The house edge on the field bet is 5.56% if it pays 2-1 on both the 2 and 12. The house edge is 2.78% if it pays 3-1 on only one of the 2 or 12 and 2-1 on the other one.

The house edge on the pass or come bet is 1.41% and can get reduced to 0.85% with 1X odds, 0.61% with 2X odds, 0.37% with 3-4-5X odds and 0.33% with 5X odds.

Why would you want to make a bet that is 2 to 4 times worse than a pass/come bet without any odds and 9 to 17 times worse than a pass/come bet with 5X odds?

Stay with the bets that GTC recommends and avoid any proposition bets.

Busman, when it comes to House Edge math, I could never go as deep in the weeds as Skinny. The man is a human calculator and I am still in awe of his views regarding the game. But, if i may, I’d like to share my view on the Field bet.

In Craps, we all know there are a possible 36 different outcomes. If you include the number of ways to a 7, there 16 ways to win a Field bet, and 20 ways to lose. Now, add the Double 2 and Double 12, you’re now looking at an 18/20 Win/Loss ratio, assuming at least one 2 and 12 was thrown. If you happen to find a Triple 2 or Triple 12 table (I have never seen one), your W/L ratio is 19/20. The Field is an single-roll wager, so statistically, for every 36 rolls, you’ll win 16 of those times, and for what, an even money payout?

It looks like a great wager, all those numbers covered on one bet. That’s what the casinos want you to think. And in a short term fluke, you may do well on it. But longer term, it’s a loser.

I recall a player a few months back. A guy was playing the Field as part of his game. For a short stretch in time, he was clobbering it. Twenty minutes later he went bust on that session, much of it lost on the Field. Better places to put your money, my friend. Unless you’re at full odds, put them behind the line. It pays better and can last longer than a single roll.

The real disadvantage of the field is the amount of variance on the outer numbers. For instance, I have seen the "12" disappear for 84 rolls. Statistically the closer you get to the seven the less variance you have. The longest that I have seen the "6" disappear for is 26 rolls.

Lastly, HA is not the end all be in bets. I can’t tell you how many people I see playing the "mathematically" correct way of pass line max odds, and go bust with in an hour.

Free odds is an illusion! It is designed to increase the variance on your bankroll in an effort to wipe you out quicker.

To directly answer your question, the field bet is not worth it most of the time, however if you are watching someone who knows how to shoot and is intentionally hitting field numbers it may be worth it to stick your toes in the water.

However you are much better off with the inside numbers in terms of variance.

Sincerely,
Lou

Hi Busman3845,

Make believe the field bet and the prop bets do not exist. As Skinny proves with the math, If you want to make money in the long run stick to pass-line and come-bets with free odds. I see you may sign up for a refresher class in 2020. Dom does a great lecture explaining why you should stick to the low house edge bets combined with a proficient throw.

You only need to ask yourself two questions question one are you playing to win? Number two are you playing for fun?

I would like to thank everyone for there help. The casino I play at does pay off 3X on the 12 but I can see that it is just not worth it. I guess these sucker bets look a little more tempting when your losing. I just have to keep the faith and If I don’t have it on a particular day; quit and try another day.

Rose and Doc once found a table in New Mexico where the 2 and 12 both paid triple on the field bet. Was recently back there after many years and it was no longer there. But triple on both both the 2 and 12 brings the field bet to an exact even bet—no house edge. And guess what, casino that I know of now offers triple on the 2 and 12.

Stick with the pass line / come bet wagering with as much odds as your bank roll allows.

Rose and Doc