Online Poker Games

Playing the Iron Cross Poker

The name of the poker variant “Iron Cross” is supposed to describe the arrangement of the community cards on the board. That is, the community cards are arranged to form a cross. Such an arrangement places some restrictions the number of possible hands that a poker player may form when playing this particular home poker variant. Without such restrictions, the Iron Cross poker is exactly similar to the Cincinnati poker game. But how exactly can a poker player play the Iron Cross? Here is a description.

The Iron Cross poker begins when each poker player already receives their five personal cards. This is immediately followed by placing one community card on the board. Since the community cards are supposed to form a cross, the first community card is placed on the left end of the cross to be formed. Once the first community card is shown, the first betting round occurs.

After the first betting round, the second community card is dealt. This second community card will be placed on the right side of the cross, which is opposite the first community card. When this second community card is revealed, the poker players carry out the second round of betting.

After the second round of betting, the third community card is placed. The dealer places this third community card on the top end of the cross. Thus, the first three community cards initially forms a pyramid. When this third community card is in place, the third round of betting commences.

After the third betting round, the dealer reveals the fourth community card. This fourth community card is placed at the bottom end of the cross. With four community cards, a cross-shape is now formed. Then, the fourth round of betting happens.

After the fourth round of betting, the last community card is dealt. This fifth community card is placed at the center of the already formed cross. Then, the poker player proceeds to their last betting round. When two or more poker players are remaining, there is a showdown.

In a showdown, the poker player has eight cards available to him. These are his five personal cards and three community cards. Thus, the poker player has four options. First, the poker player may simply utilize all his personal cards and ignore the community cards. Second, the poker player may use four of his personal cards with one of the community cards. Third, the poker player may combine three of his personal cards with two community cards. And fourth, the poker player may use only two of his personal cards with three of the community cards.

When a poker player decides to use three community cards, his choices are limited. That is, the three community cards that he will use must be in a straight line. The poker player may use the top, center, and bottom cards, or the left, center, and right cards.