Understanding the Come-Out Roll in Craps

The come-out roll is one of the most important concepts to understand when learning how to play craps. It is the roll that starts a new round for the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets, and the result determines whether those wagers are immediately settled or whether a point needs to be established.

At first, the craps table can appear complicated because several numbers, betting areas, and casino terms are displayed at once. However, the come-out roll follows a straightforward structure. Once players understand what happens when the dice show 7, 11, 2, 3, 12, or one of the point numbers, the rest of the basic craps sequence becomes much easier to follow.

This guide explains what a come-out roll is, how it works, what each possible result means, how the puck identifies the stage of the game, and why understanding this first roll is essential for anyone learning craps.

What Is a Come-Out Roll in Craps?

A come-out roll is the first roll of a new round of play. It takes place when no point has been established. On a traditional craps table, the dealer uses a puck to indicate the current state. When the puck is showing “OFF,” the next roll is the come-out roll. When a point has been established, the puck is turned to “ON” and placed over the relevant number.

The come-out roll is especially important for Pass Line and Don’t Pass wagers. A Pass Line bet is resolved immediately if the shooter rolls 7, 11, 2, 3, or 12. If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point, and the game moves into the next phase.

In simple terms, the come-out roll answers one initial question: Will the line bet win or lose immediately, or will a point be established?

Once this basic idea is clear, the rest of the sequence becomes much easier to understand.

Why the Come-Out Roll Matters

The come-out roll creates the starting point for a craps round. It separates the game into two different stages: the initial come-out phase and the point phase.

During the come-out roll, a 7 or 11 is favorable to a Pass Line bet, while 2, 3, or 12 causes the Pass Line wager to lose. A roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 does something different: it establishes the point.

After a point is established, the objective for a Pass Line wager changes. The shooter attempts to roll that point again before rolling a 7. If the point appears first, the Pass Line bet wins. If a 7 appears first, the Pass Line bet loses.

This change is one of the defining features of craps. A 7, for example, is a winning number for the Pass Line during the come-out roll but becomes the losing number after a point has been established.

Come-Out Roll Results Explained

There are several possible totals when two standard dice are rolled. For the Pass Line, the come-out results can be divided into three basic categories: immediate wins, immediate losses, and point-establishing numbers.

Rolling a 7

A 7 is an immediate win for a standard Pass Line bet on the come-out roll. The Pass Line wager normally pays even money, meaning a winning $10 Pass Line bet earns $10 in winnings while the original stake is returned.

The importance of 7 changes once the point is established. At that stage, rolling a 7 before the point produces a seven-out and causes the Pass Line wager to lose.

This is why players often hear 7 described as both a good and bad number in craps. Its meaning depends on the current phase of the game.

Rolling an 11

An 11 is also an immediate Pass Line win on the come-out roll. Like a 7, it settles the Pass Line wager immediately at even money.

However, 11 does not become a point. If an 11 appears on the come-out roll, the current Pass Line round ends and the next roll begins another come-out sequence.

Rolling a 2

A 2 is commonly called “snake eyes.” On the Pass Line, it is an immediate loss during the come-out roll.

It does not establish a point, so there is no additional point phase for that wager. After the result is settled, another come-out roll begins.

Rolling a 3

A 3 also causes the Pass Line bet to lose immediately on the come-out roll. Like 2, it is one of the totals classified as a craps number in this context.

Again, no point is established when 3 appears on the come-out roll.

Rolling a 12

A 12 is another immediate Pass Line loss on the come-out roll. It is sometimes referred to as “boxcars” because both dice show six.

For the standard Pass Line rules, 12 does not establish the point. It simply settles the Pass Line wager as a loss and the next come-out roll begins afterward.

The Numbers That Establish the Point

If the come-out roll is not 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, the result must be one of six numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.

These are known as the point numbers.

For example, imagine a shooter makes a come-out roll and the dice total 8. The dealer places the puck over the 8 and turns it to the “ON” position. The Pass Line bet is no longer resolved by the next roll simply being a 7 or 11.

Instead, the shooter now attempts to roll another 8 before rolling a 7.

If the shooter rolls 8 first, the Pass Line bet wins. If the shooter rolls 7 first, the Pass Line bet loses and the round ends.

The same basic process applies if the point is 4, 5, 6, 9, or 10.

How the Puck Helps Players Understand the Game

The puck is one of the most useful visual indicators on a craps table. Beginners do not need to memorize every part of the layout immediately because the puck provides a simple clue about the game’s current stage.

When the puck is “OFF,” the next roll is a come-out roll. When the puck is “ON” and positioned over a number such as 6 or 9, that number is the established point.

For example, suppose the puck is OFF and the shooter rolls 5. The dealer marks 5 as the point and turns the puck ON. The shooter then continues rolling until either 5 or 7 appears.

If 5 appears first, the Pass Line wins and the puck returns to the OFF position for a new come-out roll. If 7 appears first, the Pass Line loses and the game moves toward another come-out roll.

Learning to read the puck is therefore one of the easiest ways for beginners to understand what is happening at the table.

Come-Out Roll and the Don’t Pass Bet

The Don’t Pass bet works in the opposite general direction to the Pass Line, although its come-out rules have an important difference.

On a standard Don’t Pass bet, a 2 or 3 wins on the come-out roll, while 7 or 11 loses. A 12 is normally a push, meaning the wager is returned rather than won or lost. If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 appears, that number becomes the point.

Once the point has been established, the Don’t Pass bettor wants a 7 before the point. If the point appears first, the Don’t Pass wager loses.

This creates an interesting contrast between the two line bets. On the Pass Line, players generally want the point to repeat before a 7. On the Don’t Pass, players generally want the 7 to appear before the point.

Come-Out Roll vs Point Phase

The easiest way to understand craps is to compare these two stages.

Game Stage	Pass Line Result
Come-out roll: 7	Win
Come-out roll: 11	Win
Come-out roll: 2	Lose
Come-out roll: 3	Lose
Come-out roll: 12	Lose
Come-out roll: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10	Establishes point
Point phase: point before 7	Win
Point phase: 7 before point	Lose

The key lesson is that the same number can have different consequences depending on when it appears.

A 7 is perhaps the clearest example. It helps the Pass Line during the come-out roll but hurts the Pass Line once a point has been established.

Why 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 Are Special

These six totals are the numbers that can become points. They are not equally likely when two dice are rolled.

A 6 or 8 can be produced in five different combinations, while 5 and 9 can each be produced in four combinations. The 4 and 10 can each be produced in three combinations. A 7 has six possible combinations and is therefore the most frequently occurring total with two dice.

These probability differences are important when studying craps mathematically. They help explain why different point numbers require different odds when an Odds wager is available.

For beginners, however, the most important fact is simply that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 can become the point.

A Simple Come-Out Roll Example

Consider a player who places a Pass Line bet before the shooter rolls.

The puck is OFF, indicating that the next roll is a come-out roll.

The shooter rolls a 10.

The Pass Line bet does not win or lose immediately. Instead, 10 becomes the point. The puck moves to the 10 and changes to ON.

The shooter rolls again and gets 6. Nothing happens to the Pass Line bet because neither the point nor a 7 appeared.

The shooter rolls again and gets 4. Again, the Pass Line remains unresolved.

Eventually, the shooter rolls 10. Because the point has appeared before a 7, the Pass Line bet wins. The point is then cleared, the puck goes OFF, and the next roll becomes another come-out roll.

This example demonstrates why the come-out roll is the foundation of the Pass Line betting sequence.

Can You Bet the Pass Line After the Come-Out Roll?

The Pass Line is a contract-style wager. In practical terms, a player can generally make a Pass Line bet before or while a point is being established, but once the bet is made it remains in action until it wins or loses.

For someone new to the table, the simplest approach is to understand that the natural time to place a new Pass Line bet is before a come-out roll.

Watching the puck is useful because it tells you whether the table is about to begin a new Pass Line cycle or is currently in a point phase.

Come-Out Roll and Odds Bets

Odds bets are a separate topic from the basic come-out roll, but understanding their timing helps clarify the game.

A standard Pass Line Odds bet becomes available after a point has been established. It is placed behind the original Pass Line wager and is based on the established point being rolled before a 7. The commonly listed true-odds payouts are 2:1 on 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, and 6:5 on 6 and 8.

The important point for beginners is that the Odds wager does not replace the Pass Line bet. It is an additional wager that becomes relevant after the come-out roll has established a point.

Common Come-Out Roll Mistakes

One frequent beginner mistake is assuming that a 7 always loses in craps. That is not correct for a Pass Line bet. A 7 wins immediately on the come-out roll but loses the Pass Line after a point has been established.

Another common mistake is thinking that every roll establishes a point. Only 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 become points for the Pass Line.

Some beginners also confuse the come-out roll with the Come bet. They sound similar, but they are different concepts. The come-out roll refers to the stage of the craps round, while a Come bet is a separate wager with its own point-setting process.

It is also easy to overlook the puck. Instead of trying to remember what happened several rolls earlier, beginners can simply check whether the puck says OFF or ON and which number it is covering.

Does the Shooter Control the Come-Out Result?

The shooter physically rolls the dice, but that does not mean the shooter can reliably control the outcome. Craps is a random dice game, and throwing techniques, dice rituals, or superstitions should not be treated as dependable ways to predict a particular result.

The come-out roll is subject to the same basic randomness as other dice rolls. A player can understand the rules and probabilities without assuming that skillful throwing can guarantee a desired number.

This distinction is particularly important for beginners because the social atmosphere around a craps table can sometimes make individual rolls feel more controllable than they actually are.

House Edge and the Pass Line

The standard Pass Line wager has a house edge of about 1.41% under conventional craps rules. That figure is a mathematical measure of the casino’s long-term advantage on the wager, not a prediction of what will happen during an individual session.

Understanding the house edge can help players approach craps with realistic expectations. A particular come-out roll can produce a win or loss immediately, but short-term results do not change the underlying mathematical characteristics of the game.

Players should therefore treat craps as entertainment rather than as a guaranteed way to make money.

Responsible Play When Learning Craps

Learning the come-out roll is useful because it removes some of the confusion surrounding the table, but knowledge of the rules does not eliminate gambling risk. Before playing, set a budget that is affordable to lose and avoid increasing wagers simply because earlier rolls produced losses.

It is also sensible to decide how long you intend to play before starting. The excitement of a busy craps table can make it easy to continue longer than planned. Taking breaks and keeping gambling separate from essential expenses can help maintain control.

No betting system can guarantee a profit, and previous dice results do not determine what the next roll must be. Understanding probability is valuable, but it should be used to understand the game rather than to create unrealistic expectations.

Final Thoughts

The come-out roll is the starting point for understanding basic craps. It determines whether a Pass Line wager wins immediately, loses immediately, or moves into the point phase.

The simplest pattern to remember is straightforward: 7 or 11 wins the Pass Line, 2, 3, or 12 loses, and 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes the point. Once the point is established, the shooter attempts to roll that number again before a 7.

The puck makes this process easier to follow by showing whether the game is in the come-out stage or the point stage. Once beginners understand that distinction, many other craps concepts—including Pass Line Odds, Come bets, Don’t Pass, and Don’t Come—become easier to learn.

Most importantly, the come-out roll should be viewed as a rule-based part of the game rather than a moment where a player can control the dice. Understanding how it works gives beginners a stronger foundation for reading the table and making informed decisions about which wagers they choose to make.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a come-out roll in craps?

The come-out roll is the first roll of a new craps round when no point has been established.

2. What happens if you roll a 7 on the come-out roll?

A 7 immediately wins a standard Pass Line bet.

3. What happens if you roll 11 on the come-out roll?

An 11 immediately wins a standard Pass Line bet.

4. What happens if you roll 2 on the come-out roll?

A 2 immediately loses a standard Pass Line bet.

5. What happens if you roll 3 on the come-out roll?

A 3 immediately loses a standard Pass Line bet.

6. What happens if you roll 12 on the come-out roll?

A 12 normally loses a standard Pass Line bet.

7. Which numbers become points in craps?

The possible point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

8. Does 7 always lose in craps?

No. A 7 wins the Pass Line on the come-out roll but loses the Pass Line after a point has been established.

9. What does the puck mean in craps?

The puck shows whether the game is in the come-out phase or the point phase. OFF indicates a come-out roll, while ON indicates an established point.

10. What happens after a point is established?

The shooter continues rolling until either the point is rolled again or a 7 appears.

11. What is a seven-out?

A seven-out occurs when a 7 is rolled after a point has already been established. For a standard Pass Line wager, this results in a loss.

12. Does rolling a point number on the come-out roll win immediately?

No. A point number such as 6 or 9 establishes the point rather than immediately winning the Pass Line wager.

13. Is the come-out roll important for Don’t Pass bets?

Yes. Don’t Pass has different come-out results from Pass Line. A 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, and 12 is normally a push.

14. Can you place a Pass Line bet during the point phase?

Pass Line is a contract wager, so once established it remains active until resolved. Beginners generally find it easiest to place a new Pass Line wager before the come-out roll.

15. Are all point numbers equally likely?

No. With two dice, 4 and 10 have fewer combinations than 5 and 9, while 6 and 8 have more combinations than those numbers.

16. Is 7 the most common dice total?

Yes. There are six combinations that produce 7, making it the most frequent total when two standard dice are rolled.

17. Can the shooter control the come-out roll?

There is no reliable method for a shooter to control or guarantee a particular dice outcome.

18. When can Pass Line Odds be placed?

Pass Line Odds are generally available after the come-out roll establishes a point.

19. Does the come-out roll happen after every point is resolved?

Yes. When the point is made or the shooter sevens out, the puck returns to OFF and the next cycle begins with a new come-out roll.

20. What is the easiest way to remember the come-out rules?

Remember three groups: 7 and 11 win the Pass Line, 2/3/12 lose, and 4/5/6/8/9/10 establish the point.