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Recently, we wrote about craps on Casinoz because it seems to us that gamblers often overlook this excellent game unfairly. This article deals with one of the most popular craps betting systems. You should be familiar with the basic rules and understand craps terminology to comprehend what we are discussing.
This betting system is known as the Iron Cross. It should be admitted that it is fascinating, but it cannot help users overcome the house edge, like all other systems.
Iron Cross Strategy Description
This betting strategy is straightforward.
All you have to do is to make a field bet combined with place bets on the numbers 5, 6, and 8.
Bets of the same size are usually made, although some players believe it is necessary to increase bets according to a certain progression or vary them in any other way.
If any bet loses or is removed from the layout after the payout occurs, you should replace it (of the same size) and continue playing. Let's take a look at all the possible options.
- If 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 is rolled, a field bet is paid. The place bets are left on the table layout.
- If you roll 5, a place bet on 5 wins and pays 7:5, but a field bet loses. The other two bets remain on the table layout.
- If 6 or 8 is rolled, the corresponding place bet wins and is paid 7:6, but a field bet loses. The other two bets remain on the table layout.
- If 7 is rolled, all four bets lose!
Therefore, you can lose only in one case if 7 comes up. In all other situations, you win some money. To be sure, 7 is the most common dice combination since it is formed in one case out of six. You will win more frequently.
Odds of Winning with Iron Cross
To make this betting system profitable, the payout for place and field bets should exceed the number of losses when seven is rolled. From a statistical point of view, it is impossible in the long run.
In other words, the combination of unfavorable bets cannot make the whole system profitable.
There are the following house edges for different bets:
- Field bets- 2.78% (if casino pays 2:1 for 2 and 3:1 for 12)
- Place bets on 5 - 4%
- Place bets on 6 and 8 - 1.52%
Simple calculations show that if you follow this strategy, the house advantage will be 2.76% over the long run. If the field bet is always paid 1:1, the house edge rises to 3.87%.
Unbeatable Iron Cross System
The Iron Cross betting system has a more profitable version called Unbeatable Iron Cross. We warn you that you should not deceive yourself, as this strategy does not consistently yield wins. Its title sounds too optimistic, but thanks to it, the version has become even more popular on the Internet than the initial one.
According to this system, bets can be made as soon as a point is established. You make the following bets before you roll:
- $5 on the field
- $6 on 5, 6, and 8
Then you need to repeat all bets in case of their loss or win (like while using the traditional Iron Cross betting strategy). However, there is one fundamental difference. You have the same aim as those players who have made pass-line bets. You also don't want 7 to come up. Therefore, as soon as the pass line bet wins, you should stop repeating bets, which are removed from the table.
This is explained by the belief that seven should come up soon because it has not been rolled for a long time. Some players even hold a special account and stop betting at a particular stage.
But it is a mere delusion. In fact, a roll of the dice has no relation to the previous rounds. Even if 7 did not appear one hundred times in a row, the probability of loss would be the same in the 101st spin.
If a field bet is paid 1:1 in all cases, the house advantage is 3.34% when gamblers use the Unbeatable Iron Cross betting system. This is less than in the traditional version of this strategy, but still higher compared to the use of pass line/do not pass line and odds bets.
Conclusion
The statistical data provided above accurately characterizes the Iron Cross and the Unbeatable Iron Cross. This is not the best way to play craps. However, if we consider that casino customers often want to have a good time rather than win, we can conclude that these strategies are pretty effective.
If you get bored making pass line bets and strengthening them by making odds bets, combine these tactics with the Unbeatable Iron Cross betting system. The gameplay will be significantly more enjoyable, and the house edge will be a less significant factor.
