How to Play Iron Cross Poker

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When recommending the best poker games to teach children, we recommended Iron Cross Poker. Iron Cross, depending on how it is played, can be variant of Texas Hold’em or Five Card Draw.

Today, we will teach you the basics of how to play Iron Cross Poker and both ways you’ll find it played in poker home games.

Rules For Iron Cross Poker

Iron Cross Poker can be played in one or two ways. The most common way you will see it played is in the style of Texas Hold’em. Prior to receiving cards, you will have to either ante or post blinds. Antes are most commonly used in home games.

After posting antes, all players receive two hole cards like in Texas Hold’em but the first community card is also dealt. In this game, community cards are dealt in a cross formation. The first card is the left arm of the cross.

After the deal, there is a round of betting. Next, the top arm of the cross is dealt, followed by a round of betting. The right arm of the cross is then dealt, followed by yet another round of betting. Next, the bottom arm of the cross is dealt, followed by a round of betting.

Finally, the center card is dealt, completing the cross. In some games, this card is considered wild. After one final round of betting, players go to showdown.

In this game, you make your best hand by using the two cards in your hand and three community cards. You must choose whether to use the horizontal or vertical position for the cards. You cannot use both.

Variations of Iron Cross

There are three different variations that you will see in Iron Cross games. The first is effectively a pineapple version of the game where players receive three hole cards on the deal rather than two.

The next variant you may see is a variation of Seven Card Stud. In this variant, players are dealt two cards down and one face up on the deal. Some games may allow you to use all three hole cards instead of two.

The final variant you’ll see if a variation of Five Card Draw. You will get five hole cards like in Five Card Draw. Normally, you can use any of the five cards in your hand and three on the board.

In some games, the center card may be wild. Depending on the game, either just the center card will be wild, or all cards of that rank will be wild. On occasion, you will see other wilds called as well.

Basic Strategy

The strategy for this game is based a lot on whether there are wild cards. If there are wilds, then you want to stay away from most garbage starting hands when playing the Hold’em variant. When playing the Stud variant, you want to start with solid starting hands. When playing the Five Card Draw variant, you are going to want to play hands that are well coordinated.

When playing wilds, any starting hand with at least a pair is going to be one you want to focus on. That’s because you are guaranteed to start with three of a kind. If you are playing the Five Card Draw version, two pair starting hands guarantee you a full house at least.

If you are playing with multiple wild cards, only go after monster hands. Don’t worry about anything under a full house as it will have no shot at winning in most hands.

When you don’t have wild cards, then you need to revert to basic strategies for most Hold’em and Stud games. For Five Card Draw versions, you will avoid most junk hands and look for pair hands and hands that give you a chance at a solid draw.

Odds are that most Iron Cross games you play will involve wild cards. As such, you primarily want to rock up during this game if your goal is to make a profit. Otherwise, it is a fun game to play with a lot of action.