Betting the Horn in Craps

Craps has a bet that easily lets you bet all four Straight Up bets simultaneously called the Horn. You must bet an equal amount on each of the four Straight Up bets, so you make your Horn bets in $4 increments.

The Horn makes betting Proposition Bets easier. Not only does it wrap up four bets in one, but it's also the basis to the Horn High's, which conveniently let you bet in five-dollar increments.

The Horn is a one roll bet
Horns must be bet in multiples of $4

Overhead view of the horn area. There are no bets on the layout and the section is outlined with a drop shadow.

What Is a $4 Horn in Craps?

A $4 Horn is the minimum bet for a Horn. It's $1 on each of the four Straight Up bets: the Aces, Ace Deuce, Yo, and Twelve. The $4 Horn offers better payouts than the C & E which also bets all of the Straight Up numbers but only has a $2 minimum.

Split image. Top has $4 on the horn. Bottom has $1 each on the aces, ace deuce, yo, and twelve. Sign says same as.

Where Is Your Horn on the Craps Table?

Like most other bets on the Craps table, the Horn bet is divided into two sides: the left and right sides of the table. There isn't enough space for 16 players in the box, and you normally won't see more than a few people betting the Horn at once anyway, so four spots on each side are good enough.

Blown up horn section over the entire table and rail. Sections marked off 1-8 to show spots of players.

What Does the Horn Pay in a Craps Game?

A Horn pays differently based on what rolls, a high number, which would be the Aces and the Twelve, or a low number, which would be the Ace Deuce and the Yo.

No matter which of the four bets hit, you always take what the winning bet paid and subtract the rest of the losers in order to keep the whole bet up to win again.

$4 Horn Pays $12 or $27

If either low side hits, the Ace Deuce or Yo, it would win $15 but then you would subtract the other three losers and it would pay $12. Likewise if the high side hits, the Aces or Twelve, it would win $30 but then you would subtract the other three losers and it would pay $27.

$4 Horn on the low side pays $12

$1 each on aces, aces deuce, yo, and twelve. Bubble in corner with two green dice showing 1-2. Sign says 15 - 3 = $12 payment.

$4 Horn on the high side pays $27

$1 each on aces, ace deuce, yo, and twelve. Bubble in corner with two green dice showing 6-6. Sign says 30 - 3 = $27 payment.

Low Side Pays 3x the Bet

When you’re betting a Horn and a low number rolls, the Ace Deuce or the Yo, the payment is to multiply the bet by three.

$8 Horn on low side pays $24

$8 bet on the horn in spot 14. Sign says $8 x 3 = $24 payment.

$24 Horn on low side pays $72

$24 bet on the horn in spot 6. Sign says $24 x 3 = $72 payment.

High Side Pays 7x minus 1/4 of the Bet

When the Horn hits on the high side, the Aces or the Twelve, the payment is a bit more confusing. The first way I learned to pay the high side of the Horn was to multiply the bet by 7 then subtract ¼ of the bet.

$8 Horn on high side pays $54

$8 bet on the horn in spot 3. Sign says 7x minus the 1/4 of the bet $56 - 2 = $54 payment.

$24 Horn on high side pays $162

$24 bet on the horn in spot 6. Sign says 7x minus the 1/4 of the bet $168 - 6 = $162 payment.

How Do You Bet the Horn for the Dealers on the Craps Table?

When a bet on the Horn comes in for the dealers it is placed in the middle of the Horn area. While a proper $4 would be best, any amount put on the Horn for the dealers is appreciated. A good easy way to bet for the dealers on the Horn is to throw in a nickel and say "Two-way Yo!". That will give you a $4 Horn and $1 for the dealers.