Most craps players employ strategies that involve betting on one or more numbers that win when they are tossed or lose when the seven is tossed. Dark side players do the opposite. Their numbers win on the seven but lose when rolled. If anything else happens there is no decision. The bets just stay there. But a few players prefer a win/lose decision on every toss of the dice. For these players, there are a variety of one-roll bets that win if the number associated with the wager rolls – but lose on any other number.
One roll bets basically fall into two categories – the Field bet and the proposition bets. Let’s talk about the Field bet first.
The Field is a large, clearly labeled area directly between the Pass/Don’t Pass lines the Come section on the layout. It’s a large area because the casino wants you to bet it. Why? We’ll get to that in a minute.
Field bets must meet or exceed the table minimum. A field bet wagers that the next roll of the dice will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Winners on the field get 2-to-1 if the roll is 2 or 12 (some casinos pay 3-to-1 on one or the other), and 1-to-1 if it’s 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11. Many players like this bet because it’s a self-service wager – it can be made without dealer assistance. But the bet is not a particularly good one. The house edge on a field bet is a whopping 5.6 per cent when two and twelve pay double. It drops to 2.8 per cent if two and twelve pay triple. Now, 2.8% doesn’t sound so back until you realize that the vig is applied on every toss of the dice. That’s because a decision is reached on the Field wager on every toss. That means the cost per hour to wager the field is outrageous, and that’s why the casino loves this bet.
Many players like the Field bet because it lends itself well to flat betting progressions. They employ tactics such as waiting until two non-field numbers roll, then they’ll run a Field Martingale progressions. These players often score huge wins in the field. But they also score table limit losses from time to time. In the in, the house always wins.
Proposition, or “prop” bets are another animal entirely. Toss your money into the center of the table and shout out your choice. The stickman will position the chips, but you’re responsible to verify where they go. Bets down to $1 are usually accepted regardless of table minimum.
Let’s start with the “horn” numbers – individually and collectively. The 2 Craps (aces) bet wins on the two, loses otherwise. Payout is 30-1. Odds against winning are 35-1. Likewise, the 12 craps (boxcars) wins on the twelve and loses on any other number. The payout is the same, 30-1. The house edge on these bets is 16.7%
The 3 craps (ace-deuce) wins on the three and loses otherwise. Payout is 15-1. Odds against winning are 17-1. The 11 (yo) wins on the 11 and loses otherwise. Payout is the same as on the ace-deuce, 15-1. The house edge on these bets is also 16.7%.
The Horn bet is a four-number bet on the 2, 3, 11, and 12. The World bet (also known as a Whirl bet) is a five-number bet on the 2, 3, 11, 12, and Any Seven. The Any Seven, also known as Big Red, wins on the seven but loses otherwise. Payout is 4-to-1. Odds against winning are 5-to-1. It you bet the World and the seven rolls you “tie” or “push” the house. The $4 payoff on the Any Seven wager is used to replace the losing Horn numbers, so the World bet stays up and working on the next roll.
On either side of the prop box you’ll see a number of circles with the letters C and E in them. The E stands for the eleven. The C stands for any craps. Generally if you bet the 11 by itself the dealer will set the get up here instead of in the horn area of the layout.
The Any Craps bet (craps check) wins on the two, three, or 12, loses otherwise. Payout is 7-to-1. Odds against winning are 8-to-1. The house edge on the Any Craps bet is 11.1%.
Most percentage players reject one-roll bets outright. They base their contentions on probability theory, which reveals the high house advantage on these wagers. Advocates of one-roll bets use several different arguments in their favor. For the most part – it all boils down to specific usage.
One such use is to make small prop bets as hedges to “protect” greater amounts at risk elsewhere. An illustration might be $2 any craps with $15 on the pass line during a come-out roll. If the shooter throws two, three, or 12, the player loses $15 on the line but wins $14 on the proposition; the net loss is only $1. Of course, if the shooter throws a seven or 11, the player wins $15 but loses the $2 for a net profit of $13. And, if the shooter throws any other number, the $15 becomes the bet on the “point” but the $2 goes west. Statistically, the protection isn’t worth what it costs.
Another factor some players cite is the high payoff ratio. This makes these wagers particularly attractive to skilled precision shooters. A $5 bet on the 2 or 12 pays $150. Parlay that $150 and throw a second 2 or 12 and the shooter locks up $4500.
Most players who toss out one-roll prop bets are intuitive gamblers hoping for a quick score. Those who are way behind in the game sometimes bet them in hopes of scoring a quick comeback. As always in gambling, there’s no right or wrong answer as long as you are an educated player. If you resent giving casinos more edge than necessary, don’t make the one-roll bets. On the other hand, if you feel more comfortable with a hedge bet than without one or just enjoy playing an occasional long shot – you may want to toss one or another of these bets out from time to time. My advice? Only make bets where you have an advantage.
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