Craps is a game of chance, so players always appreciate any sniff of a winning strategy. Of course, no gambling strategy ensures wins every time. Otherwise we’d all use it and get rich quickly. However, the Iron Cross Craps Strategy is still a decent option if craps is your forte. Ideal for beginners and not overly difficult to learn, the Iron Cross Betting System is worth a closer look, and that’s what Go Spin is aiming to do with today’s blog.
What Is the Iron Cross Craps Strategy?
At its most basic, the Iron Cross Craps Strategy is a way of combining both Field and Place Bets to win whatever happens, unless the shooter rolls a seven. Because of this good fortune, casinos will try to wriggle out of the bet by only paying 2:1 for 12s on a Field Bet. Given that, we recommend only playing games with 3:1, which is the norm. If you accept 2:1 on Field Bets, the house edge doubles from 2.78% to 5.56%. You want to avoid that.
How to Set Up the Iron Cross
As mentioned, the Iron Cross Craps Strategy features both a Field Bet and three Place Bets to cover almost the entire board. Before you can bet, though, you’ll need a Come Out Roll to set the Point Number. It doesn’t matter what the Point Number is. After the Point Number is set, you can place your Iron Cross bets.
The best strategy involves wagering 1 unit on the Field Bet and 1 unit on the first Place Bet (5). You’ll then bet 1.2 units on the other two Place Bets (6 and 8). You decide the unit bet yourself, but if you choose $1, then your total stake looks like so:
- On the Field Bet, you’ll bet $1
- On the Place Bet (5), you’ll bet $1
- On the Place Bet (6), you’ll bet $1.20
- On the Place Bet (8), you’ll bet $1.20
Things to Note About the Iron Cross Craps Strategy
Learning how to win with the Iron Cross in Craps is straightforward enough, but it all hinges on a seven not appearing. The benefits of the Iron Cross strategy are clear enough to see, and they include:
- High Hit Frequency: It is relatively straightforward to land a win. You don’t have much to lose as long as a seven doesn’t rock up.
- Winnings: In most cases, you can win 1:1 for 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11, 2:1 for 2s, and 3:1 for 12s. Place Bets pay 7:6 for 6s or 8s and 7:5 for 5s. These are reasonable returns.
- House Edge Calculation: As long as you play with 3:1 for 12s, you’ll lower the house edge by half.
Pros and Cons
Not everything is rosy, though. No betting system is without its drawbacks, and the Iron Cross Craps Strategy is no exception. In fact, there are numerous times when things do go wrong. As a result, we’ve highlighted the key pros and cons of using the Iron Cross Craps Strategy to play the game online. Here’s what you need to know:
Pro: Easy for Beginners
Normally, exceedingly good strategies such as the Iron Cross aren’t easy for newbies to get to grips with. This one is, though, because you know exactly how you should bet, what to put money on and when; the Iron Cross is a betting strategy that is perfectly tailored for beginners and even craps newbies.
Con: Beware the Seven
Watch out for the seven. It is the only number that will sink your ship, but it is also the most common number. On average, sevens rock up six times in every thirty-six two-dice combos. That makes the Iron Cross Craps strategy a very prosperous but risky one to use when playing craps online.
Pro: Frequent Wins
Assuming you avoid the seven, there’s plenty of money up for grabs in craps with this strategy. We haven’t seen another craps strategy that offers the same good fortune. Successful win streaks help you put together quite the bankroll. Just remember that you should cash out that bankroll before those losing streaks come.
Con: Rapid Bankroll Depletion via Losing Streaks
While seven is the most common number in craps, it doesn’t often crop up several times in succession. Mercifully, you should avoid going on too many losing streaks with this system. That said, if you find yourself amidst losing streaks, your balance ends up depleted in no time at all. Successive sevens will destroy your bankroll and bankrupt you within just a few rolls if you’re not lucky enough to avoid them. That definitely represents a real risk to players with limited bankrolls.
FAQ
What is the house edge for the Iron Cross Craps Strategy?
If you stick to our Iron Cross Craps Strategy, you should play with a house edge of just 2.78%. However, if your game features 2:1 on 12s and not 3:1, then the house edge rises to 5.56%.
Can I use this strategy on all craps tables?
Pretty much. The only time we avoid using the Iron Cross Craps option is if the house only pays 2:1 for 12s in the Field Bet, as the resulting house edge ruins our strategy.
How likely is a seven to appear in craps?
Very. Seven is the most common number, appearing in six out of every thirty-six possible two-dice rolls. It means that the Iron Cross Craps strategy, while promising, isn’t without significant risk.
Is the Iron Cross Strategy ideal for quick or long-term gameplay?
Given the regularity of sevens in this dice game, we recommend using the Iron Cross Strategy for short, quick gaming sessions.
When can I use the Iron Cross bet in online craps?
This bet theoretically becomes available as soon as a Point Number appears. You can’t use it before then.
