Nicknames for Dice Combinations in Craps
Players and dealers have come up with fun and catchy nicknames for dice rolls in Craps, and Legalcasino is here to break down the most common ones and their possible origins. These names have been around for generations and are part of what makes the game unique. They’re not just for show or atmosphere—they also help you follow the action at a live dealer table.
Сraps Dice Names
Nicknames for certain Craps combinations aren’t fixed. There can be several for the same roll, since they’re not part of the rules, just playful slang. It’s all about rhymes, jokes, and wordplay tied to numbers or dice combos. That’s why we’re not trying to list every nickname out there — it’s simply not possible. We’ve picked some of the most common ones, though even those and their origins are sometimes up for debate.
| Dice Combo | Craps Dice Names | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 + 1 | Snake Eyes | Two ones – looks like two small snake eyes in Craps. |
| 1 + 2 | Ace Caught a Deuce | “Ace” is 1, “Deuce” is 2; the Craps phrase mimics a chase or catch. |
| 1 + 3 | Little Joe from Kokomo | “Little Joe” in Craps is slang for 4; Kokomo adds rhyme. |
| 1 + 4 | No Field Five | 5 is not included in a standard field bet. |
| 1 + 5 | Easy Six | 6 rolled without doubles is called “easy.” |
| 1 + 6 | Six One You're Done | 7 often ends the game after a point is set. |
| 2 + 1 | Australian Yo | Comes from 2 + 1 totaling 3, while the opposite sides show 11 (“Yo”) — a flipped version, like in Australia. |
| 2 + 2 | Ballerina | Double “two” became “ballerina” in Craps, thanks to its tutu-like sound — the skirt ballerinas wear. |
| 2 + 3 | The Fever | “Fever Five” is fast, catchy slang for 5. |
| 2 + 4 | Jimmie Hicks | A rhyme for 6, possibly from street craps dice slang. |
| 2 + 5 | Benny Blue | “Benny Blue, you're all through,” a dealer often calls out when rolling a seven in Craps and the shooter loses. |
| 2 + 6 | Easy Eight | 8 made without doubles is an “easy” roll. |
| 3 + 1 | Easy Four | 4 made with non-doubles is called “easy.” |
| 3 + 2 | Michael Jordan | 23 – Michael Jordan’s jersey number. |
| 3 + 3 | Brooklyn Forest | The 3+3 pips look like a fir tree — a sarcastic nickname from Brooklyn’s street craps scene, where forests don’t exist. |
| 3 + 4 | Big Red | Likely comes from the red-coloured area for betting on 7 in casino layouts. |
| 3 + 5 | Eighter from Decatur | Old rhyming slang for 8. |
| 3 + 6 | Nina from Pasadena | “Nina” is slang for 9; rhymes with Pasadena. |
| 4 + 1 | Little Phoebe | “Fever” for five may have inspired the nickname “Phoebe.” |
| 4 + 2 | Lumber Number | "2-by-4" refers to a standard piece of lumber measuring 2 inches by 4 inches. |
| 4 + 3 | Skinny McKinney | Rhyming slang for 7. |
| 4 + 4 | Square Pair | Two 4s form a symmetrical square. |
| 4 + 5 | Railroad Nine | Possibly based on train routes. |
| 4 + 6 | Big One on the End | Probably means it’s a big roll that usually shows up last on the list of point numbers. |
| 5 + 1 | Sixie from Dixie | Rhyming nickname for 6. Dixie refers to the American South, especially former Confederate states. |
| 5 + 2 | Skinny Dugan | Rhyming slang for 7. |
| 5 + 3 | Easy Eight | Non-double version of 8. |
| 5 + 4 | Jesse James | Outlaw linked to .45s (.45-caliber pistol); 4 + 5 = 9. |
| 5 + 5 | Puppy Paws | 10 dots can look like small dog paws. |
| 5 + 6 | Yo | “Yo-leven” is standard slang for 11. It's used to avoid confusion with “seven” in Craps when calling out dice rolls. |
| 6 + 1 | The Devil | 7, often seen as unlucky. |
| 6 + 2 | Easy Eight | Another non-double 8. |
| 6 + 3 | Lou Brown | Unclear; likely a personal or slang reference. |
| 6 + 4 | Tennessee | Ten – “"Ten-es-cee"” |
| 6 + 5 | Six Five No Jive | Rhyming name for 11 often meaning a win. |
| 6 + 6 | Midnight | 12 is like midnight on a clock. It’s often simply called “hard six” at a Craps table. |
Note: You might see two different nicknames for the same combination, like 2+3 and 3+2. The order doesn’t matter in Сraps since both dice roll at the same time. Both nicknames are used, and there are often even more variations.
Craps also has deep roots in American culture, so many of the nicknames come from local slang, folklore, famous figures, or bits of U.S. history.
Explore Craps-Friendly Casinos
The game is full of fun nicknames for dice rolls, many of which come from clever wordplay. These names add energy to the process and help you follow the action, especially at live dealer tables.
Knowing the lingo makes it more fun, even if you're playing online. Check out our Craps casino list where you can play and get a feel for the real table vibe.