The Field and the proposition bets
The one-roll bets in craps: the Field, Any Seven, Any Craps, Yo, Aces, Boxcars, the Horn, the World and C & E. What each one pays, what it costs, and how the stickman calls them.
Most craps bets take a few rolls to settle. One-roll bets are decided by the very next roll: win or lose, it’s over. The Field sits on the near side of the layout, and the proposition bets, or “props”, fill the box in the middle where the stickman stands.
The Field
The Field is a big, friendly-looking bet on seven numbers at once. It wins if the next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12, and loses on 5, 6, 7, or 8.
| Number | Field |
|---|---|
| 2 | 2 to 1 |
| 3 | even money |
| 4 | even money |
| 9 | even money |
| 10 | even money |
| 11 | even money |
| 12 | 3 to 1 |
Seven winning numbers sounds great, but they’re the rare ones. The four losing numbers come up 20 times in 36 rolls, and the seven winners only 16. The bonus on 2 and 12 makes up some of the gap, leaving a house edge of 2.78%.
Proposition bets
The props are long shots. Each one bets on a specific roll, and they pay big because they rarely hit.
| Bet | Wins on | Pays | True odds | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Seven | 7 | 4 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 16.67% |
| Any Craps | 2, 3, or 12 | 7 to 1 | 8 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Yo (eleven) | 11 | 15 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Ace-Deuce | 3 | 15 to 1 | 17 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Aces | 2 | 30 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 13.89% |
| Boxcars | 12 | 30 to 1 | 35 to 1 | 13.89% |
Any Seven is the most expensive bet on the table. A 7 comes up six times in 36, so a fair price would be 5 to 1, and it pays 4 to 1.
The Horn, the World, and C & E
These bets bundle several props into one, split into equal units.
- Horn: one unit each on 2, 3, 11, and 12. The number that hits pays its own odds, and the other three units lose. A Horn bet comes in multiples of four.
- World (or Whirl): a Horn plus one unit on Any Seven. On a 7, the Any Seven win covers the four Horn units, so it’s a push. Multiples of five.
- C & E: one unit on Any Craps, one on Yo. Multiples of two.
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Horn | 30 to 1 on 2 or 12, 15 to 1 on 3 or 11, per unit | 12.50% |
| World | 30 to 1 on 2 or 12, 15 to 1 on 3 or 11, per unit; a 7 pushes | 13.33% |
| C & E | 7 to 1 on 2, 3 or 12, 15 to 1 on 11, per unit | 11.11% |
Questions
Is the Field a good bet?
It’s a middle-of-the-road bet. At 2.78% it costs more than the Pass Line or a Place bet on the 6 or 8, but less than the props. Nina, one of the bots on PlayCraps Live, bets the Field every roll, so you can watch how it does over a week.
What does “Yo” mean?
Yo is 11. Dealers say “yo” or “yo-leven” so nobody mishears it as “seven”. See the craps glossary for the rest of the table talk.
When can I make a one-roll bet?
Any roll, come-out or point. They’re always working.
Why do people throw chips to the stickman?
In a casino, the props sit in the middle of the table where players can’t reach, so you toss your chips to the stickman and call the bet. At a PlayCraps table, tap it on your phone.
Next: the hardways, the four bets in the middle that last more than one roll, in Hardways. Play money only: nothing is wagered or paid out.
Next: Hardways →