The Small, Tall, and All Bets
T he Small, Tall, and All bets are fairly new to the craps table, but they’re quickly making their way onto the layouts in casinos across the country. And with good reason. These bets are addictive, especially when players see the bettor win and get paid a hefty payoff. The minimum bet amount is usually only $1, which is very tempting for any player, even the most disciplined and conservative, when the table is heating up and shooters are rolling lots of numbers.
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It’s interesting to watch and listen to the players at the table because it seems these bets get most of the attention. After almost every roll, the first thing the players talk about is whether the number rolled has been covered for the Small and Tall bets. For example, if the number just rolled has already been covered, a player might say, “Oh, man, we don’t need that number!” But if the number just rolled has not yet been covered, the table shouts in unison, “Yeah, way to go, good number!” This is especially true for the hardest-to-make numbers, which are 2, 3, 11, and 12. Even on the come-out roll, a Pass Line bettor will cheer when a craps is rolled, even though he loses the Pass Line bet. He’s more excited that one of the hard-to-make Small-Tall numbers is now covered than he is bummed that he lost his Pass Line bet. It’s an amazing phenomenon to watch at the table.
The bets win if all numbers in the set are rolled, or “covered,” before a 7 appears at any time. Once the first roll of a new Small, Tall, or All bet is made, the bet is “frozen” to the player. That means you can’t take down the bet or temporarily turn it off, and you can’t press the bet. Once you make the bet, you can’t do anything with it except wait until you either win (i.e., all numbers in the set are rolled before a 7 appears) or lose (i.e., a 7 appears at any time before all the numbers in the set).
What makes the bets so attractive is the big payoff. The odds of making the Small set of numbers compared to making the Tall set are exactly the same, so the payoff is the same for each bet, which is 34:1. The payoff for the All bet is 174:1. That’s right! 174:1. For a measly dollar, you get the chance to win $174. If you want to go bold and bet $2 on the All, you have a chance to win $348. And let’s suppose the previous shooter made you a lot of money and your chip rack is full of green and red chips, you might feel cocky and go even bigger than $2 by tossing in one of those red chips for an All bet on the next lucky shooter. With a $5 All bet, you have the chance winning a whopping $870 (i.e., 174 x $5 = $870). Do you see why this bet is becoming so popular?
Don’t get too excited. You’re not going to win ga-zillions of dollars off this bet. Why not? The house advantage for all three of these bets is a little less than 8 %, which means they fall into the category of sucker bets. (NOTE: More precisely, the Small and Tall house advantage is about 7.76 %, and the All house advantage is about 7.99 %.) Therefore, we here at the Crapspit suggest that you don’t make a habit of playing these sucker bets. Yes, they can be fun and exciting, but the chances of winning aren’t that great.
We at the Crapspit typically make these bets only after the previous shooter has had a hot roll and our chip rack is overflowing. Even with a full chip rack, our bet amount is never more than $5. Sometimes, we make a $1 Small, Tall, or All bet for the dealers, which is a small price to pay for an occasional “thank you” to the dealers for their hard work.
The table crew keeps track of the players’ Small, Tall, and All bets the same way they track all other bets, which is by positioning the players’ chips inside the Small, Tall, or All rectangles on the layout according to the players’ positions at the table (refer to our other articles for an explanation of table position and how the dealers position chips on the layout).
Let’s look at a brief scenario to ensure you understand how these bets work.
1. The shooter rolls a losing 7-out and the game ends.
2. You’re the next shooter and you can feel it in your bones that you can hit either the Small or the Tall, so you toss two $1 chips to the Stickman and say, “Gimme some of that Small and Tall!” The Stickman responds, “What about the All?” You wisely say, “No thanks, I can’t afford another dollar.”
NOTE: Let’s clarify what you’ve done by tossing the Stickman two $1 chips. You now have a $1 bet that you’ll roll the Small set of numbers (i.e., the 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) before a 7, and you have a $1 bet that you’ll roll the Tall set of numbers (i.e., the 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) before a 7. Let’s continue the scenario.
3. You roll a 3 on the come-out, which is a craps, so you lose your Pass Line bet. The table cheers because you rolled one of the hard-to-make Small numbers, even though they all lost their Pass Line bets. Because you rolled a 3, the Boxman uses a button to cover the little circle labeled “3.” It’s still your turn to shoot, so you make another Pass Line bet.
NOTE: Refer to the figure below for the location of the Small, Tall, and All bets on the layout. As each number is rolled, the Boxman puts a corresponding little button in the appropriate little circle. The Boxman has 10 little buttons numbered 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. In this scenario, your first roll was a 3, so the Boxman puts the button labeled “3” inside the little circle labeled “3.” As each number is rolled, the Boxman puts the appropriately numbered button in the corresponding little circle. By placing buttons in the little circles, everyone at the table can see what numbers have been rolled and what numbers are still needed to win the bets.
4. Since you rolled a craps to lose the last game, you now roll again to start a new game (i.e., you make another come-out roll). You roll a 7. Normally, the table cheers because 7 on the come-out is a winner for the Pass Line. But, alas, things are no longer normal in the craps universe since the creation of the Small, Tall, and All bets. Although they won their Pass Line bets, they boo you for rolling a 7 because their Small, Tall, and All bets lose. Remember, if a 7 appears at any time before all the numbers in the set, then the bet loses. The Boxman removes the little button labeled “3” so none of the Small or Tall numbers are covered. Since all the Small, Tall, and All bets lost when you rolled the 7, a new round of Small-Tall-All bets can start so the Stickman barks, “Anyone want their Small, Tall, and All bets back up?” You still feel lucky, so you toss him two more $1 chips.
5. You roll a 5 on the come-out for the next game; therefore, the point for this game is 5. Because you rolled a 5, the Boxman puts the button labeled “5” in the little circle labeled “5” in the Small rectangle. Now, you have one of the Small numbers covered with the 5. All you need to do is roll a 2, 3, 4, and a 6 before rolling a 7 to win your Small bet.
6. You roll another 5 and the game immediately ends with a Pass Line winner (i.e., you rolled your point number, so the Pass Line wins). In terms of your Small bet, the 5 is already covered, so rolling another 5 doesn’t mean anything to your Small bet. You prepare to roll the come-out for the next new game.
7. You roll a 12 on the come-out, which is a craps and a loser for the Pass Line. But by rolling a 12, you covered the 12 on your Tall bet. The Boxman puts the button labeled “12” in the little circle labeled “12” in the Tall rectangle.
8. You roll the come-out for the next game by rolling a 4. The point for this new game is 4. The Boxman puts the 4 button in the 4 circle for the Small. Now, you your Small bet has covered the 4 and 5. All you need are the 2, 3, and 6 to win the Small bet.
9. You roll a 5. A 5 means nothing to both your Pass Line bet and Small bet (you already have the 5 covered for the Small).
10. You roll an 11. An 11 means nothing to your Pass Line bet, but now you covered the 11 in the Tall bet. Now, your Tall bet has covered the 11 and 12. You keep rolling.
11. You roll 2. A 2 means nothing to your Pass Line bet, but it’s a big deal for your Small bet because 2 is the hardest of the Small numbers to roll. Woohoo! The table cheers because you covered the 2 for the Small bet. Now, all you need are a 3 and 6 to win the Small bet.
12. You roll a 5. A 5 means nothing to your Pass Line and your Small bets (you already have the 5 covered for the Small). Everyone shouts, “What’s with all the fives? We don’t need any more fives, roll a damn 3.”
13. Wonders never cease, you roll a 3. Everyone at the table screams, “Yeah, way to go!” Now, your Small bet has covered the 2, 3, 4, and 5. The only Small number uncovered is the 6. All you need is a 6 to win your Small bet.
14. You roll a 4. You hit your point, and the game is over, but your Small bet is still up and working because you still have not rolled a 7. Because you hit your point, you continue as the shooter and you prepare to roll the come-out roll for a new game. You roll a 10 on the come-out, so the point for this game is 10. Because you rolled a 10, the Boxman covers the little circle labeled “10” for the Tall with the little button labeled “10.” Now, your have the 10, 11, and 12 covered for your Tall bet.
15. You roll a 6. Hallelujah! The table screams and claps. Now, all Small numbers are covered, so you win $34 for your $1 bet (the payoff for the Small and Tall bets is 34:1). But the fun isn’t over yet! You’re still working on the Tall bet.
16. You roll a 10 to hit your point. Woohoo! You’re on fire! After the dealers pay everyone’s Pass Line winners, you prepare to roll the come-out for a new game. The table is cheering you on, “Come on, give us an eight or a nine!” They want you to hit one of the two remaining uncovered Tall numbers. You roll the dice. The anticipation builds as everyone watches them tumble toward the back wall. They show a 7. Everyone shouts disappointedly, “No!” The 7 is a winner for everyone’s Pass Line because it was the come-out roll, but the 7 makes everyone’s Tall and All bets lose. The Boxman removes the buttons from all the Small and Tall numbers, and the Stickman barks, “Does anybody want to come back up on the Small, Tall, and All?” If you want to get in on the action for the Small, Tall, and All bets, you must do it now before the dice are rolled again, because once the dice are rolled after a 7 appears at any time, the Small-Tall-All bets are locked and you can’t get in on the action. If you want to make a Small-Tall-All bet, you must make it before the shooter rolls the dice again.
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Comments 14
Just read a fine explanation of small, tall and all. I have a question can you just bet one let’s say just the tall. ?
Joe, thanks for the question. Yes, you can make one bet, two bets, or all three bets unless the casino has an unusual rule against it. Simply ask the dealer and she’ll be happy to clarify it for you (never be embarrassed or afraid to ask the dealer for help). If you toss in $1 for the Small, you might as well toss in another $1 for the Tall. And while you’re at it, heck, the All is only another dollar! If you’re drunk enough to toss $1 chips to the casino, you might as well go all the way! The casino loves to hear a player say, “What the heck, it’s only a dollar!” It’s fun when these bets win, but don’t expect to come out a winner over time.
What happens to the bets after the All is hit? Does it all start over with bets still up to win, and other players can get in on the action?
Hi, Crapping Hard, I just returned from Biloxi where this situation occurred. (Earlier post about Biloxi https://www.crapspit.org/boomtown-casino-biloxi-boom-bust/) I wasn’t on the bet because our favorite Biloxi casino recently implemented a $5 minimum on the Small, Tall, and All bets. I only occasionally play those bets for $1 each, usually when I’ve had too many beers, but never for $5 each. Unfortunately for me because I wasn’t on it, during one of the sessions I played, the $5 All hit and the table went crazy (and since the All hit, that means the $5 Small and $5 Tall hit, too). Now, to your question…once a new round of Small, Tall, and All bets are made and then a roll occurs, a player cannot get in on them until the shooter rolls a 7 (i.e., the bets are closed to new bettors), even if the Small, Tall, and/or All hit. Therefore, as was the case at our favorite Biloxi casino, if the All hits, then the Small, Tall, and All remain closed to all players until a 7 appears. You’d probably want to continue making the next round of Small, Tall, and/or All bets on this shooter since the shooter is obviously on fire because he made the All. It’s possible, but unlikely, that a new round of Small, Tall, and All bets could become available to the table while the hot shooter keeps the dice. Suppose the shooter makes the All and on the very next roll he makes the point. Then, on the come-out roll, he rolls a natural 7. The shooter doesn’t lose the dice, but he rolled a 7, so now the table can make the next round of Small, Tall, and/or All bets. The hot shooter continues rolling and everyone hopes he hits the All for a second time in a row. As noted, this exact scenario recently played out at our favorite Biloxi casino. Unfortunately for the table, the shooter didn’t hit any of the Small, Tall, or All bets the second time around. Good luck and have fun at the tables!
Let’s say I bet the tall and all that is needed is the 10, would laying the 10 be a wise bet to ensure a win either way?
Len, that’s an interesting question. The answer depends on how much you bet and, more importantly, whether you’re satisfied with a guaranteed net win versus the possibility of winning more than if you didn’t hedge. Let’s look at two examples, both with the following general assumptions: (1) the table minimum is $5; (2) the minimum Tall bet is $1; and (3) the casino allows you to make a $10 Lay bet on the 10 (i.e., some casinos don’t allow you to Buy the 10 for less than $20 or $25, even on a $5 table, so some casinos may also have similar minimums for Lay bets).
Example #1: $1 Tall bet with a $10 Lay bet. If a 7 shows, you lose $1 for the Tall, and you win $5 for the Lay but you pay a $1 vig on the win, so you net $3. If a 10 shows, you lose the $10 Lay and win $34 for the Tall, so you net $24. The question you have to answer for yourself is, by protecting the Tall and winning a net $3 worth risking the $1 Tall alone and winning an extra $10 if the 10 hits? For me, that’s a tough question. All previous rolls are what I call “sunk” and have no effect on future rolls. So, it boils down to whether I risk that $1 Tall bet by itself to net an additional $10 if a 10 hits. The odds are 2:1 that a 7 will appear before a 10, but I risk only $1 to win an additional $10. Your dilemma is, do you take a smaller guaranteed net win by making the Lay bet, or do you leave the $1 at risk to net $10 more if a 10 shows?
Example #2: $1 Tall bet with a $40 Lay bet. If a 7 shows, you lose $1 for the Tall, and you win $20 for the Lay but you pay a $1 vig on the win, so you net $18. If a 10 shows, you lose the $40 Lay and win $34 for the Tall, so you have a net loss of $6. This example shows there’s a point at which the Lay hedge becomes ineffective.
For a guaranteed net win with a $1 Tall bet, the Lay hedge must be less than $40. Let’s look at a $20 Lay and a $30 Lay. With a $20 Lay, if a 7 shows, you net $8 (lose the $1 Tall, win $10 for the Lay, and pay $1 vig); and if a 10 shows, you net $14 (which is $20 less than if you had left the $1 Tall at risk by itself). With a $30 Lay, if a 7 shows, you net $13 (lose the $1 Tall, win $15 for the Lay, and pay $1 vig); and if a 10 shows, you net $4 (which is $30 less than if you had left the $1 Tall at risk by itself).
In these rare cases where a Small/Tall bet progresses to where only one number remains uncovered, using a Lay bet as a hedge to guarantee a net win (albeit much less than if the remaining uncovered number were to hit without the Lay hedge) is very interesting. Len, this is the best example of using a hedge bet to “protect” another bet that anyone has ever presented to me (kudos to you!). However, it still leaves the player with the dilemma of choosing to leave the Small/Tall bet at risk to possibly receive a much greater payout. As Arte Johnson used to say, “Verrrrry interesting.”
You have to lay the $20. You are guaranteed to a win. Only guaranteed bet to win in Vegas. I liked to see that scenario with an “All” bet on the line laying the 10 for $100.
Hello Jermaine, thanks for the comment. We had a very similar question two years ago. Please refer to the question from our reader “Len.” Good luck and have fun at the tables!”
Hello Jermaine, thanks for the comment. We had a very similar question two years ago. Please refer to the question from our reader “Len.” Good luck and have fun at the tables!”
This is a fun bet. I was on a trip to Vegas about a year ago and didn’t know anything about it. I was just rolling the dice. At one point my buddy looks at me and says “I need you to roll a 2 or a 12 before you roll a 7”. I laughed and said” ok I’ll try.” I had never played Craps before and hadn’t even noticed the Small/Tall/All bets. The very next roll I hit snake eyes and the table went crazy. The pay offs on that particular table were 51:1 for small/tall and 151:1 for all with a $5 minimum. Then after that I needed only 12 for the tall and also all. The next roll, one of the dice landed 6 and the other landed on the tray also a 6. So no roll. I couldn’t believe that happened. Long story short, two rolls later I hit a 12 and the whole table erupted. I made a lot in tips that night. It’ll never happen again but it was an awesome night.
That is an awesome story, thank you for sharing!
only the shooter can put this bet??
Goño, thanks for your question. No, the Small-Tall-All bets are not limited to just the shooter. We see how you could interpret our article to mean those bets are limited to the shooter. We apologize for not being clear in Step 2 of our sample scenario, so let’s clarify it. Suppose the current game ends. Before the stickman pushes the dice to the shooter for the next new game (whether the shooter is you or someone else), you can toss your chips to the center of the table and tell the dealer you want some of the action on the Small, Tall, and/or All. Anyone at the table can make the Small-Tall-All bets, as long as you make them before the shooter throws a come-roll for a new game. We’re glad you asked the question so we could clarify it. Thanks! Good luck and have fun at the tables.
On Carnival cruise ships, the Small & Tall are 30:1 and the All is 150:1