Iron Cross Bet Variant

Hi, Stickman,

In reference to the Iron Cross in Craps - bet $50 on the 5, $48 each on the 6 and 8, and $10 on the field. After two or sometimes three rolls, take down all bets until a decision. What do you think?

Thank you for your time and expertise.

Brian

Well, Brian, as I see it there is some good, some bad, and a little ugly in this betting strategy.

First the good. Any time you limit your exposure when betting on random shooters in craps, it is good. By limiting your exposure to two or three rolls, the house edge will not have as much time to work against your bankroll - and that is very good.

Now for a little of the bad. By betting more on the 5 than the 6 and 8 you allow the four percent house edge on the 5 to have a bigger chunk of your bet upon which to work. By limiting the field portion of your bet to $10, however, you have minimized the effect of the roughly 5.5 percent edge on field bets - which is good. You would be better served increasing your 6 and 8 to $60 each and decreasing the 5 to $25. This will still give you about the same amount of action ($155 versus $156) and also cut the house edge. In your example, the house edge is 2.92 percent. It is reduced to 2.59 percent in my modified example.

And now the ugly (only a little). Will you be able to stand by and watch while a shooter hits number after number (but has no decision)? The reason people are drawn to the Iron Cross is because of the action. By turning your bets off, you will at times be watching others collect and you won't. If you are okay with watching the action and not collecting in order to preserve you bankroll, then I would strongly suggest you simply bet the 6 and 8 at whatever level you are comfortable betting, and leaving them working for however many rolls you want. This reduces the house edge by almost 50 percent (1.52 versus 2.92 percent).

The only reason to bet the Iron Cross is for action. Turning off bets after a few rolls, reduces action. You can't have it both ways. If you are willing to forgo some action, bet the best bets - the 6 and 8, or better yet, pass line and come bets with odds.