Is the craps field bet a dumb bet?

You should be aware of the benefits of the Field casino before placing this bet. The casino edge is different depending on whether the 2 and 12 pay double (the most common setup), or one pays triple (you rarely see this), or both pay triple (you basically never see this).

Suppose you play at a casino that offers 2:1 (double) odds on both 2 and 12, which is what you’ll find in most casinos. In this case, the Field is a foolish bet. Regardless of what other players at the table tell you, and regardless of what you read in online articles, and regardless of anything you hear or read from any other source, the Field bet with 2:1 odds for the 2 and 12 is bad. bet. Say it out loud to settle in: “The field that pays double for 2 and 12 is a lousy bet.” In this case, the Field has a huge 5.5% casino edge. But most people don’t realize it and time and time again you see them throwing their chips on the field. What makes the Course so attractive to those brain-dead robots still playing?

The field is easy to see in the layout, the letters and numbers are nice and big, it’s easy to drop your money on (you don’t have to go far) and you can do it yourself without bothering the dealer. It just looks and feels like a good bet. However, the beauty of this bet (from the casino’s perspective) is that it gives the illusion that there are more ways for the player to win than to lose.

The field wins if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 appears, which means there are seven different numbers that can win. The field loses if a 5, 6, 7 or 8 appears, which means there are only four different numbers that can lose. Certainly seven winning numbers compared to just four losing numbers is a great deal for the player. Right? Wrong! That is completely the wrong way to look at it. You need to consider the number of ways to make each of those numbers, not the numbers themselves. Let’s do the math. (Note: To make sure you understand the term “ways to make,” let’s look at the number 9 as an example. Using two dice, there are four ways to make a 9 on dice: 1) Die #1 is a 5 and Die #2 is a 4; 2) Die #1 is a 4 and Die #2 is a 5; 3) Die #1 is a 6 and die #2 is a 3; and 4) Die #1 is a 3 and Die #2 is a 6. Another example, there is only one way to make a 12, which is a 6 on Die #1 and a 6 on die #2).

For the winning numbers:

Numerical ways to achieve it Cumulative ways to win the field bet
2 1 1
3 2 3
4 3 6
9 4 10
10 3 13
11 2 15
12 1 16

As you can see, there are 16 ways to win a field bet.

For losing numbers:

Numerical ways to do it Cumulative ways to lose the field bet
5 4 4
6 5 9
7 6 15
8 5 20

As you can see, there are 20 ways to lose a field bet.

Therefore, with 36 possible combinations for a roll of two dice, the Field Bet has 16 ways to win and 20 ways to lose (in player terms). Since all numbers except 2 and 12 pay even money, you basically get even money for a bet that has more ways to lose than win. Even with the 2 and 12 paying double, the casino edge is still around 5.5%.

If you can find a table that pays double for the 2 and triple for the 12, then the casino edge drops to just 2.8%. This rare configuration makes the Field Bet more attractive to the player. Note that it doesn’t matter which number pays triple (i.e. 2 or 12) because they both only have one way of doing so, so the odds don’t change regardless of whether the casino offers triple for 2 or for The 12.

If you are very lucky to find a table that offers triple odds on both 2’s and 12’s, then the Field is a dream come true. When the field pays triple for the 2 and 12, the bet becomes a zero expectation bet, meaning the casino has no advantage. That’s right, there is no casino advantage. But don’t get too excited. As we know, the casino business is not gambling; you are in business to make money. Therefore, you will only find a field that pays triple for both 2 and 12 in special cases where the casino is trying to attract new customers, such as when running a short-lived promotion. Most casinos never offer it for any reason. Remember, they are in business to make money, not to gamble. You are the player, not the casino.

When you see a craps table with the field offering double odds on 2’s and 12’s (this is the most common setup), avoid it because the casino edge is a whopping 5.5%. No matter how much money the guy next to you in the field makes, don’t do it. No matter how many times the guy says, “Man, you have to get into that field,” don’t do it. If you develop the habit of playing the course where 2 and 12 pay double, you will lose a lot in the long run. Don’t allow yourself to develop the habit of betting the field. Just don’t do it. The idiot next to you may be winning at that particular instant, but he is guaranteed to lose over time if he plays regularly on the Field.