-6-8-9-10

(The) Boys —A slang term referring to casino dealers.

Capped Dice — Dice that were altered to favor particular figures.

Cold Dice — A term used for describing the craps table in a situation when no points are made.

Color In — An expression players use when replacing low-value chips with high-value ones upon withdrawing from the craps table.

Come Bet — A bet that is placed after the point has been established, equal to the pass line bet.

Come-Out Roll — The very first roll of the dice that needs to establish the point.

Comp — A complimentary reward or gift that is given to players on the basis of their activities.

Crap Numbers — Numbers referring to figures 2,3, and 12.

Craps — Besides referring to the title of the game itself, the expression refers to the situation in which the player rolls 2, 3, or 12 during the come-out roll.

Craps Check — Placing bets on any craps figures, along with the come-out roll, in order to avoid the pass line bet.

Dead — A game table at which no one is playing.

Don’t Come Bet — A don’t pass wager placed after establishing the point.

Double Odds — An odds bet which is double as the initial pass/come bet. The odds differ in various casinos.

Down (or Take me Down) — The expression players use to signal they want their bet to be abolished or returned.

Easy Way — An expression referring to the situation in which 4, 6, 8, or 10 is rolled with different figures on the dice.

Even Money — A situation when the bet is cashed out 1 to 1 — the players lose or gain precisely the same sum they invested.

Eye in the Sky — Video surveillance office or security cameras that monitor both dealers and players.

Front Line — A different expression for the pass line bet.

Garden — A slang expression that refers to a field bet.

George — A slang phrase referring to a live casino player that leaves outstanding tips.

Green — A slang word that indicates a $25 chip.

Hard Number — Any figures rolled in pairs. Two 4s represent hard 8, whereas two 5s represent hard 10.

Hard Way — A wager placed on numbers 4,6,8, or 10; but only if the dice come out in the following pairs: 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5.

Hi-Lo — A one-roll wager placed on 2 and 12.

Hi-Lo-Yo — A one-roll waged placed on 2, 12, and 11.

Hop Bet — Betting that the following roll will come out in a specific combination of dice, e.g., 3-5, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4.

Horn Bet — Betting that the following roll will amount to 2, 3, 11, or 12, but in multiples of 4. Every number should appear in one unit.

Horn High Bet — A bet placed in multiples of 5, where one unit is on 3 of the horn numbers, whereas two units are on the high number, i.e., 12.

Hot Dice or Hot Table — Refers to the situation in which a player is winning the game, or they are rolling too many numbers.

House Edge — The advantage casinos have over players for any given wager or bet; usually given in a percentage.

Inside Bets — Wagers placed on 5, 6, 8, or 9.

Inside Numbers — Wagers placed on 5, 6, 8, or 9.

Insurance Bet — Two or more wagers that cover each other if one of them fails to win.

Juice — The provision casinos take on particular wagers.

Lay Bet — Betting that number 7 is to be rolled prior to the placed number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9) appearing.

Lay-Out — The area on which the bets are placed.

Lay Odds — Extra odds that could be made after establishing the point, and which may win if the initial “don’t pass” bet manages to win.

Ace Deuce Craps Saying

Little Joe — A slang term used when a pair of 2s or, in other words, a Hard 4 appears.

Marker Puck — A disc made of plastic which is used for indicating the point. “On” can be seen on one side and “Off” on the other.

Mark the Point — An action the dealer performs in order to indicate the point number by placing the disc on the craps table.

Midnight — A slang term used for number 12. It is also referred to as “Box Cars”.

Natural — Numbers 7 or 11 obtained during the come out roll for the triumphant bet.

No Roll — No roll is announced when a player fails to roll the dice to the opposite end of the craps table, if they drop the dice, or if they fall off the table. This means that the roll is not valid.

One Roll Bet — A wager placed on the final result of the following dice roll only. It stops being active once the dice are rolled. If you want to go on playing, you will have to make additional wagers for every new roll.

Off — A signal used for indicating that the bets are no longer active or working with the following roll of the dice.

On — A signal used for indicating that the bets are active or working with the following roll of the dice.

Outside Numbers — An expression that refers to wagers placed on numbers 4-10 or 5-9.

Parlay — Boosting the bet sums by adding new wagers to the initial bet.

Pass Line Bet — A bet placed during the come out roll where you wager that the player is going to make the point.

Payoff — The sum obtained from a successful bet.

Payout — The odds connected with bets, or the sum obtained from a successful bet.

Pips — The dots on the dice marking the figures.

Place Bet — Betting that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) is to be roller prior to number 7.

Place Numbers — Figures 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Ace Deuce Craps Wants Four

Point — The figure that is set up by the come out roll.

Press a Bet — Boosting the bet sum, commonly by doubling the wager.

Proposition Bet — all one-roll wagers and bets placed in the middle of the craps table layout.

Puck — A marker that resembles a puck used in hokey. In craps, it serves to signal the point number of the action round.

Rack (or Rail) — A grooved part located on the craps table in which players keep their chips.

Right Bettor — A player who places bets on the pass line.

Right-Way Bettor — Participants that are betting against the shooter, expecting that the point number will be rolled prior to 7.

Seven Out — A term used for describing a situation in which a player rolls number 7, but fails to make the point. This means they lost the pass line bet.

Shooter — A game participant who places bets and rolls the dice.

Skinny Dugan — Yet another slang expression referring to figure 7. In craps, it is considered bad luck if someone calls out number 7 during the game.

Snake Eyes — A slang term referring to figure 2. It is also known as aces.

Square Pair — A slang expression referring to hard 8 (two 4s).

Stickman — The dealer who uses a stick to pass the dice to players and calls out the figures.

Ace Deuce Craps Strategy

Take Odds — An extra bet placed on the pass and come wagers with good odds (no house edge). This bet is commonly placed immediately after the initial bet.

Three-Way Craps — The one-roll suggestion bet placed on figures 2, 3, and 12 in units of 3. One unit is assigned to 2, another to 2 and the last to 12.

Toke — A slang word used for a tip that the players give to the dealer.

Two-Way Craps — A wager placed by a player that is split among them and the dealers. It is commonly made during one-roll bets.

Up Pops the Devil — A slang expression referring to a roll of 7.

Ace Deuce Craps

Vigorish — The term used for indicating casino commissions for specific bets.

Ace Deuce Craps

Winner on Dark Side — A slang phrase indicating a roll of 3.

Working Bet — A wager that is active at the moment or that is “on” for the following dice roll.

World Bet — A wager placed on the horn numbers together with any number 7.

Wrong Bettor — A player who places their bets against the one rolling the dice.

Yo or Yo-leven — An expression that refers to the number 11 to prevent any confusion people might have with the figure 7.