Official Poker Rules BoardDocument OPR-537 · Updated 28 September 2026

Home game · Shared card

Iron Cross Rules

In Iron Cross, also called Church or Criss Cross, each player is dealt five cards face down and five shared cards are laid face down in the shape of a cross. The shared cards are turned up one at a time, with betting after each. At showdown each player makes a five-card hand from at least two of their own cards and cards from either the horizontal line or the vertical line of the cross, but not both.

Also known as Church, Criss Cross (cross layout), Cris Cross

Hole cards: 5 per player
Shared cards: 5, in a cross
Betting rounds: 6
Wild cards: None, unless the centre card is made wild
Pot: High only (high-low is a common variation)

Article 1Players, deck and layout

1.1

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck without jokers. Hands are ranked according to the standard poker hand rankings, and the best five-card high hand wins the pot.

1.2

Five shared cards are dealt face down to the centre of the table in a cross. Each position is numbered to show the order in which it is turned up:

	Left	Centre	Right
Top		1
Middle	4	5	2
Bottom		3

Figure 1.1The cross of five shared cards, numbered in the order in which they are turned; the centre card, turned last, belongs to both the horizontal and the vertical line.

1.3

The cross has two lines: the horizontal line (4-5-2) and the vertical line (1-5-3). The centre card (5) belongs to both.

1.4

The name Criss Cross is also used for a 3x3 grid game; see Criss Cross (Tic Tac Toe). The dealer shall make clear which game is being dealt.

Article 2Antes and the deal

2.1

Each player places an agreed ante before the deal. Each betting round begins with the first active player to the dealer's left.

2.2

Each player is dealt five cards face down. The dealer then lays out the five shared cards face down in the cross.

Article 3Revealing the cross and betting

3.1

There is a betting round after the deal. The shared cards are then turned face up one at a time, in the order 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, with a betting round after each. The centre card is always turned last.

Round	Card turned before the round
1	None (after the deal)
2	Card 1 (top)
3	Card 2 (right)
4	Card 3 (bottom)
5	Card 4 (left)
6	Card 5 (centre)

3.2

If all but one player folds at any point, the remaining player wins the pot without showing their cards.

Article 4Showdown

4.1

Each player makes a five-card hand using at least two of their own five cards, together with shared cards as needed.

4.2

All the shared cards a player uses must come from the same line: either the horizontal line (4-5-2) or the vertical line (1-5-3). A player may not combine, for example, the top card with the left card.

4.3

The best high hand wins the pot. Identical hands split it.

Example

Row or column

The cross: top K♠, left 9♥, centre Q♥, right 5♥, bottom 3♦.

A player holds K♥K♦7♠4♣2♥.

Using the vertical line (K♠Q♥3♦), the best hand is three kings: K-K-K-Q-7.

Using the horizontal line (9♥Q♥5♥) with the K♥2♥ from hand, the player makes a king-high flush in hearts: K-Q-9-5-2.

The flush is the better hand, so the player plays the horizontal line. The king of spades cannot be added, because it belongs to the other line.

Article 5Common variations

Centre card wild. The centre card and all cards of the same rank are wild. With wild cards five of a kind is possible, and it normally ranks above a straight flush. One version on onlinepoker.net, under the name Cris Cross, plays this way with five hole cards and three shared cards from one line.
High-low. The game may be played high-low, either with a declaration or with the highest and lowest hands simply sharing the pot. With a declaration, a player going both ways must use only one line and make both hands from those eight cards. The ranking for low hands, and whether a wild card may count as an ace for low, shall be agreed in advance.
Four hole cards. Each player is dealt four cards instead of five.
Fewer betting rounds. Betting may take place only after the deal, after cards 1 and 2, after cards 3 and 4, and after the centre card.
Two plus three. A version described on onlinepoker.net deals each player two cards face down and one face up, then one more card face down when the centre card is turned. Each player must use exactly two of their own cards with all three cards of one line.

Related games with fixed lines include Criss Cross, Elevator, Pyramid and Flaming Cross.

Article 6Strategy notes

The centre card belongs to both lines, so it is the most valuable card on the board and is deliberately turned last.
With five hole cards, flushes and full houses are common. A hand that needs cards from both lines cannot be made, so judge each line separately.
Once the four outer cards are known, a player can count exactly which centre cards would help each line.

Article 7Frequently asked questions

Can you use both the row and the column in Iron Cross?

No. All the shared cards you use must come from one line: the horizontal row or the vertical column. The centre card belongs to both, so it can be used with either.

How many of your own cards must you use in Iron Cross?

Under the usual rules you must use at least two of your five hole cards. Some home games require exactly two hole cards and all three cards of one line, so confirm before the deal.

Is Iron Cross the same as Criss Cross?

Iron Cross is often called Criss Cross or Church. The name Criss Cross is also used for a different game played on a 3x3 grid, also known as Tic Tac Toe.

Final authority

Where any doubt remains in the application of this document, Rob is right.

Hand rankings, high to low: royal flush · straight flush · four of a kind · full house · flush · straight · three of a kind · two pair · one pair · high card. Suits never break ties.

Iron Cross Rules · OPR-537 · officialpokerrules.com/iron-cross/

OPR-537Uncontrolled when printed