One of the first things that every player notices about the game of craps is that there are plenty of betting options to choose from. This is both exciting and confusing as rookies often do not know which bet is the best to make. The truth is that players need to look both at the payouts and the house edge of every craps bet. This way they will be able to determine which option imposes the least amount of risk and gives players the biggest advantage.

As there are different sections on the craps table layout, you will notice that one of the wagers that can be made on both sides of the table is the Field bet. It is definitely a popular option among craps fans. This is due to the fact that the Field can be won by rolling quite a few numbers on the dice.

Despite the attractive points of this bet, many craps experts advice players to never put their money on the Field since it has a pretty high house edge. If you are not sure whether it will be worth it to make a Field bet, you can get familiar with its specific features and decide for yourself.

The Field Bet Explained

The actual odds of the Field bet are 5 to 4, which is exactly why players are pretty much fond of this kind of craps bet. The payouts for the Field bet are even in case that the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 come out after the shooter's roll. On the other hand, the payouts are 2 to 1 when the shooter rolls a 2 or a 12. But that is not all. Field Bet Craps Strategy. Although Field is not considered the best bet you can make on craps, there are several strategies that may actually boost your bankroll by betting on this specific option. We will show you two tactics which can definitely give you a better advantage when you are making a Field bet on craps.

The Field is a bet, made on a single roll of the dice and it allows players to place their money on the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 which can be seen on the table layout at the Field betting section. Players lose this bet if the dice roll 5, 6, 7 or 8 which seem like a bet that will totally give players who bet on the Field the upper hand. However, the numbers which will lead to your loss of the bet cover 20 out of the 36 combinations of the dice. When you look at the odds from this perspective, you will quickly realize that the house has the actual advantage in this case.

You do not need to memorize all the winning numbers as they are always displayed on the table felt in the Field area. It is possible to see tables that have switched the places of 5 and 9 and consider a 5 as a win and a 9 as a loss of the bet. After all, the combinations of both 5 and 9 are four which means that either one of the two numbers has the same odds. As a result, the change in the Field numbers does not make any difference when it comes to the estimated winning chances of players.

If we take for an example a situation in which the player who approaches a craps table before a new game begins and places a $5 bet in the Field. The come-out roll is a 7 which is the reason for the cheering of most players who have bet on the Pass Line. However, the person who has made a Field bet loses as 7 is among the losing numbers for this type of craps stake.

Craps Field Probability Game

When you make a Field bet it is important to follow the game and remember that you can place or remove your chips at any time. If you get distracted, however, your winnings and initial bet can easily be accepted as a parlay until you lose the Field bet.

Odds and Payout Options of the Field Bet

As it was mentioned earlier, many players enjoy placing their money on the Field. This is due to the fact that they believe that they are in an advantage due to the fact that the winning numbers are more than the those that will cost you your bet. However, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are formed from 20 of the total 36 dice combinations on craps. This is better than the chances in the Field which cover only 16 combinations. This gives the house a bigger advantage and gives players fewer chances to enjoy a win.

As it was said earlier, when it comes to determining whether a bet is advantageous, we should take into consideration both its payout and house edge. When it comes to the Field bet, there are three payout options.

Players will always receive even money if the dice rolls 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. The different payouts are for when the dice roll 2 or 12. The first option awards players who have made a Field bet a double payout (2 to 1) if either 2 or 12 roll. The second variant of craps pays 2 to 1 when the dice roll a 2, while the payout for a 12 is 3 to 1. The third and rarest case is when players are paid triple for either a 2 or a 12. The third payout option is also known as “zero expectation” due to the fact that the casino has no advantage.

While you will often hear the advice to avoid the Field bet, if you find a table that offers a 3 to 1 payout for either 2 or 12 or even better – 3 to 1 for both the numbers – make sure to test your luck and make a Field bet. As good as those payouts sound, the majority of casinos utilize the first payout option for a Field wager.

Offering a different payout will also affect the house edge of this bet. If we are taking a look at the first payout variant, the house advantage is estimated to be 5.56%. The great thing about tables that pay 2 to 1 for a 2 and 3 to 1 for the dice rolling 12, lower the house edge to 2.78% which is a much better situation for players. Even if the payout is tuned the other way around ( 3 to 1 for a 2 and 2 to 1 for a 12), the casino advantage is still 2.78%. As it was mentioned earlier, the third option of a 3 to 1 payout for both 2 and 12 is the best option as it gives the casino a 0% advantage.

Attractive Points of the Field Bet

The variety of betting options on craps rates this game among those that offer some of the best bets, as well as some of the most disadvantageous ones. There are also some bets which fall into the category of neither bad nor good wagering options. One of the bets that belong to this category is the Field.

Despite the fact that the winning numbers inside the Field are more than those which are outside, the odds are still in favor of the casino. This is due to the fact that the combinations which are not included in the Field are 20, while those which are inside the Field are only 16. You may be wondering why would players then choose to place their money on this bet. The simple answer is that they simply are not well aware of their winning chances.

Even though most casinos will offer a payout of 2 to 1 for the numbers 2 and 12, there are some craps tables which will pay out triple the bet for rolling 2. You may encounter a game of craps which may offer the payout of 3 to 1 for throwing 12. This lowers the house edge to 2.78% which is better and may attract more players to test their luck and make a Field bet. After all, a house edge of 2.78% is much better than the casino advantage of other single-roll bets on craps.

For those who prefer fast-paced games, Field is a great betting option since the outcome of this wager is determined in a single roll of the dice. It may be a risky bet, but those who are fans of thrilling casino games will definitely appreciate this betting feature of craps.

Is the Field Bet an Option You Should Bet on?

Even though there are some attractive points to betting in the Field, you may be still uncertain whether this is a good bet to make on craps. The truth is that it all depends on your style of playing and whether you are on the lookout for the lowest possible house edge. If you are trying to place your money on a bet that offers the casino the least amount of advantage, then the Field stake is not for you.

Even though Field is great for players who enjoy the thrill of fast-paced wagers, most gamblers prefer to play while having a good chance to sweep great payouts. If you are playing a craps variation which offers a payout of 2 to 1 for rolling 2 or 12 when players have made the Field bet, the house edge is 5.56%. This is definitely not a profitable bet and you have much better chances to rack up great payouts if you stick to the Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come options, especially if you can make Free Odds bets.

The reason why betting on Field is considered as a bad wagering option is the fact that the dice combinations outside the Field outnumber the ones which will bring players a win. Let us look at the Field numbers first. There is only one combination for 2 and 12 which is why the payout for the two numbers is higher than the even money that is won for the rest of Field numbers. The dice can roll 3 or 11 in two ways, while 4 and 10 can be made in 3 ways. Lastly, there are 4 dice combinations of 9. If you combine all of these dice combinations, you will get 16 ways to win a Field bet. This does not sound so bad until we realize that there are 36 combinations in total in the game of craps. This means that the remaining 20 are outside of the Field and are reserved for the 4 ways to get 5, the 5 combinations of each 6 and 8 and the 6 ways to roll 7.

Inexperienced players might be fooled by the big number of winning numbers and make a Field bet. In reality, however, the losing combinations are outnumbering those that will bring players a win. This is why you are not advised to make this bet, at least not regularly. Even with the double payout for 2 or 12, players cannot overcome the disadvantage of betting on only 16 possible winning combinations.

You can make a Field bet on the side but you are not advised to make this wager on every roll of the dice. Being a single-roll bet may award fast payouts to lucky players but the odds are definitely not in your favor. Even with a payout of 3 to 1 for one of the two least expected numbers (2 and 12), the Field bet is still not considered a suitable option for players who are on the lookout for lucrative gambling.

Field Bet Craps Strategy

Although Field is not considered the best bet you can make on craps, there are several strategies that may actually boost your bankroll by betting on this specific option. We will show you two tactics which can definitely give you a better advantage when you are making a Field bet on craps.

The first strategy is known in the craps field as the Iron Cross Craps System. It is a fairly easy tactic to learn but it may require a few games to get used to it. You may also encounter the same system with a different name – the No Seven System. This is due to the fact that players who utilize this strategy cover all numbers, except for the 7. As you should already know, players who bet on the Pass Line are hoping for a 7 on the come-out roll. Since this is usually the bet that the majority of craps players bet on, you may want to wait so that you do not play against the majority of players at the table. This is why usually the Iron Cross system is used when there is an established Pass Line point. When the timing is right, you simply put a bet in the Field section of the table, as well as on 5, 6, 8. This will mean that you have covered all possible numbers, with the exception of 7.

If you are just starting to use this strategy, you are advised to start with a small stake. Let us assume that you are making a $10 bet in the Field section. As you should already know, Place bets are those that are made on specific numbers. In this case, we will presume that you are placing $10 on 5, $12 on 6 and $12 on 8. You place your Field bet yourself, while for the 5, 6 and 8, you should tell your dealer that you want them covered for $34 in total.

If your Field bet wins, you will win $10 for 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11, while 2 and 12 will reward you with $20, or even $30 on craps with a payout of 3 to 1 for 2 (or for 12). Meanwhile, your Place bets will remain in the game. On the other hand, if the dice roll either 5, 6, or 8, you will win $14 and lose your $10 Field bet. This is why you should replace it with another $10 from your winnings and continue playing with this system.

Colonel would wait for three non-field numbers to roll before he starts applying his system. He would then used the well-known Martingale method of doubling his Field bet until he would win the bet or would give up the game.

If you want to try this strategy, you can place $5 on Field once there have been three rolls of non-field numbers. If you lose the Field bet, you should double your wager and bet $10 on Field. If the upcoming rolls of the dice continue showing non-field numbers, you should continue raising your stake until you can afford it or you win the bet. If you are lucky enough, you may win double or even triple your stake and enjoy a fruitful craps game.

The Craps Mini Field-Place System Tested
by Steve “Heavy” Haltom

Regardless of the fact that no system out there will beat a negative expectation game over the long run, articles about betting systems and strategies seem to get far more positive comments from readers than any other articles we publish. For that reason, in this article we’re going to focus on none other than with the infamous Field-Place System. Sold in magazines, bookstores, and on-line under dozens of different names for sixty years or more, the Field-Place System is one of the oldest strategies around. These days a popular variant is called the Iron Cross. Barstow used to call a similar strategy the Treadmill, which in itself should tell you what he thought of it. It’s been marketed as the 87% System, the Anything but Sevens System, the Fremont Street Grind, and under at least a dozen more names – many of which I won’t mention here because they were the names the players came up with for this play after investing hundreds of dollars in it and losing thousands more.

The play itself is relatively simple. Most of you are well acquainted with it. You make Place bets on the Five, Six, and Eight plus a bet in the Field. The Field bet covers the Two, Three, Four, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. You’ll sometimes see urban players running a similar strategy using the Big 6-8 bet instead of Place betting the Six and Eight. These guys like the “self-service” bets like the Big 6-8 and the Field and play more of an intuitive game than most of us. Irregardless, the idea is to cover every number on the dice except the Seven. It’s better to make two unit bets on the place action and one unit bets in the Field but you can play it at the one unit level, which is what we’re talking about here when we discuss the “Mini Field-Place System.” You risk four units total and you are guaranteed some sort of a win (or a push on the urban version assuming the player also places the five) on every toss – unless that Seven shows. For players who first “discover” this system it’s often some sort of a “Eureka!” moment. They believe they’ve found the Dutchman’s Lost Mine. Then they take it to the table and learn the truth about Fool’s Gold.

How do the payouts work in this play? Let’s assume a $5 game that pays double on the Two and triple on the Twelve in the Field. You’ll have to wager $6 each on the Six and Eight Place bets but can get by with $5 on the Five and in the Field, so your total wager will be $22. Now, you could take that same $22 and bet $22 inside, but you’d only get paid if an inside number rolled. Remember, the Field-Place System, which we’re playing at the table minimum, gets you paid on every decision unless the seven rolls. Here are the payouts:

Two Rolls – Pays $10 in the Field
Three Rolls – Pays $5 in the Field
Four Rolls – Pays $5 in the Field
Five Rolls – Lose the $5 Field bet – win $7 for the Place bet – Net Win $2
Six rolls – Lose the $5 Field Bet – win $7 for the Place bet – Net Win $2
Eight rolls – Lose the $5 Field Bet – win $7 for the Place bet – Net Win $2
Nine Rolls – Pays $5 in the Field
Ten Rolls – Pays $5 in the Field
Eleven Rolls – Pays $5 in the Field
Twelve Rolls – Pays $15 in the Field

So far the math looks great on this system. It’s all win win win – pay pay pay. Of course, on your two strongest numbers – the Six and the Eight – your wins are diluted by your loss in the Field. The loss on the win on the Five Place bet in the Field also dilutes the win there. Those diluted payoffs – combined with the frequency at which the Seven rolls in relation to the other numbers – turn this into a negative expectation strategy. On average, for every 36 rolls of the dice you’ll win $123, but you’ll also lose $132. That’s a $9 loss over 36 rolls, or .25 cents a roll for those of you who are struggling with Common Core math.

Of course, what the system player is looking for is enough variance in the game to put him ahead so that he can walk away with a win. He may approach the game with a number in mind – say to win $150. But to get the kind of variance he needs on a dollar per dollar basis he can’t rely on volatility alone. So he has to increase his bet size. Instead of betting $5 on the Five and $6 on the Six and Eight he tests out different amounts. Say $50 on the Five, $60 on the Six and Eight and $25 in the Field. The logic is that he’s always assured of getting green chips in his payout so he’ll reach that $150 win objective quicker. The problem is that variance is a two-edged sword. To front that sort of average bet he needs a session bankroll of $1500 instead of $150. The stack of quarters extracted from every decision adds up quickly. And don’t forget – you only WIN one bet at a time. When the Seven shows ALL of those bets lose. I recall standing next to a guy who was playing the system at this level once. He was loudly bragging to everyone at the table how great it was as he locked up a full rail of green chips. Then he started to get quiet as the chips began to migrate back to the other side of the table. In the end he gave it all back plus what he bought in for – and went back to the ATM for a bankroll infusion and re-buy. He had the volatility he needed. He just didn’t have the discipline to quit while he was ahead.

Out of curiosity, I noodled around and found an archival test of the Field-Place System against the 72 Hours at the Casino book. Admittedly, the 14,967 rolls in that book have a slight dark-side bias, so it was obvious that the system would fare worse than in the statistical example cited above. It was even worse than I expected. The total win was $50,969. The total loss was $56,628. The net loss was $5,659.

Craps Field Probability Calculator

72 hours at the casino. 72 of the most miserable hours of your life. It works out to about 36 two hour sessions or 18 four hour sessions. Hell, there was a time when I played that much in a single weekend. These days it might take me a month to get in that much play. Still, do you have an extra $5,659 to lose making $5 minimum bets?

Neither do I. And now you know why I hate this play.

Do yourself a favor. Just say no to this sort of thing and learn to beat the game by influencing the dice and betting the dice right.

Craps Field Probability Rules