A stud poker variant that has the player handle two 5-card hands simultaneously, Criss Cross Poker was created by In Bet Gaming in 2014. Criss Cross Poker is perhaps one of the lesser known poker variants out there, but its use of community cards and strategic betting options should make it an interesting option while playing at the best poker sites. Ready to learn how to play Criss Cross Poker? Then keep on reading, of course!
The Basics of Criss Cross Poker
Criss Cross Poker was created by table game provider In Bet Gaming in 2014. In Bet Gaming was acquired by AGS Gaming in 2019, adding Criss Cross Poker to its portfolio. As a result you’ll also find the online version of Criss Cross Poker at many online casinos, while the real-life version can be found in a number of casinos in the US and Europe.
There are three main features that make Criss Cross Poker unique. First, the player has two 5-card hands, on which they place two ante bets of equal value. Second, there are 5 community cards available on the table laid out in a cross pattern, thus the name of the game. Third, the game is played against a paytable as opposed to the other players or the dealer. We’ll admit it may get a bit much, so let’s follow the rules of Criss Cross Poker in order to see how a round actually plays out.
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How a Game of Criss Cross Poker Works
How a Game of Criss Cross Poker Works
As mentioned earlier, Criss Cross Poker has the player build two hands, each of 5 cards, using the cards they receive and the community cards. They can also place multiple bets as the round progresses. Let’s see what that involves right now:
- The game is played using a single 52-card deck.
- The player makes two ante bets of equal value known as Ante Across and Ante Down.
- The player can also make an optional Five Card bonus bet.
- The dealer hands the player 2 hole cards face down and places 5 community cards face down in a cross pattern.
- The player can check their hole cards and either fold or make an Across Bet worth 1x to 3x of their Ante Across bet with their Across hand.
- The dealer reveals the 2 outside cards on the horizontal row of the cross.
- The player can place a Down Bet based on their Down hand equal to 1-3x of their Ante Down bet or fold.
- The dealer reveals the two outside cards on the vertical column of the cross.
- The player can place a Middle Bet of 1-3x of one of their ante bets or fold.
- The dealer flips over the middle card.
- The player uses their 2 hole cards and the 3 cards in the horizontal row to make an Across hand.
- Likewise the player uses their 2 hole cards and the 3 cards in the horizontal row for their Down hand.
- The Across and Down hands pay according to the paytable, while the Middle bet pays out according to the highest ranking of the player’s two hands.
- Wins are expressed on a “to one” basis.
Criss Cross Poker Paytable
|
Winning Hand |
Payout |
|
Royal Flush |
500:1 |
|
Straight Flush |
100:1 |
|
Four of a Kind |
40:1 |
|
Full House |
12:1 |
|
Flush |
8:1 |
|
Straight |
5:1 |
|
Three of a Kind |
2:1 |
|
High Pair (Jacks or Better) |
1:1 |
|
Low Pair (6-10) |
0 |
Five Card Bonus Bet Paytable
As we mentioned earlier you can place an optional Five Card bonus bet at the start of the round. The payouts for this bet differ from the regular paytable and are as follows:
|
Winning Hand |
Payout |
|
Royal Flush |
250:1 |
|
Straight Flush |
100:1 |
|
Four of a Kind |
40:1 |
|
Full House |
15:1 |
|
Flush |
10:1 |
|
Straight |
6:1 |
|
Three of a Kind |
4:1 |
|
High Pair (Jacks or Better) |
3:1 |
|
Low Pair (6-10) |
1:1 |
Criss Cross Poker Strategy
There’s a simple way to think about Criss Cross Poker – it’s a game where you place your first bet without seeing any cards, the second after seeing two cards, the third after seeing four cards, and the fourth after seeing all six cards. As such, the basic game is one of 0, 2, 4, and 6. According to the experts the house edge is of around 4.33% when one considers they are making two bets at a time.
Here’s a basic strategy for your first Across bet:
- Raise up to 3 if you hold any pair or suited Q and J.
- Fold if you hold offsuit 23, 24, 25, 34, 35, 45.
- Otherwise raise to 1.
Once it’s time for the Down bet you’ll know a total of 4 cards. As such you can follow the same strategy employed for your Across bet. After all, both hands pay separately! The same goes for the Middle bet, which is when you’ve seen nearly all the cards, but it’s recommended to not fold if you’ve placed either 3x bet during the Across or Down phases..
Criss Cross Your Way into a New Poker Variant!
Criss Cross Your Way into a New Poker Variant!
Criss Cross Poker brings something different to the tablet with how its community cards are revealed. With the possibility of placing four bets in a single round, it can bring potentially decent payouts especially if you manage to get a high ranking hand! So enjoy Criss Cross Poker at your favourite online casino or poker site, and always remember to play responsibly.
