Craps is a casino game that has a few complexities. Winning is not entirely straightforward, but with the help of a strategy, you might be able to gain the upper hand, sway the odds and even come out on top with a small profit. Read on to find out how.
WHAT IS THE IRON CROSS CRAPS SYSTEM?
The Iron Cross craps system is one of many playing techniques that have been developed to aid gamblers in boosting their win rate. Sometimes known as Darby’s Field system, the Iron Cross method involves placing a specific combination of bets that cover all numbers on the craps table except the seven. In fact, it is also referred to as the No Seven system.
The bets with the lowest house edges include the Place bet on six, and the Place bet on eight, both having a house edge of 1.52%. That said, the combination of both bets has a house edge of 1.14%. But how can this be?
When players combine certain bets, they must keep two crucial factors in mind:
- The overall house edge is a weighted average of the individual house edges in that bet combination.
- The overall house edge can never be lower than the best house edge in the bet combination.
HOW DOES THE IRON CROSS SYSTEM WORK?
The Pass Line bet is probably the most commonly-placed bet in craps as many players root for the seven popping up on the next roll. As far as craps etiquette goes, not many players go against the table and bet against this wager, so rather than do this, Iron Cross players wait until a point number has been established.
There are four bets in the Iron Cross craps combo: the Field bet, a Place bet on five, a Place wager on six and a Place wager on eight. The Field bet is a one-roll bet that involves betting on the two, three, four, nine, 10, 11 and 12, and pays even money on three, four, nine, 10, and 11 — other numbers award larger payouts.
Place wagers involve betting that the shooter will roll the chosen number before a seven is rolled. These bets pay 7-6 if a six or an eight are rolled, so it is recommended that you place these wagers in multiples of €6. High-rollers may choose to multiply these bet values to potentially boost their profits.
The Iron Cross technique was originally developed to last one roll where every number except the seven can win.
HOW TO PLACE BETS IN THE IRON CROSS SYSTEM?
This betting system is quite a good strategy to adopt if you want a better chance of earning money, but one of the biggest questions is how bets are placed using this playing technique.
The answer is quite simple really:
- Wait for a point number to be established on the Come Out roll.
- Place one unit on the Field bet where you’ll win even money if the shooter rolls a three, four, nine, 10 or 11, or more if the shooter rolls a two or 12.
- At the same time you place a Field bet, you must also wager on the five, six and eight using a Place to Win stake.
- If a Place bet wins, the Field bet loses, whereas if the Field bet wins, the Place wagers are still in action.
IRON CROSS PAYOUTS
While understanding how to place your bets is crucial, how those bets will pay is also quite important. Bear in mind that if a seven is rolled, then you’ll lose any profits you might have made. Here is how you can expect to be paid with each bet.
FIELD BETS
As mentioned previously, the Field bet covers the two, three, four, nine, 10, 11 or 12. Not all numbers award the same amount of winnings, despite not being different bets. Take a look:
| Field Bet | Payout |
| 2 | 2:1 |
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | Even money |
| 12 | 3:1 |
As you can see, the Field bet covers the majority of the numbers on the craps table, with the Place bets filling in the remaining gaps. However, given that the seven has six dice roll combinations, there is still a large level of risk involved, but we’ll get into that later.
PLACE BETS
If you recall, we discussed how that a Place stake may still be in play even if the Field wins. Here are the winnings you may earn if the Place wins:
| Place Bets | Payout |
| 6 and 8 | 7:6 |
| 5 | 7:5 |
In the Iron Cross betting strategy, Place to Win bets are used to bridge the gaps left open by the Field.
ADVANTAGES OF IRON CROSS SYSTEM
There are many benefits that come with using this betting strategy:
- The Iron Cross’ biggest advantage is that it reduces the overall house edge. By covering nearly every number on the craps table, the house edge is sliced to a total of 1.14%.
- With almost every number on the table covered, players have pretty good odds of winning.
- On top of that, this betting system is also quite easy to adopt as it all requires is placing a few chips on two wagers.
- Players have full control over their bet values, so they can decide how much this betting system will cost their bankroll. Of course, the larger the bet values, the larger the profit.
- In another variation of the Field wager, you can potentially bet with the house’s money. Essentially, after winning the Field three times in a row, for example, you will be abletake your original bet off the table.
Although these benefits sound great, this betting system does come with a catch.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE IRON CROSS SYSTEM
Like many betting strategies, the Iron Cross technique also comes with its risks:
- The seven is the most-frequently rolled number in craps, so while you may bet on more numbers, no matter how many times you roll, the seven still has a higher chance of winning.
- This betting system is meant to be used as a ‘hit-and-run’ type of bet, and doesn’t really work over long betting sessions.
- You might need to bet a little extra to meet the table minimum.
- It is a high-risk craps strategy with no guarantee of winning.
Whether this craps betting system is worth using all comes down to personal preference. The Iron Cross technique works best with hot streaks, but we can all agree that streaks are unreliable. Be sure to have a good bankroll management strategy in place.
IRON CROSS SYSTEM STRATEGY TIPS
Now that we’ve gone through all the minor details, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Place the Field and Place bets after the Come Out roll, once the point is set.
- Understand how much you’ll be paid if you win.
- Remember to avoid betting on the seven.
- Start pressing once you’ve made a profit.
- Don’t stop pressing until you’re done. In other words, every time you win, you raise (press) your wager.
- If you roll a seven, this will be the only time you will lose.
- Give this craps system a couple of tries in the demo mode of online casino games.
- If your bankroll is running low, it makes sense to take a break for a short while — chasing hot streaks won’t earn you a profit.
- Remember this betting technique is not unbeatable due to the house edge, so you will lose at some point.
Keep these tips within reach the next time you roll the dice!
BANKROLL MANAGEMENT WITH THE IRON CROSS STRATEGY
With every roll the shooter makes, you must have a good money management system in place. Money management strategies ensure that you use your funds optimally, with as little risk involved as possible. These systems also help safeguard your money and help you recognise when it is time to give your wallet a break. Money management systems are integral no matter what betting style you have or what casino game you play.
WHICH PLAYERS SHOULD USE THIS SYSTEM?
The thing about this method is that because it’s so straightforward, any player can use it! While we do recommend ensuring that players understand their odds and possible payouts, this betting technique scarcely requires any form of skill. And this is further supported by the fact that the Iron Cross is a one-and-done kind of betting techique.
WHAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THE IRON CROSS SYSTEM?
Are you wondering what could replace the Iron Cross technique? Take a look:
- Lay Bet method.
- Pass and Come with odds.
- Don’t Pass and Don’t Come while laying the odds.
- Put bets.
- Hedge bets.
SUMMARY
To summarise this method of play, the Iron Cross technique involves placing Field and Place wagers, covering the majority of numbers on the table. As a betting method, the Iron Cross is pretty easy to pick up and will quickly become second nature.
The best thing about this betting method is that it actively reduces the house edge, although it may require betting a few extra chips to reach the table minimum. Just remember that while most numbers are covered, collecting wins may be more challenging than you think.