Hop Bets in Craps
Of the many ways to bet on a game of craps, the hop bet might be one that passed you by. After all, not all tables have a hop betting zone, making it an almost niche bet that only those-in-the-know place. It’s a unique bet that entirely rides on the specific dice combination of only the next roll.
Table of Contents:
Hop Bets: An Overview
Definition of Hop Bets
A hop bet is a bet placed in a game of craps on a single dice combination to occur. You can place multiple hop bets at once – which many hop bettors do – to cover all of the dice outcomes of a particular number. This makes these bets unique, as does being able to bet on doubles specifically for increased odds with a hard hop bet.
Most other proposition bets in craps – bar the twelve craps and two craps – can be won with multiple outcomes, and hard ways bets will remain for multiple dice throws if a seven isn’t rolled. With hop bets, each coin is only placed on one specific dice outcome for the next roll.
Types of Hop Bets
A single number hop bet is a bet on the outcomes of a set where both dice show different numbers. It returns 15:1 if it wins. There is also the hard hop bet, which hopes for the double to be rolled for that number, such as double fours on a hard hop on eight.
It returns 30:1 rather than the 9:1 on the hard ways bet more likely shown on the table. Of course, the hard way bet can take multiple rolls to win. Hard hopping covers all four hard hop bets on the table. It costs four coins, but covers them all for 30:1 odds on each.
Mechanics of Hop Bets
How Hop Bets are Placed
Sometimes, you’ll spot a hop bets section on the craps table above the proposition bets box, making it much easier to place. Otherwise, you’ll need to announce your bet.
While the dice are down and the croupier’s taking bets, you can tell them that you’ll be placing a hop bet. You need to get this down before they use the stick to give the dice to the shooter.
You need to put your chips down and say hop on four-one or hop on sevens. For the latter, you’ll need to place enough chips to cover all three combinations. Then, you watch the dice roll and see if your prop bet wins. If a hard hop bet wins – a bet on a double – it gets a 30:1 payout, while other hop bets all pay at 15:1.
Odds and Probabilities of Hop Bets
There are 36 different combinations of dice when two are rolled. A double six, for example, is just one of those combinations, while a one-two and a two-one are different outcomes. Hop bets have a two in 36 chance of landing, while hard hop bets have a one in 36 chance of coming up.
If you bet one coin on the same hop bet for 36 rolls and each result was different, you’d get 30 coins, plus your bets back, for the two variant wins on that dice combination. So, you return 32 coins from 36 coins spent.
The house edge is then the house’s kept coins (4) divided by the total bets placed (36), making 0.111. Convert that to a percentage, and you’ve got an 11.1 percent house edge. The same formula finds a 13.9 percent house edge on hard hop bets.
Strategic Considerations
When to Place Hop Bets
There aren’t any favourable situations for hop bets because every roll is randomized. The main risk assessment needs to come down to if you’d rather play for big returns even with the high house edge. You can combine hop bets to reduce the house edge, somewhat, but it’s not a bet for those who avoid long shots.
Hop Bets vs. Other High-Risk Bets
Everyone loves rolling doubles, especially in games like Snakes and Ladders Megadice, but the chances of a successful hard hop bet are low, and the house edge is especially high in the game of craps. Hard ways and horn bets are less risky and have lower house edges while offering better payouts than the usual pass line bets. If all’s even, hop bets and hard hop bets are generally not strategically favoured.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the Best Situations to Use Hop Bets?
There aren’t many recommended situations to use hop bets as the result is always a randomized roll of the dice.
How Do Hop Bets Compare to Other High-Payout Bets?
Hard hop bets compare directly to the two craps and twelve craps bets, all of which return 30:1 and are reliant on the next roll. You can find higher-paying bets on variant tables, such as with the fire bet in craps.
What is a Hop Bet?
A hop bet is a bet on a specific dice combination for a number in craps. For example, you can have a hop bet on four and back either the one and three, the two and two, or both with two bets.
Can You Hop the Seven in Craps?
You can hop the seven in craps. It’s commonplace for players to hop all of the sevens to cover the three dice combinations of the number, winning at 15:1 if a seven is rolled.
Are Hop Bets Suitable for Beginners?
Hop bets are perfectly suitable for beginners as they’re very straightforward: you’re betting on an exact dice combination being rolled next, so the outcome is very clear-cut. That said, the house edge on a hop or hard hop is in excess of 10 percent.
Can Hop Bets be Profitable in the Long Run?
A good run of hop bets can be profitable in the long run, but of course, craps is entirely random. Plus, due to the sizable returns, the house edge on the two kinds of single hop bets stands at 11.1 and 13.9 percent.
What is the House Edge on Hop Bets?
The house edge for a straight hop bet on non-double dice combinations in craps is 11.1 percent. A hard hop bet on a double to be the outcome is 13.9 percent.
How Do Hop Bets Affect Overall Craps Strategy?
Some craps players who enjoy a hop bet incorporate a hop all the sevens bet when betting on don’t pass. With three coins covering the three seven hop bets and 13 coins on don’t pass, if seven hits, the player breaks even with the one winning hop bet.