Horn Bet Craps Side Bet Strategy and How to Play
Horn bet craps wagers have been called “sucker bets” as they offer high payouts and come with an equally significant house edge. But there’s room for all craps side bets [II1], provided you have the bankroll to accommodate them and understand the odds and payouts.
So, what is a Horn bet in craps, how does it work, and what payouts can you expect?
What Is a Horn Bet in Craps?
A Horn bet in craps is a four-way wager. You place your bet on the respective space, and that wager is split between the numbers 12, 11, 3, and 2.
How to Place a Craps Horn Bet
1. Prepare your wager, keeping the Horn bet payout structure in mind (see below)
2. Choose an amount that can be split four ways
3. Place your chips on the “Horn Bet” section of the table
4. You will win if the numbers 11, 12, 3, or 2 are rolled by the shooter
Horn Bet Payout and How It Works
What is the average Horn bet payout? What does a $5 Horn bet pay? Let’s find out.
Understanding the Horn Bet Payout Structure
The payout of a Horn bet varies depending on the result of the dice:
· 2 = 30:1
· 3 = 15:1
· 11 = 15:1
· 12 = 30:1
What Does a $5 Horn Bet Pay?
A Horn bet must be split four ways, and as there are no $0.25 chips, it will consist of four $1 bets. You can double up on one of the numbers with the remaining $1 or get it back.
Assuming there is no double-up, the payout would be as follows:
· 2 = $31 total
· 3 = $16 total
· 11 = $16 total
· 12 = $31 total
Horn Bet Odds and Probability of Winning
Horn bet odds are on the high side. There are six ways to win this wager and 30 ways to lose, giving you odds of about 5:1.
You are much more likely to land a 3 or 11—both of which have two possible combinations—than you are a 12 or 2, which have just one combination each.
How Horn Bet Odds Compare to Other Craps Bets
Compared to other high-risk and high-reward bets like the Fire bet (a wager that the shooter will roll four or more successive different numbers), the odds of the Horn bet can seem pretty tempting, but it’s a different story when compared to more common bets like Pass Line and Don’t Pass.
The latter have payout odds and true odds of 2:1, creating a house edge of less than 1.5% for both.
House Edge on the Horn Bet
The house edge of the Horn bet is one of the biggest at the table, coming in at over 12%. It’s not quite the highest (the Fire bet can reach nearly 25% at some craps tables), but it’s certainly much higher than wagers like the Pass Line and Don’t Pass.
Best Strategies for Playing the Horn Bet in Craps
Before even considering the Horn bet, create a bankroll and session budget. From there, you should leave the Horn bet until you’re comfortably profitable, as you can afford to take extra risks and chase big payouts.
Don’t chase your losses with this bet; you may end up much deeper in the hole.
Conclusion
The Horn bet, as with other craps side bets, is a good option if things are going your way and you’re looking to inject some higher risk and higher reward wagers into the equation.
Proceed with caution, though, as this wager has a very high house edge, and you could lose control of your bankroll quickly if you’re not careful.
Consider playing lower house edge bets like the Pass Line and Don’t Pass while saving the occasional wager for side bets like the Horn bet.
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