What is Little Joe in Craps?
In the dice game craps, "Little Joe" is the nickname for rolling a 4 with a pair of six-sided dice. It joins "Big Red" (7) and "Yo" (11) as one of the most colorful and well-known bits of terminology used in the fast-paced action at a craps table.
But why is a 4 called Little Joe? As an avid craps player myself, I wanted to dig deeper on the meaning and history of this distinctive nickname.
The Mysterious Origins of "Little Joe"
The exact origins of using "Little Joe" to denote a four in craps remain shrouded in mystery despite the nickname‘s popularity among players and staff.
Several speculative theories attempt to explain the Little Joe moniker:
The most widely cited is that it references 1920s-era bowler Joe Fohn, whose nickname was "Little Joe from Kokomo." Fohn‘s signature four-step approach to bowling presumably connected him to the number four. However, no conclusive proof ties Fohn himself to the emergence of the craps term.
Gambling historian John Scarne attributed Little Joe to an early 20th century craps regular in Chicago named "Little Joe W. Brown" who frequently rolled hard fours. But tracking the veracity of Joe Brown‘s influence is difficult so many decades later.
Another explanation is that shooting a 4 is symbolically the "little" or "baby" version of rolling double 2s for the highest possible score. Its relative lack of magnitude among all the numbers lead to it being called Little Joe.
Despite ambiguity on exactly how the "Little Joe" moniker became entrenched in craps, the saying clearly has enduring appeal to players and staff at tables across casinos worldwide.
As a craps enthusiast, I delight in how these nicknames capture the community and high spirits of collectively engaging through the unique vocabularly of such a storied dice game. The sense of tradition and respect for lore is palpable, even when specifics fade over generations.
Dice Roll Probability: How Common is Little Joe?
While a 4 pays out at 9-to-1 odds in craps, it is actually one of the more probable dice rolls with a pair of standard 6-sided dice. Let‘s examine the math:
| Possible Dice Rolls | Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2.78% | 35 to 1 |
| 3 | 5.56% | 18 to 1 |
| 4 ("Little Joe") | 8.33% | 9 to 1 |
| 5 | 11.11% | 8 to 1 |
| 6 | 13.89% | 6 to 1 |
| 7 | 16.67% | 5 to 1 |
| 8 | 13.89% | 6 to 1 |
| 9 | 11.11% | 8 to 1 |
| 10 | 8.33% | 9 to 1 |
| 11 ("Yo") | 5.56% | 18 to 1 |
| 12 ("Boxcars") | 2.78% | 35 to 1 |
With a 1 in 12 chance, or 8.33% probability on any given roll, four is clearly one of the more probable and expected numbers behind 6, 7, 5, and 8. Far less likely rolls are the "boxcars" of double sixes (2) and "snake eyes" ace-deuce (12) at just a 2.78% chance each.
The table above uses standard probability assumptions with fair, randomized dice. Of course, that‘s never a given in the real world, especially with dice control specialists around a craps table!
Hard vs. Easy Rolls
Another nuance around rolling fours concerns whether it comes "the hard way" or not. In craps lingo, a "hard" roll means getting a number by rolling double dice, like two 3s added together for a 6 rather than a 3 and a 4.
- A "hard 4" comes specifically by rolling double deuces (2 + 2). Hard ways trigger special craps bets with extra payouts.
- An "easy 4" comes from any other 4 dice combination like 1 + 3 or 5 + 1.
The "Little Joe from Kokomo" nickname applies principally to those hard deuce-deuce rolls. Easy fours are generally not granted Little Joe status at the craps table even though the number is technically the same. Purists reserve Little Joe for its origins as doubles.
An old-timer at my favorite casino here in Atlantic City taught me that hard Little Joes should be hollered out proudly not just for the number itself but for the style and difficulty points. I took his advice as a newly devoted craps player to help immerse myself into the culture at the table.
Why So Many Colorful Nicknames?
As I quickly learned back when I first felt the contagious energy of a packed table during a hot roll, craps features no shortage of evocative and zany slang terminology beyond Little Joe for all types of dice rolls:
- Ace Deuce – Slang for the dreaded Snake Eyes roll of a 1 and 2, called the "dealer‘s best friend" since it loses pass bets
- Jimmy Hicks – Hard 8 roll of double 4s, named after a 1920s Chicago gambler with that moniker
- Eighter from Decatur – Any 8 rolled as 4 + 4
- Fever Five – A roll of five (supposedly because a 5 feels like a mini-fever compared to higher numbers)
- Jesse James – Robber‘s roll of double 5s the hard way
- Easy Six – 6 rolled any way other than 3 + 3
As a craps fanatic, part of what boosts the thrill at the tables are these witty nicknames, which subtly influence games by discouraging open mention of unlucky numbers. It builds camaraderie through insider terminology. As gambling blogger Scott Long notes, "It’s the hard core players‘ way of proving they belong."
For newcomers, this dense jargon certainly feels intimidating. But I encourage taking a lighthearted approach and embracing the quirky vocabulary. The shared lingo – as fun as it is functional – offers a wonderful common ground for striking up friendships on hot streaks or cold slumps alike.
Final Takeaways on Little Joe in Craps
- Little Joe is the nickname for rolling a 4 by craps standards
- Its etymological origins are uncertain but may relate to 1920s bowler Joe Fohn
- It carries a 1 in 12 (8.33%) probability, making 4s frequent occurrences
- Hard 4s in craps as double deuces are specially called Little Joes
So now you have the complete backstory when the stickman calls out Little Joe from Kokomo in the heat of a winning craps moment!
