Criss Cross Poker strategy chart
Every decision in the game on one page. Print it, or use your browser's print dialog and choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your phone.
1 & 2 · The Across and Down bets
Both decisions use the same rule. You are looking only at your two hole cards.
| Your two cards | Action |
|---|---|
| Any pair | Raise 3x |
| Suited, headed by a Jack or better | Raise 3x |
| Unsuited, unpaired, nothing above a 5 | Fold |
| Everything else | Bet 1x |
3 · The Middle bet
Four community cards are already face up. There is no Ante Middle, and it pays on whichever of your two hands finishes higher.
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| You already made a 3x bet this hand | Raise 3x |
| Either hand already holds a pair of 6s or better | Raise 3x |
| One card from a straight or a flush | Raise 3x |
| Two high cards, nothing made | Bet 1x |
| Nothing made, nothing to draw at | Skip |
Pay table you are playing against
A high pair means Jacks through Aces. A low pair (6s through 10s) returns your bet. A pair of 5s or lower is treated as no hand.
Three rules that carry most of the value. Never shade a 3x down to 1x on a pair. Never fold anything with a 6 or higher, or any two suited cards. And almost never skip the Middle bet: roughly 4.5% of hands are a genuine Middle fold.
Read why each line is what it is
This chart is a simplified reading of the published optimal strategy for Criss Cross Poker. The full solution accounts for every exposed card at each decision; the difference is small but real. Figures follow the analysis at Wizard of Odds.