Iron Cross Craps Strategy: How to Use the Iron Cross in Craps Effectively

Those who have played craps know exactly how thrilling and fast-paced the game can be. For those who haven’t, you’ve probably seen the excitement unfold in movies, crowds cheering around a craps table as the dice roll across the felt.

Craps is a dynamic dice game where players bet on the outcome of rolls, often facing off against the house in a mix of luck and strategy. Among the many betting systems used, one stands out for its unique approach, the Iron Cross Craps Strategy.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to use the Iron Cross in craps effectively, exploring how it works, why some players swear by it, and the potential risks you should be aware of. So, grab your favorite drink, take a seat, and discover whether the Iron Cross is the right strategy for your next craps session.

What is The Iron Cross Craps Strategy?

To understand what the Iron Cross craps strategy is, it’s important to first understand what Field and Place bets are:

• Field Bet: a one-roll bet that wins if the next roll is a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
• Place Bet: a bet that wins if the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 are rolled before a 7.

By placing a bet in the Field area and a Place bet on numbers 5, 6, and 8 at the same time, you win on every roll except for rolls that add up to 7. Because of the strength of this strategy, it is compared to “iron.” At the same time, when you place those specific bets, the chips form a cross shape on the table. This is the “cross.” Together, this strategy quickly gained the name “Iron Cross.” So, how does the strategy work?

How the Craps Iron Cross Strategy Works

Once the point number is established—the number that the player must roll again before rolling a 7, you:

• Make a Place bet on numbers 5, 6, and 8. These iron cross craps bets pay and remain there until the player rolls a 7.
• Make a Field bet. This is a one-time bet that wins if the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12 come up.

If the player rolls the point number, the Place bets remain on the table for the next roll unless the player removes them. These two things make up the iron cross in craps.

How Each Roll Plays Out:

Once your bets are set and the point number is established, the strategy goes into effect. Let’s assume the player’s point number is a 5 and their next roll is an 8. Here’s how the iron cross in craps would play out:

• The Place bet on “8” would win. The 5, 6, and 8 place bets will remain on the table.
• The Field bet will lose, and you’ll need to replace it.

Let’s assume the player’s next roll is a 9. Here’s what happens:

• The Place bets do not win. However, they remain on the table.
• The Field bet wins. You can either remove the chips or replace the bet for the next roll.

Let’s assume the next roll is a 7. Here’s what happens;

• You lose all of your iron cross craps bets.

The iron cross in craps strategy here is that you have higher odds of winning small on most rolls. The small wins can stack up if it takes the player 5-10 rolls to hit the point number. Keep in mind, any 7 rolled is a loss. You can see the strategy in action by playing craps games online.

Iron Cross Strategy Odds

The odds of each field number are a bit different, with the numbers 6 and 8 having slightly better odds.

Here are the true craps iron cross odds and house advantage:

• Number 5: true odds of 4 out of 36 with a 4% house edge.
• Number 6 and 8: true odds of 5 out of 36 with a 1.52% house edge.
• Field bets: true odds of 16 out of 36 with a house edge of 2.78%-5.57%, depending on whether the house pays 2x or 3x for a 12.

Remember, you’ll be making both Field and Place iron cross craps bets. So, the overall house edge is a bit more than 2%. The craps iron cross odds are slightly higher than the Pass line (1.41%) or Place 6/8 alone (1.52%) house edge.

Iron Cross Craps: Payoffs for Each Number

Let’s take a look at the payoffs for each number in the iron cross in craps, assuming a $5 bet on each Place number and $5 on the Field bet.

Number Rolled	Outcome	Payout Example
5	Win Place 5, lose Field	+$7 (Place 5), -$5 (Field) = +$2
6 or 8	Win Place 6/8, lose Field	+$7 (Place 6/8), -$5 (Field) = +$2
2	Win double Field, lose Place bets	+$10 (Field), -$15 (Place bets) = -$5 net
12	Win double or triple Field, lose Place bets	+$10 or $15 (Field), -$15 (Place bets) = -$5 or $0 net (casino dependent)
3, 4, 9, 10, 11	Win Field, lose Place bets	+$5 (Field), -$15 (Place bets) = -$10 net
7	Lose all bets	-$30 total

Play online craps games for free to experiment with the craps iron cross system as well as different bet sizes.

How to Play Craps Using the Iron Cross Strategy

Here’s a simplified step-by-step guide for using the craps iron cross strategy.

1. Wait for the come-out roll to establish a point.
2. Place your bets:

• Place chips in the “Place bet area.” These are normally the larger numbers directly around the word “Come.” Place chips on all three numbers, 5, 6, and 8.
• Place chips in the “Field bet area.” This area is labeled with the word “Field.”

3. Wait for the player to roll:

• The number rolled will determine whether you win the bet or not. If you lose, the dealer will collect your chips. If you win, the dealer will place your winnings next to your chips in the corresponding area.

4. Continue playing or collect all of your chips:

• You can collect your winnings and leave the original chips where they are.
• You can also collect all of your chips and walk away with your original bet and winnings.

The most common bet is $5 on each 5, 6, 8, and the Field area. It really depends on your average bet and financial situation.

Adding in the Field Bet

The Field bet is a single-roll bet. So, if you lose, you’ll have to replace it with each roll. If you win, you can collect your winnings and leave your original bet there for the next roll. It’s up to you.

Iron Cross with Pass Line Bets

To lower the craps iron cross odds, you may want to use the iron cross craps with pass line. How does this help?

• If the player rolls a 7 or 11, the bet wins.
• If they roll a 2, 3, or 12, the bet loses.
• However, if the player rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the bet becomes part of the point number. If they roll the point number before a 7 or 11, the bet wins.
• Keep in mind, there’s something called 3/4/5 odds. This means:
  • 3x maximum odds allowed if the point is 4 or 10.
    • 4x maximum odds if the point is 5 or 9.
    • 5x maximum odds if the point is 6 or 8.

There are also other variations of the craps iron cross strategy.

Variations of the Iron Cross Craps Strategy

Aside from combining the iron cross craps strategy with the iron cross craps with pass line, some players also:

• Add Come bets: This will increase the numbers covered and action. However, it also increases the risks.
• As we’ve mentioned, the number 5 has slightly lower odds than 6 and 8. Because of this, many players like to bet a bit more on the latter two. This can help increase your payouts over time.
• As the Field bet is a single-roll bet, there are some players who typically only use the iron cross craps strategy with the Place bets on 5, 6, and 8. It will reduce the total number of losses, yet also decrease the total number of covered numbers.

However you use the iron cross craps strategy, you’ll have to remember one thing: there is no way to get around the number 7 killing all of your bets.

Pros and Cons of The Craps Iron Cross

Like any strategy, the iron cross craps strategy has its pros and cons. Here are a few that stand out:

Pros:

• Most numbers are covered. So, you’ll likely enjoy stringing together lots of small wins.
• It’s fairly easy to learn.
• There are a few variations you can play around with to see what works best for you.

Cons:

• If the player rolls a 7, it kills all of your bets. Leading to significant losses if it’s early in their turn.
• The overall craps iron cross odds are still higher than simply betting on the Pass line.
• Lots of small wins can be misleading. A couple of losses can wipe out hours of profits.

Overall, it’s an interesting strategy that can lead to tons of wins if the player gets on a hot roll.

Iron Cross Craps Strategy vs. Other Craps Systems

If you don’t have a strategy yet, a good place to start is the iron cross craps strategy. You can also try some of these other well-known strategies:

• Pass line: Has the lowest house edge around 0.85%. Wins take longer and are less frequent.
• Don’t Pass: Low house edge around 1.36%. You bet the player will lose.
• Come bets: If the player rolls a 7 or 11, you win. You lose on 2, 3, and 12. Any other number becomes the number the player needs to roll again before 7 or 11 for you to win.

Be sure to read our blog for a more detailed breakdown of those strategies.

Overall, craps is a great game that puts the better against the house or the player throwing the dice. There are tons of strategies you can choose from. Be sure to test different ones with smaller bets while you’re learning. Most importantly, make sure you’re having fun. And if you don’t live around a casino, be sure to check out our online casino.

Iron Cross Craps Strategy FAQ