What is Field Bet in Craps and Should You Ever Do It?

Field bet in craps is a single roll bet that wager that the shooter will roll a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. If the shooter rolls a 5, 6, 7, or 8 then the bet loses. This bet can be made at any time of the game and it only lasts for one round. The payout of the field bet depends on the likelihood of the number rolled occurring. Numbers with a lower probability of coming when the shooter rolls have higher payouts than numbers with a higher probability.

To have a better understanding of how each number is valued, here is a table showing the probability and payout of every number in a field bet:

Number	Probability	Payout
2	1/36	2:1
3	1/16	1:1
4	1/12	1:1
9	1/9	1:1
10	1/12	1:1
11	1/16	1:1
12	1/36	2:1
All Numbers	4/9	1:1 or 2:1

The house edge of a field bet is 5.5% and the probability of winning a field bet is quite low. To put this in perspective, there are 32 possible combinations from the craps dice and only 16 payout for a field bet.

Should You Make a Field Bet?

Although field bets have high house odds, they are a useful bet that can keep you in the game for long. The 2:1 payouts on 2 and 12 can help you get ahead of the regular payouts from place bets. Before making this bet, players should learn the outcomes of each number and factor it in. Using the Iron cross craps strategy, players can cover the field bets with place bets and reduce the house edge.