Craps Probability

Here we continue and determine the probability of winning one of the craps moves, the pass line bet. Let’s summarise the ways of winning (and losing) and the corresponding payoffs.

Dice
Roll
PayoffProbability
7 or 11
(come-out win)
1P7 + P11
2, 3, or 12
(come-out loss)
-1P2 + P3 + P12
Point 4 win1P4*P4/7
Point 5 win1P5*P5/7
Point 6 win1P6*P6/7
Point 8 win1P8*P8/7
Point 9 win1P9*P9/7
Point 10 win1P10*P10/7
Point 4 loss-1P4*P7/4
Point 5 loss-1P5*P7/5
Point 6 loss-1P6*P7/6
Point 8 loss-1P8*P7/8
Point 9 loss-1P9*P7/9
Point 10 loss-1P10*P7/10

The notations are:
P7 = probability of getting a 7
P4/7 = probability of getting a 4 over 7 (in the second throw, after getting a 4 in the first throw) etc.

The probability of winning a point 4 is the joint probability of winning 4 in the first roll and the probability of getting 4 (and not 7) in the second. Let’s calculate each of these probabilities using the reference table.

Dice
Roll
Probability%
21/362.78
32/365.56
43/368.33
54/3611.11
65/3613.89
76/3616.67
85/3613.89
94/3611.11
103/368.33
112/365.56
121/362.78

A sample calculation goes like this: The probability of point 4 is P4 (8.33) multiplied with chances of 4 over 4 or 7 (8.33/(8.33 +16.67)). I.e., 8.33*8.33/(8.33 +16.67) = 2.78. Similarly, the probability of losing a point 4 = P4 (8.33) x chance of 7 over 4 or 7 (16.67/(8.33 +16.67)).

Dice
Roll
PayoffProbabilityReturn
7 or 11
(come-out win)
116.67 + 5.56
= 22.23
22.23
2, 3, or 12
(come-out loss)
-12.78 + 5.56 + 2.78
= 11.12
-11.12
Point 4 win18.33*8.33/(8.33+16.67)
= 2.78
2.78
Point 5 win111.11*11.11/(11.11+16.67)
= 4.44
4.44
Point 6 win113.89*13.89/(13.89+16.67)
= 6.31
6.31
Point 8 win113.89*13.89/(13.89+16.67)
= 6.31
6.31
Point 9 win111.11*11.11/(11.11+16.67)
= 4.44
4.44
Point 10 win18.33*8.33/(8.33+16.67)
= 2.78
2.78
Point 4 loss-18.33*16.67/(8.33+16.67)
= 5.55
-5.55
Point 5 loss-111.11*16.67/(11.11+16.67)
= 6.67
-6.67
Point 6 loss-113.89*16.67/(13.89+16.67)
= 7.58
-7.58
Point 8 loss-113.89*16.67/(13.89+16.67)
= 7.58
-7.58
Point 9 loss-111.11*16.67/(11.11+16.67)
= 6.67
-6.67
Point 10 loss-18.33*16.67/(8.33+16.67)
= 5.55
-5.55
Overall100-1.41

No surprise, the house wins; at 1.43%