Field Bets Explained for New Craps Players
Craps has many different betting options, and some can seem difficult to understand when you first approach the table. The Field bet is one of the simpler wagers because it is based entirely on the outcome of the next dice roll. Unlike the Pass Line, a Field bet does not require you to follow a point through several rolls. You simply predict that the next roll will fall within a specific group of numbers.
The Field area is usually easy to spot on a craps table. It is located toward the center of the layout and is marked with the word “FIELD,” along with information about the special payouts for certain numbers. Once you understand which numbers are covered and how the payouts work, the basic idea is straightforward.
A Field bet can win when the next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. If the next roll is 5, 6, 7, or 8, the Field bet loses. The exact payout for 2 and 12 can vary by casino, so checking the table’s displayed rules is important.
What Is a Field Bet in Craps?
A Field bet is a one-roll wager. The player places chips in the Field section before a roll and waits for the next dice result.
If the result is one of the Field numbers, the wager wins. If the result is outside the Field, the wager loses.
The numbers covered by a standard Field bet are:
2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12
The numbers that cause the Field bet to lose are:
5, 6, 7, and 8
This makes the Field bet different from a Pass Line or Place bet, which can remain active over multiple rolls.
The most important thing for a beginner to remember is that the Field bet is always settled on the very next roll. There is no waiting for a point to be established or repeated.
How Does a Field Bet Work?
Suppose you place a $10 Field bet before the next dice throw.
If the shooter rolls 9, the Field bet wins because nine is one of the covered numbers.
If the shooter rolls 6, the Field bet loses because six is outside the Field.
There is no second roll for that particular wager. Once the dice have produced a result, the Field bet is finished.
If you want to make another Field wager, you normally need to place another bet before the next roll.
This one-roll structure is what makes the Field attractive to beginners who want to understand a simple wager without following the entire Pass Line sequence.
Which Numbers Are Covered by the Field?
The Field includes seven possible totals:
2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
The numbers 5, 6, 7, and 8 are excluded.
One way to remember the layout is to think of the Field as covering the numbers outside the central group of 5 through 8.
However, the Field is not simply a bet on “anything except seven.” Four through eight contain several important differences. A roll of four wins the Field, while a roll of five does not. A roll of nine wins, while an eight does not.
Therefore, learning the exact list is better than relying on a general rule.
Why Are 5, 6, 7, and 8 Not in the Field?
The Field is constructed around a specific group of dice totals rather than every number that is not a seven.
The four losing totals are 5, 6, 7, and 8. They account for a large number of the 36 possible combinations when two dice are rolled.
This is why a Field bet does not win as frequently as simply looking at the number of covered totals might suggest.
For example, seven alone has six combinations. Six and eight each have five combinations, while five and nine have four combinations.
Understanding the number of dice combinations is useful because two numbers may appear equally important on the table but have different probabilities of occurring.
Field Bet Payouts
The standard Field payout is generally 1 to 1 for 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11.
The special numbers are 2 and 12.
Depending on the casino, a Field bet may pay:
2: 2 to 1 and 12: 3 to 1
or
2: 3 to 1 and 12: 2 to 1.
Some less generous tables pay only 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12. The payout printed on the table is therefore extremely important.
For example, if a Field bet pays 3 to 1 on 12 and you wager $10, a winning 12 would produce $30 in winnings, with the original $10 wager generally returned as part of the total payout.
A 10 rolled on the same Field bet might pay only 1 to 1, producing $10 in winnings.
Why Do 2 and 12 Have Special Payouts?
Two and twelve are the least common totals when rolling two standard dice.
There is only one combination that produces two:
1 + 1
Likewise, there is only one combination that produces twelve:
6 + 6
Each therefore has a probability of 1 out of 36, or approximately 2.78%, on an individual roll.
By comparison, four and ten each have three combinations, while three and eleven each have two combinations.
The higher Field payout on 2 and 12 reflects their lower frequency. The exact payout determines the mathematical house edge of the Field bet.
How Likely Is a Field Win?
There are 36 possible combinations when two standard dice are rolled.
The Field covers:
2 — 1 combination
3 — 2 combinations
4 — 3 combinations
9 — 4 combinations
10 — 3 combinations
11 — 2 combinations
12 — 1 combination
Together, these produce 16 winning combinations out of 36.
That means a standard Field bet wins on approximately 44.44% of individual rolls.
The Field loses on the remaining 20 combinations, or approximately 55.56%.
This does not mean that a player will lose 55.56% of their individual bets in a short session. Actual results can vary considerably. These figures simply describe the underlying probability over repeated independent rolls.
Field Bet House Edge
The house edge of a Field bet depends heavily on how the casino pays 2 and 12.
If the Field pays 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12, the house edge is approximately 5.56%.
If it pays 2 to 1 on one of those numbers and 3 to 1 on the other, the house edge is approximately 2.78%.
If a particularly generous table pays 3 to 1 on both 2 and 12, the mathematical house edge can be 0% under that payout structure.
The last arrangement is uncommon, so players should not assume that every Field bet has the same mathematical value.
This is one of the best examples in craps of why checking the printed payout is more important than simply knowing the name of the wager.
A Simple Field Bet Example
Imagine a player places $20 on the Field at a table where 12 pays 3 to 1 and 2 pays 2 to 1.
The shooter rolls 10.
Because 10 is in the Field, the player wins 1 to 1, producing $20 in winnings.
The next roll is a separate opportunity. If the player wants another Field bet, they must place another wager according to the table’s betting procedure.
Now imagine the shooter rolls 12.
The player receives the special 3-to-1 payout. A $20 wager would produce $60 in winnings, plus the original $20 stake under normal payout conventions.
If the next roll is 7, the Field bet loses.
Field Bet vs Pass Line Bet
The Field and Pass Line are very different wagers.
A Pass Line bet begins with the come-out roll. A seven or eleven wins immediately, two, three, or twelve loses, and 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes a point. The bet can then continue for several rolls.
A Field bet does none of this.
It is resolved immediately on the next roll.
For example, a seven wins a Pass Line bet during the come-out roll but loses a Field bet. A twelve loses a Pass Line bet on the come-out roll but wins a Field bet.
This is an important distinction because beginners sometimes assume that all craps bets follow the same rules.
Field Bet vs Place Bets
A Field bet is also different from a Place bet.
A Place bet can be made on numbers such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 and generally remains active until the selected number appears or seven is rolled, depending on the wager.
A Field bet lasts for only one roll.
The two bets can also point in different directions. Four and nine are covered by the Field, while they can also be the subjects of Place bets.
For a beginner, the easiest distinction is:
Field = next roll.
Place bet = selected number remains active until resolved or removed.
Can You Make a Field Bet on Any Roll?
Because the Field is a one-roll wager, it is commonly available before each dice throw, subject to the table’s betting procedures.
It does not depend on whether the puck is showing “On” or “Off.”
This is different from some wagers that are closely connected to the point cycle.
A player can therefore observe the current game state and still make a Field bet before the next roll if the table permits it.
The key is to place the wager before the dice are thrown rather than attempting to add it after the result is already known.
Does the Point Matter for a Field Bet?
No. The point does not determine whether the Field bet wins.
Suppose the point is six. A Field bet can still win on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
If the shooter rolls six, the Field bet loses even though six is the current point.
If the shooter rolls nine, the Field bet wins.
This independence from the point cycle makes the Field easy to understand once its covered numbers are memorized.
Field Bets and the Number Seven
Seven deserves special attention because it is the most common individual dice total but is not included in the Field.
There are six ways to roll seven with two dice, giving it a probability of approximately 16.67%.
Nevertheless, a Field bet loses whenever seven appears.
This can surprise beginners who assume that a wager covering several numbers must include seven because of its importance elsewhere in craps.
The Field does not work that way.
A Field bet specifically covers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Field Bet Payouts Can Differ Between Casinos
One of the most important practical lessons for new craps players is that Field payouts are not always identical.
A table might pay 2 to 1 on 12, while another might pay 3 to 1. Another casino could reverse the special payouts, and some tables may offer less favorable terms.
The printed layout normally provides the information needed to identify the payout.
Before placing a Field wager, look at the numbers printed in the Field box. If you are uncertain, asking the dealer is completely reasonable.
This is especially important when playing at an unfamiliar casino or online game.
Is the Field Bet a Good Bet?
The answer depends partly on the payout structure, but even the more common Field versions generally have a higher house edge than the Pass Line.
For example, a Field paying 3 to 1 on one of the extreme numbers and 2 to 1 on the other has a house edge of approximately 2.78%. A Field paying only 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12 has a house edge of approximately 5.56%.
By comparison, the standard Pass Line bet has a house edge of about 1.41%.
This does not mean that a Field bet is guaranteed to lose or that it cannot be enjoyable. It simply means that the mathematical cost of the wager can be higher.
Players interested in craps strategy should therefore understand the house edge before deciding how frequently to use the Field.
Why the Field Bet Can Feel Attractive
The Field is appealing partly because the rules are easy to explain.
A player does not need to remember a complicated sequence. There is no point to track and no need to calculate whether the next roll is part of an existing number bet.
The wager is simply:
Place the bet.
Roll the dice.
Check the result.
The possibility of a larger payout on 2 or 12 adds another element of excitement.
The downside is that the bet resolves quickly. If a player places a Field wager on every roll, the amount of money exposed to the house edge can accumulate rapidly.
The Risk of Betting the Field Every Roll
Because Field bets are resolved after every throw, players can be tempted to keep repeating the wager.
A single bet might seem small, but dozens of consecutive wagers can create a much larger total amount of money at risk.
For example, a player betting $10 on the Field for 30 rolls has wagered $300 in total, even though only $10 was at risk on any individual roll.
This is an important concept when evaluating one-roll bets.
The speed of a wager can matter just as much to bankroll management as the amount of each individual bet.
Are Field Numbers “Due”?
No.
If the Field has not won for several rolls, that does not make a Field number more likely to appear on the next roll.
Similarly, if the Field has won several times consecutively, that does not make another Field result less likely.
Each dice roll has its own probability distribution.
For example, twelve remains a 1-in-36 outcome on an individual roll regardless of how many previous rolls have occurred without a twelve.
Players should be careful about interpreting streaks as predictions.
Common Field Bet Mistakes
One common beginner mistake is assuming that the Field covers every number except seven. It does not. Five, six, and eight also lose.
Another mistake is ignoring the special payout for 2 and 12. The payout can materially affect the mathematical value of the wager.
Some players also assume that a Field bet remains active for several rolls. It does not. It is a one-roll wager.
Another mistake is believing that a Field number is “due” after a long losing streak.
Finally, beginners may continue placing Field bets automatically without tracking how much they are wagering over an entire session.
Understanding these small details can make the game much easier to manage.
Field Bets on Online Craps
Online craps generally displays the Field area as a selectable betting section. Players can usually see the available payout information directly on the digital table.
The one-roll nature of the wager remains the same in standard online versions.
However, online games can differ in their rules, payout structures, minimum bets, and available variations. Some may offer different Field payouts from others.
Players should therefore read the game’s paytable rather than assuming that an online Field bet uses the same payout as a physical casino table.
The digital format can actually be useful for beginners because the available payout may be clearly displayed before the wager is confirmed.
Field Bets on Live Dealer Craps
Live dealer craps combines an online interface with a real dealer and physical dice table.
The Field bet works in essentially the same conceptual way: the player places the wager before the next throw, and the result determines whether it wins or loses.
The main difference is the environment. Instead of a completely digital dice display, players can watch an actual dealer and physical dice through a live video feed.
The available betting limits and payout rules still depend on the particular game.
How Beginners Can Learn the Field Bet
The easiest way to learn the Field is to memorize the winning and losing groups.
Winning:
2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12
Losing:
5, 6, 7, 8
Then remember one additional rule:
2 and 12 may have special payouts.
Once these three facts are understood, there is little else required to follow a basic Field wager.
There is no point to establish and no multi-roll sequence to track.
Should New Craps Players Use the Field?
New players can certainly learn about the Field and use it as part of understanding the craps layout. However, they should not feel that they need to use every available betting area.
The Pass Line is the fundamental wager for understanding the main flow of standard craps, while the Field is an optional one-roll proposition.
Players interested in minimizing the mathematical house advantage may prefer to focus on bets with lower house edges. The Field can still be understood and enjoyed, but its payout and house-edge structure should be considered before repeatedly using it.
The important thing is to know exactly what the wager does before putting money on it.
Responsible Field Betting
Because the Field is resolved every roll, it can encourage frequent wagering. This makes bankroll awareness especially important.
Players should decide how much they are comfortable spending before starting and avoid increasing the wager simply because several Field numbers have failed to appear.
A losing streak does not make the next Field bet more likely to win.
Likewise, a series of successful Field rolls does not guarantee that another one will follow.
Craps is a game of chance, and no betting system can guarantee a profit. The Field should be treated as an entertainment wager rather than a dependable source of income.
Final Thoughts
The Field bet is one of the easiest wagers for a new craps player to understand. It is a one-roll bet covering 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. A roll of 5, 6, 7, or 8 causes the wager to lose.
Its simplicity is one reason the Field is popular. Players do not need to track a point or wait for a number to repeat. The next roll immediately determines the outcome.
However, understanding the payout is just as important as understanding the rules. The special payouts for 2 and 12 vary between casinos, and those differences can significantly affect the Field bet’s house edge. A common 3-to-1/2-to-1 structure has a house edge of approximately 2.78%, while a 2-to-1 payout on both 2 and 12 raises it to about 5.56%.
For beginners, the biggest lesson is simple: know the covered numbers, check the payout, and remember that the bet ends after one roll.
Once those basics are clear, the Field becomes much less intimidating and can be understood as one small part of the larger craps table.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Field bet in craps?
A Field bet is a one-roll wager that wins when the next dice roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
2. Which numbers lose a Field bet?
A Field bet loses when the next roll is 5, 6, 7, or 8.
3. Is the Field bet a one-roll wager?
Yes. A Field bet is resolved completely on the next dice roll.
4. Does seven win the Field?
No. Seven is not included in the Field and causes the Field wager to lose.
5. Does twelve win the Field?
Yes. Twelve is one of the Field numbers and normally receives a special payout.
6. What does a Field bet pay?
The usual payout is 1 to 1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, with special payouts for 2 and 12.
7. Why do 2 and 12 pay more?
They are each possible in only one dice combination, making them less likely than most other Field numbers.
8. How many numbers are covered by the Field?
Seven totals are covered: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
9. Does the Field depend on the point?
No. The Field is resolved according to the next dice roll regardless of the current point.
10. Can I place a Field bet when the point is established?
Yes, subject to the specific table’s betting procedures. The Field does not depend on whether the puck is on or off.
11. What is the probability of winning a Field bet?
Under standard two-dice probabilities, the Field covers 16 of 36 combinations, giving a win probability of approximately 44.44%.
12. What is the house edge on the Field?
It depends on the payouts. A Field paying 2 to 1 on both 2 and 12 has a house edge of about 5.56%, while common structures with one 3-to-1 extreme number have an edge of about 2.78%.
13. Is the Field better than the Pass Line?
They are different wagers. The standard Pass Line has a lower house edge than common Field configurations, but players should consider their own goals and the specific table rules.
14. Does a Field losing streak make a win more likely?
No. Previous results do not change the probability of the next dice roll.
15. Can a Field bet win on four?
Yes. Four is one of the numbers covered by the Field.
16. Can a Field bet win on eight?
No. Eight is one of the Field’s losing numbers.
17. Can a Field bet win on eleven?
Yes. Eleven is included in the Field.
18. Is a Field bet the same as a Place bet?
No. A Field bet is resolved on the next roll, while a Place bet can remain active across multiple rolls.
19. Do all casinos offer the same Field payout?
No. Field payouts, particularly those for 2 and 12, can vary between casinos and game versions.
20. Should beginners bet the Field on every roll?
There is no requirement to do so. Because the wager is resolved every roll, repeatedly betting the Field can quickly increase the total amount wagered during a session. It is better to understand the rules and payout before deciding how often to use it.
