Craps Betting Field Any7 Bets
The Craps Field Bet: The casino craps Field bet is a one-roll bet that wins if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 appears on the next roll, and loses if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 appears on the next roll. It's a one-roll bet, so it wins or loses on the very next roll. Some (but not many) casinos switch the 5 and 9, making the 5 a winner and the 9 a loser. Since the 5 and 9 have the same number of ways to make them (i.e., there are four ways to make a 5 and four ways to make a 9), the odds for the Field bet don't change if the casino switches the 5 and 9.
The Field is a self-service bet, which means you put down and pick up your chips in the Field box yourself. You don't need the dealer's help to make this bet. The Field box is located between the Don't Pass and Come areas, and is clearly labeled "Field." If you can't remember which numbers win and lose, don't worry, they're clearly labeled in the Field box in big, bold font.
The Field pays even money (1:1) if a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 shows. It pays double (2:1) or triple (3:1) if a 2 or 12 shows, depending on the casino. Some casinos pay double on both the 2 and 12. Some pay double on one number and triple on the other. And a rare few pay triple on both the 2 and 12. It's easy to know the casino's payoffs because the 2 and 12 are circled on the table layout and have either "Pays Double" or "Pays Triple" written above the number.
You must know the Field's casino advantages before making this bet. The house edge is different depending on whether the 2 and 12 pay double, or one of them pays triple, or both pay triple.
Suppose you play craps at a casino that offers 2:1 (double) for both the 2 and 12, which is what you'll find in most casinos. In this case, the Field is a lousy 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 a bad bet. Say it out loud, "The Field that pays double for the 2 and 12 is a lousy bet." In this case, the Field has a big 5.5% house advantage. But most people don't realize that and, time after time, you see them plopping their chips down on the Field. What makes the Field so attractive to those brain-dead robots that keep playing it?
The Field is easy to see on the layout, the letters and numbers are big and pretty, it's easy to drop your money (you don't have to reach far), and you can do it yourself without bothering the dealer--it just looks and feels like a nice craps bet. However, the beautiful thing about this bet (from the casino's viewpoint) is that it gives the illusion that there are more ways to win than lose.
The Field wins if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 shows, which means there are seven different numbers that can win. The field loses if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 shows, which means there are only four different numbers that can lose. Certainly, seven winning numbers compared to only four losing numbers is a great deal for the player. Right? Wrong! That's entirely the wrong way to view it. You must consider the number of ways to make each of those numbers, not the numbers themselves. Let's do the math.
For the winning numbers:
NUMBER WAYS TO MAKE IT CUMULATIVE WAYS TO WIN
2 1 1
3 2 3
4 3 6
9 4 10
10 3 13
11 2 15
12 1 16
Total ways to win with the Field bet = 16.
As you can see, there are 16 ways to win a Field bet.
For the losing numbers:
NUMBER WAYS TO MAKE IT CUMULATIVE WAYS TO LOSE
5 4 4
6 5 9
7 6 15
8 5 20
Total ways to lose with the Field bet = 20.
As you can see, there are 20 ways to lose a Field bet.
Therefore, with 36 possible combinations for a two-dice roll, the Field bet has 16 ways to win and 20 ways to lose (in terms of the player). Because all the numbers except 2 and 12 pay even money (i.e., 1:1), you basically get even money for a bet that has more ways for you to lose than win. Even with the 2 and 12 paying double, the house edge is still about 5.5%.
If you can find a craps table that pays double for the 2 and triple for the 12, then the house edge is reduced to only about 2.8%. This configuration makes the Field bet more attractive to the player. Note that it doesn't matter which number pays triple (i.e., the 2 or 12) because both only have one way to make them (i.e., the odds don't change regardless of whether the casino offers triple for the 2 or the 12).
If you're really lucky to find a table that offers triple for both the 2 and 12, then craps betting the Field is a dream come true. When the Field pays triple for both the 2 and 12, the bet becomes a zero expectation bet, which means the house has no advantage. That's right, no casino advantage. But don't get too excited. As we know, the house isn't in business to gamble; it's in business to make money. So, you only find a Field that pays triple for both the 2 and 12 in special cases where the casino is trying to attract new customers, such as running a short-lived promotion. Most casinos never offer it for any reason. Remember, they're in business to make money, not gamble. You're the gambler, not the casino.
When you see the Field offering double for the 2 and 12, avoid it. No matter how much money the guy next to you is winning on the Field, don't do it. No matter how many times the guy says, "Man, you need to get on that Field," don't do it. If you a develop a habit for playing the Field where the 2 and 12 pay double, you're going to lose big time over the long haul. Don't allow yourself the opportunity to develop a habit of betting the Field. Just don't do it.
The Craps Any Seven Bet:
The craps Any Seven (sometimes called "Big Red") is a one-roll bet that wins if a 7 shows and loses if any other number shows. The minimum bet amount is the value of the lowest-denomination chip in play at the table, usually $1.
The Any Seven box is located in the center of the table layout and typically controlled by the stickman, so keep your hands off and don't try to put down or pick up this bet yourself. When you have the stickman's attention, gently toss your chip to an open area near the center of the table and say, "Any Seven, please." When you toss your chip, aim for an empty spot so when your chip lands on the table, it doesn't knock other people's chips all over the place.