The Iron Cross: winning on every roll but seven
The Iron Cross combines a field bet with place bets on 5, 6 and 8. Every total except 7 wins something, so 30 of 36 rolls pay. But a 7 takes all four bets at once, and the edge is worse than pass line play.
Reviewed Oct 15, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Field plus place 5, 6 and 8.
- 02Wins on any roll except 7.
- 03Loses about 36 cents per roll on a $39 spread.
Key numbers
Iron Cross at a glance
In short
Key takeaways
- Frequent small wins hide steady losses.
- One 7 wipes out about five wins.
- The field bet carries most of the edge.
- Pass line with odds costs less.
Progress
The Iron Cross spread
- 1
Field
$5 on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12
- 2
Place 5
$10
- 3
Place 6
$12
- 4
Place 8
$12
- 5
Uncovered
Only 7
Placed after a point is set; field 2 pays double and 12 triple here.
Result of one roll ($5 field, $10 on 5, $12 on 6 and 8)
| Roll | Ways of 36 | What happens | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | All four bets lose | -$39 |
| 5 | 4 | Place 5 pays $14, field loses $5 | +$9 |
| 6 or 8 | 10 | Place pays $14, field loses $5 | +$9 |
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 14 | Field pays $5 | +$5 |
| 2 | 1 | Field pays double | +$10 |
| 12 | 1 | Field pays triple | +$15 |
Our own sums; field pays vary by casino.
How the Iron Cross works
After a point is set, you place $10 on the 5 and $12 each on the 6 and 8, then bet $5 on the field. The field wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The place bets cover 5, 6 and 8. Only 7 is left out.
Place bets stay up after they win, but the field is a one-roll bet, so you must rebet it each roll. Place 5 pays 7 to 5 and place 6 and 8 pay 7 to 6, so $10 and $12 each return $14 in profit.
When the 5, 6 or 8 rolls, you win $14 on the place bet but lose the $5 field bet, netting $9. On the other field numbers you win the field and the place bets wait.
Iron Cross vs simpler bets
| Approach | Edge measure | Approx. edge |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Cross (this spread) | Per roll, on $39 | About 0.93% |
| Field alone (2× and 3×) | Per bet | 2.78% |
| Place 6 or 8 | Per bet resolved | 1.52% |
| Pass line with 3-4-5× odds | Per total bet | 0.37% |
Iron Cross figure from our own per-roll sum; others from Wizard of Odds.
The math per roll
Add up every outcome by its chance. Six rolls in 36 lose $39, for −$234. The other 30 rolls win a total of $221. The sum is −$13 over 36 rolls, about −$0.36 per roll, or about 0.93% of the $39 on the layout each roll.
Per roll is a fair way to measure here, because the field is settled every roll. Place bets on 6 and 8 have an edge of about 1.52% per decision, while place 5 is about 4%, and the field with a triple 12 is about 2.78%.
The average winning roll pays about $7.37. A 7 costs $39, so you need about five wins in a row to cover each 7. Since a 7 comes up about once every six rolls, the cross feels good until it suddenly does not.
Sequence
If you try the Iron Cross
Step 01
Wait for a point
Place bets work then.
Step 02
Set the spread
Field plus 5, 6 and 8.
Step 03
Rebet the field
Every roll.
Step 04
Track results
Count the 7s.
Step 05
Set a loss limit
Stop when reached.
Better ways to cover numbers
If you like action on many numbers, pass and come bets with odds keep more money on bets with no edge, as in the 3-point Molly. Placing just the 6 and 8 has a lower edge than adding the field and the 5.
Field pays differ. Some casinos pay only double on 12, which raises the field edge to about 5.56% and makes the Iron Cross worse. Check the field layout before you play.
No mix of bets changes the odds of a 7. Each bet keeps its own edge, so a spread can only blend them.
Floor rules
Iron Cross terms
Know before you sit
- Field bet
- One-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
- Place bet
- Bet that a number rolls before 7.
- Seven-out
- A 7 after the point.
- Spread
- A set of bets placed together.
Common mistakes
- Counting wins, not money
- Losses are bigger.
- Playing double-only 12
- Edge rises.
- Forgetting to rebet the field
- It is one roll.
- Thinking it beats the house
- Edge stays.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
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Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What is the Iron Cross in craps?
A field bet plus place bets on 5, 6 and 8, so every number but 7 pays. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
How often does it win?
On 30 of 36 rolls, about 83%. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What happens on a 7?
All four bets lose at once. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Numbers
What is the house edge?
About 0.93% of the spread per roll with a triple-12 field. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
How much does a 7 cost?
The whole spread, $39 in the example. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Is it better than the pass line?
No. Pass line with odds has a much lower edge. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Play
When should I place it?
After a point is set, when place bets are working. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Do I rebet the field?
Yes, the field settles every roll. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Where can I get help?
If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, private help. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Craps Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Field and place bets
- Wizard of Odds — Craps Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 15, 2026House edge by bet
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 15, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER