X Marks the Spot
X Marks the Spot is a home poker game with five private cards per player and five shared cards arranged in a cross. It is also known as criss-cross.
The simple explanation
The cross has one center card and four arms. Expose the outer cards before the center, with betting between reveals. In a documented wild-card version, the center card and matching ranks are wild.
A closer look
Versions differ in hand selection: some allow any shared cards, while others restrict you to one horizontal or vertical row. Agree that rule and the use of wild cards before dealing.
A practical example
If the center card is a six, the center six and other sixes are wild in the version using matching-rank wild cards.
Full explanation
X Marks the Spot is a home poker game with five private cards per player and five shared cards arranged in a cross. It is also known as criss-cross.
A cross-shaped board
Five community cards make two intersecting rows of three. Each player also holds five private cards. The center belongs to both rows.
Set the house rules
The center is revealed last. In the wild-card version, it determines the wild rank. Some versions limit shared-card use to one row; others allow any shared cards. Confirm the rule before the first hand.