The Field Bet
| Updated: The Field Bet: How It Works and Whether You Should Place It
Craps offers an abundance of betting options, but not all wagers are created equal. Some bets give you better odds of winning than others. Unfortunately, the subject of today’s article, the Field bet, does not belong to this category. Field bets are commonly placed by casual craps players, and their simplicity is the main reason for their popularity. They are single-roll wagers that win when the shooter throws one of seven numbers and lose when the next dice toss produces one of four numbers.
On the surface, betting the Field seems like a good idea because there are more winning numbers than losing ones. The catch is that Field bets have a considerably higher house edge than other common wagers in craps. This article covers everything you need to know about Field bets, including how they work, how much they pay, their odds of winning, and their advantages and disadvantages. It also discusses common strategies associated with Field betting and the risks involved.
-
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $100
100% Bonus!9.7 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $30000
100% Bonus!9.4 -
Sign Up Bonus
Up to $1000
200% Bonus!9.3
The Field Bet Explained
The Field bet is a single-roll wager that covers numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, all of which appear in the Field betting section of the table layout. Only four numbers, 5, 6, 7, and 8, result in a loss, which can make betting the Field seem like a good idea. However, these four losing numbers account for 20 of the 36 possible dice combinations in craps. When you look at the odds from this perspective, it becomes clear that the house has a significant advantage on Field bets.
There is no need to memorize all the winning Field numbers, as they are always displayed in the Field area of the table layout. You may encounter tables where 5 counts as a winning number while 9 results in a loss. These differences in the rules have no impact on your odds because 5 and 9 both have four possible combinations each. As a result, this change neither increases nor decreases your chances of collecting a payout from a Field bet.
For example, imagine a player who approaches the craps table at the start of a new round and places a $5 chip in the Field section. The come-out roll produces a 7, and all Pass Line bettors at the table start cheering. However, the person betting the Field has no reason to celebrate because their bet loses when a 7 is rolled.
When you make a Field bet, it is important to follow the game and remember that you can place or remove your chips during play. If you become distracted, however, your winnings and initial bet may be treated as a parlay until the Field bet loses.
Odds and Payout Options of the Field Bet
As mentioned earlier, players often enjoy placing bets on the Field because they believe they have an advantage due to there being more winning numbers than losing numbers. However, 5, 6, 7, and 8 can result from 20 of the 36 possible dice combinations in craps. By comparison, only 16 combinations result in a win with a Field bet. This gives the house a greater advantage and significantly reduces your odds of winning.
When determining whether a bet is favorable, you should consider both its payout and house edge. There are three different payout structures for Field bets.
Players always receive even money if the dice roll produces 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11. Different payout structures apply when the dice show 2 or 12. The first option pays 2 to 1 if either 2 or 12 is rolled. The second variant pays 2 to 1 when the dice roll a 2, while the payout for a 12 is 3 to 1. The third and rarest structure pays 3 to 1 for either a 2 or a 12. This third payout option is also known as “zero expectation” because the casino has no advantage.
Field bets are generally best avoided unless you find a table that offers a 3 to 1 payout for either 2 or 12 or, even better, 3 to 1 for both numbers. As appealing as those payouts may sound, most casinos use the first payout structure for Field wagers.
Different payouts also affect the house edge of this bet. With the first payout structure, the house advantage is estimated at 5.56%. At tables that pay 2 to 1 for a 2 and 3 to 1 for a 12, the house edge drops to 2.78%, which is considerably better for players. Keep in mind that even if the payouts are reversed, with 3 to 1 for a 2 and 2 to 1 for a 12, the casino advantage remains 2.78%. As mentioned earlier, the third option, which pays 3 to 1 for both 2 and 12, is the best because it gives the casino no advantage.
Attractive Points of the Field Bet
Craps offers some of the best and worst bets available in casino games. Field bets generally belong to the second category, although there are exceptions.
Despite the fact that the winning numbers covered by the Field outnumber the losing ones, the odds are still in favor of the casino. This is because there are 20 combinations not included in the Field, while the Field covers only 16 combinations. You may be wondering why players would choose to risk their money on this bet. The simple answer is that they may be unaware of their actual chances of winning.
Even though many casinos offer a payout of 2 to 1 for numbers 2 and 12, some craps tables pay 3 to 1 when a 2 is rolled. You may also encounter games that offer payouts of 3 to 1 for rolling a 12. This cuts the house edge almost in half, to 2.78%, which may encourage more players to bet on the Field. A house edge of 2.78% is also considerably lower than the casino advantage associated with some other single-roll bets in craps.
For those who prefer fast-paced games, betting the Field may be appealing because the outcome of this wager is determined by a single roll of the dice. It may be a risky bet, but fans of fast-paced casino games may appreciate this betting option in craps.
Is the Field Bet a Wager You Should Make?
Even though there are some attractive aspects of betting on the Field, you may still be uncertain whether it is a good wager to make in craps. The truth is that it depends on your playing style and whether you are looking for the lowest possible house edge. If your goal is to make bets that give the casino the smallest advantage, the Field bet is probably not for you.
Although Field wagers may appeal to players who enjoy fast-paced action, those focused on long-term value generally prefer bets with lower house edges. If you are playing a craps variation that offers Field payouts of 2 to 1 for rolling 2 or 12, the house edge is 5.56%. This is not a particularly player-friendly bet. The Pass Line/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come wagers offer better long-term value, especially if you take or lay free odds on them.
Betting on the Field is considered unfavorable because the dice combinations outside the Field outnumber those that result in a win. Let us look at the Field numbers first. There is only one combination for 2 and one for 12, so the payout for these two numbers is higher than the even-money payout awarded for the other Field numbers. The dice can roll 3 or 11 in two ways each, while 4 and 10 can be made in three ways each. Lastly, there are four dice combinations that produce a 9. If you combine all these dice combinations, you get 16 ways to win a Field bet. This may not sound too bad until you realize that there are 36 possible combinations in craps. Of the remaining 20 combinations, four produce a 5, five produce a 6, five produce an 8, and six result in a 7.
Inexperienced players may be misled by the higher number of winning numbers and decide to make a Field bet. In reality, the losing combinations outnumber those that produce a win with this wager. This is why players seeking favorable odds are generally advised not to place this bet. Even with the double payout for 2 or 12, players cannot overcome the disadvantage of having only 16 possible winning combinations.
You can make a Field bet occasionally, but be careful not to overdo it. As a single-roll bet, it may award quick payouts to lucky players, but its odds are not in your favor. Even with a payout of 3 to 1 for one of the two least probable numbers, 2 or 12, the Field bet remains an unfavorable option for players seeking low house edges.
Field Bet Craps Strategy
Although Field wagers are not among the best bets you can make in craps, several betting systems are commonly associated with this option. Below, we examine two approaches used by some players when making Field bets.
The first strategy is known in the craps community as the Iron Cross Craps System. It is fairly easy to understand but may require some practice. You may also encounter this system under a different name, the No Seven System. This is because players who use the strategy cover all numbers except 7. As you should already know, players who bet on the Pass Line are hoping for a 7 on the come-out roll. The Iron Cross system is normally used only after the shooter establishes a point for the Pass Line. When the timing is right, you place chips in the Field section of the layout and on numbers 5, 6, and 8. This way, you cover all possible numbers except 7.
If you are just starting to use this strategy, consider beginning with small stakes. Let us assume that you are betting $10 on the Field. As you should already know, Place bets are wagers 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 the Field bet yourself and instruct the dealer to cover 5, 6, and 8 with $34 in chips on your behalf.
If your Field bet wins, you receive $10 for rolling 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11, while 2 and 12 pay $20, or even $30 in craps games that pay 3 to 1 for 2 or 12. Meanwhile, your Place bets remain in action. On the other hand, if the dice roll 5, 6, or 8, you win $14 and lose your $10 Field bet. You can then use $10 from the winnings to replace the Field bet and continue using the system.
Colonel would wait for three non-Field numbers to roll before applying his system. He would then use the well-known Martingale method, doubling his Field bets until he either won or stopped playing.
If you want to try this strategy, you can place $5 on the Field after witnessing three rolls of non-Field numbers. If you lose the Field bet, you double your wager and bet $10 on the Field. If the following dice rolls also produce non-Field numbers, the system requires you to continue raising your stake until you either win or can no longer afford to increase it. This progression does not change the odds of the Field bet, and repeated losses can quickly make the required stake unaffordable.