| Die 2: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
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How to Use the Visualizer
The heat map displays all 36 equally likely outcomes of two fair dice. The row corresponds to the first die and the column to the second. Select a training mode to emphasize combinations relevant to a particular craps scenario. For example, the pass line mode highlights the eight ways to roll a natural (7 or 11) on the come-out roll, while the don't pass mode shows the three ways to win immediately with 2 or 3.
The point cycle mode illustrates the tug-of-war between a point number and the seven once a point is established. Pick a point such as 6 to see the five winning combinations for the shooter contrasted with the six seven-outs. Proposition spotlight mode focuses on single-roll or hardway bets so you can internalize why flashy payouts come with steep house edges.
Connecting the Dots
Visualizing outcomes helps bridge the gap between abstract percentages and real dice results. Counting highlighted squares reinforces why certain bets are more volatile than others. For instance, Any 7 lights up six cells versus thirty losing ones, which matches the 1-in-6 hit rate. Hard 6 shows only a single winning cell against ten losers, explaining the 9:1 payout and 9.09% house edge.
Use the tool as a quick refresher before a casino visit or as a teaching aid for new players. Pair it with the house edge explorer to see how the combinatorics translate into expected losses, and with the session simulator to observe how those probabilities play out over time.
Come-Out Roll Strategy
When a round of craps begins, the come-out roll determines whether the pass line bet wins immediately, loses on a craps number, or sets a point. The visualizer’s pass and don’t pass modes highlight these outcomes: naturals (7 or 11) appear in green, craps numbers (2, 3, 12) in red, and neutral point numbers in blue. Practicing this view helps players memorize that pass line bettors have eight winning combinations versus four immediate losers, while the opposite holds for don’t pass players. Knowing these counts makes it easier to explain to friends why the house advantage is modest on the pass line yet steeper on the don’t pass because of the 12 pushing rather than winning.
Point Cycle Probabilities
Once a point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until they repeat the point or roll a seven. The point race mode turns the grid into a race track: all combinations producing the point glow in green while the six combinations that sum to seven glow in red. You can watch how the relative counts shift. Points of 4 and 10 have only three ways to win versus six ways to seven-out, whereas 6 and 8 have five winning combos to six losing combos. These ratios feed directly into the free odds payouts; the tool makes the arithmetic visually obvious, reinforcing why players stack more odds behind the six or eight.
Proposition Bets Under the Microscope
Proposition bets entice newcomers with high payouts but they are fueled by rare combinations. When you choose a prop from the menu, the heat map colors the winning cells bright green and the losing cells red, while neutral results remain pale. The sidebar text lists the exact hit rate and house edge so you can compare hardways against one-roll bets like Any Craps. Spend a few minutes swapping between options and counting the glowing squares; the exercise cements that Hard 6 hits just 1 time in 36, Any 7 hits 6 times, and the Field has seven winning cells but a lower payout on its most common winners.
Building a Practice Routine
Use the visualizer as part of a spaced-repetition study plan. Start in sum mode and challenge yourself to predict how many combinations yield each total before revealing the highlight. Move to pass line and don’t pass modes to test your understanding of the come-out roll. Finally, quiz yourself on proposition bets until you can recall hit rates without hesitation. Consistent practice improves table awareness, letting you focus on bankroll discipline and social dynamics rather than scrambling to remember odds.
Mathematics Behind the Scenes
The script enumerates all ordered dice pairs with values from 1 to 6. For each pair it computes the sum, checks for doubles, and classifies the outcome according to the selected mode. Probabilities reported in the analysis panel are fractions of 36, the total number of ordered pairs. When a mode distinguishes between come-out winners, losers, and pushes, the tool normalizes each count to show both absolute frequency and percentage. This approach mirrors the combinatorial analysis performed in gambling math texts but presents it interactively.
Limitations and Extensions
The heat map assumes fair six-sided dice and ignores table-specific rules such as the Fire Bet or bonus side wagers. It also does not simulate bankroll fluctuations; for that, pair the tool with the Craps Session Simulator. Future extensions might add customizable payouts or track which combinations correspond to complex bets like the Iron Cross. For now the visualizer excels at teaching core probabilities and helping players internalize why casinos encourage proposition bets while seasoned shooters focus on low-edge wagers.