Criss Cross Poker is an extension of a famous stud based table game known as Mississippi Stud. In that game, gamblers begin with two hole cards and try to develop using 3 community cards, but in Criss Cross Poker, the community card sum increases to five.

The name comes from the particular “cross-like” pattern formed by fitting the five community cards up and down, in addition to right and left.

Like all stud based table game alternatives, Criss Cross Poker competes in a crowded marketplace, but it seems to be gaining widespread traction. With unique casino properties like the Bally’s and Borgata in Atlantic City now offering the game on a full-time basis, odds are Criss Cross Poker will become a great offering on most table game menus.

History of Criss Cross Poker

The U.S. Patent’s purpose to protect a hybrid table game concept known as Criss Cross Poker was filed by game inventor Ronald Deluca in February 2014.

Laduca, who also designed other table games like Super 4 Progressive Blackjack and Double Draw Poker, launched his casino game design firm, In Bet Gaming, to help sell his ideas.

In September 2014, Laduca and In-Bet Gaming decided to license Criss Cross Poker to major casino game manufacturer American Gaming Systems, which debuted the game at that year’s Global Gaming Expo. Since then, Criss Cross Poker has secured a few installations in casinos located across the country, including Nevada, Las Vegas, and New Jersey, Atlantic City, in addition to the state of Washington DC.

How to Play Criss Cross?

As the name says, Criss Cross Poker is a poker-based game, which means the official ranking system used to check poker hands will be changed.

Hold ’em Poker Hand Rankings.

Take a look down to see how poker hands stack up:

• Royal Flush – Straight (AKQJ10) in the same suit.
• Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards in the same suit.
• Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank.
• Full House – Three of a Kind AND One Pair.
• Flush – Five cards of the same suit.
• Straight – Five cards in sequential order.
• Three of a Kind – 3 cards of the same rank.
• Two Pair – Two pairs of the same card.
• One Pair – Two cards of the same rank.
• High Card – No pair; the highest card is the rank of the hand.

Playing Criss Cross Poker

#1 – The game begins when players put up two necessary bets: the Ante Across Bet and the Ante Down Bet. These bets must be an equal amount.

Here, players may choose to put up an optional side bet known as the Five Card Bonus Bet.

#2 – After all players have presented their Ante bets, the dealer will then share two cards face down to each player, with 5 community cards in the so-called cross pattern.

This is nothing more than three cards lined up horizontally, along with 1 card each on the bottom and top of the middle card, forming a straight “line” through the other three cards forming a cross.

#3 – You’ll be joining your two hole cards with the 3 cards horizontal line to form your “Across hand” and the 3 cards vertical line to build your “Down hand.”

#4 – After building up your two hole cards, the first player decision point has arrived: Fold or make the Across Bet.

• When you fold, you quit the hand right then and there, abandoning both of your Ante bets to the house.
• When you choose to make the Across Bet, you’ll need to add Across Bet equal to either 1x, 2x, or 3x your initial Ante Across Bet.

After you have put up the Across bet, the dealer will disclose the two outside cards belonging to the horizontal line.

#5 – Next, you repeat this wagering method for the Down Bet, either putting up or folding an additional wager of 1x, 2x, or 3x your initial Ante Down Bet.

The dealer now will turn over the two outside cards on the vertical line, leaving only the center “hub” card set facing down.

#6 – Next, for the last player decision, you must choose between folding or make one previous Middle Bet (again, equal to 1x, 2x, or 3x the size of your Ante bet).

The dealer will then unveil the middle card to complete the cross of community cards.

Strategy to Win at Criss Cross Poker

• First, players should nevermore make the 2x bet, which is made available on the Across, Down, and Middle stakes. Instead, gamblers should always bet either 1x or 3x when proceeding, or they should fold.
• On about 4.5% of hands, you’ll make the 1x minimum Bet for the Across Bet and the Down Bet before deciding to fold the Middle Bet.
• Players should follow the same global guidelines as the Across bet while trying to factor in the Down Bet’s newly exposed cards. When these cards raise your hand or give it the potential to improve, you should increase the maximum.
• With all other hole cards, gamblers should make the 1x least Across Bet.
• For the Middle Bet, gamblers now have access to four of the five community cards. If you have already put up a 3x maximum bet on either the Down Bet or the Across Bet, you should never fold the Middle Bet.
• For the Across bet, gamblers should fold only when their two hole cards are unpaired, unsuited, and the highest card ranks five or lower. Gamblers should only make the 3x maximum Across Bet when holding a suited Q J or any pair.