Colonel Craps System
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.
Before there was a certain wizard, there were the original Potterisms from Colonel Sherman T. These usually came in the form of unusual expressions and exclamations, used as a response to what was happening at the 4077th MASH. At other times, the Potterisms would be in the form of paradoxical statements which contained nuggets of profound folk advice for his. Is the Colonel system worth trying? Born inside the walls of fashionable Harrah’s in Reno, this strategy was created by one devoted craps player, who used to wait for three non-field numbers to roll before applying the famous Martingale system.
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 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.
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.
Learning how to play the Iron Cross Craps System won’t take a reader more than a few minutes to grasp the concepts. Remembering the strategy employed may take a session or two at a live casino craps table, but using advanced play isn’t tough either,it’s just a matter of putting the ideas into action!
Like all gamblers, craps players are always on the lookout for a new system. The Iron Cross isn’t a progressive program like the Colonel’s craps system, but it does take advantage of the field wager, which covers the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Colonel Craps System
How the Iron Cross System Works
The Iron Cross is sometimes called the No Seven system, because the player covers all the possible numbers on the table except the dreaded 7. Most players bet the pass line and therefore root for a seven on the come-out roll, or the first roll with a new shooter. Rather than go against an entire table of players, the Iron Cross player usually waits until a pass-line number is established and then makes a wager in the field and also places the numbers 5, 6 and 8, to cover everything but 7. When you first try the Iron Cross, start with small wagers, but let’s assume you are playing at a $10 craps game so your field bet must be $10.
If you already know how to play craps, then you know the place bets are wagers on specific numbers, and you know the wager on the number 5 will be $10 and the wager on 6 and 8 will be $12 each. You should get your four wagers down before the next roll of the dice. Tell your inside dealer you want the 5, 6 and 8 for $34 total, then place the $10 bet in the field yourself. By doing this you have covered every number, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, except 7. You’ll win on every roll now except the 7, which will cost you your entire $44 in bets.
There are a total of 36 ways that the dice can total a number on the craps table. Seven is the easiest number to make, and can roll in six ways (1-6, 6-1, 5-2, 2-5, 4-2, 2-4). There are 30 ways another number can roll, so the odds that you will see a winning total on the next roll are 30 to 6, or 30 out of 36. However, you also get an extra payoff when the dice total 2 or 12, since most craps games pay double on the 2 and triple on the 12 for any field bets.
However, regardless of how many times you’ll win, the house still holds the advantage. You can expect that edge to be 2.48 percent if the casino pays double on 2 and triple on 12 (or vice versa) for field wagers. The way your play works is fairly simple.
Colonel Craps System Reviews
When you have your $44 in action and a field number rolls, you’ll be very happy, because you’ll get a full payoff on the field and your place bets will stay up and require no more attention. Your $10 wager in the field will win $10 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11. When 2 rolls you’ll win $20 and when 12 rolls you’ll win $30. Take your payoff and leave your original $10 bet where it was.