PLAYING TIPS for CROSSWALK STUD POKER

HOW TO PLAY CROSSWALK STUD POKER:  Each player is dealt 5 hole cards.  12 cards are placed face down on the table in the form of 4 columns of 3 cards/3 rows of 4 cards.    
                                          A1     B1     C1     D1
                                          A2     B2     C2     D2
                                          A3     B3     C3     D3
Reveal 1 card from each of the 4 columns (4 cards in total) at a time with a betting round between.  For example, reveal cards A1 B2 C3 D1.  Then A2 B3 C1 D2.  Then A3 B1 C2 D3.  May be played high-low split.
Players make their final hand in 1 of 2 ways:
1.   2 hole cards and one complete column of 3 cards.
2.  1 hole card and one complete row of 4 cards.

Other variations of Crosswalk stud poker:
 1. Reveal 3 cards at a time (1 complete 3 card column) at a time.  This increases the number of betting rounds.
2. Deal each player 4 hole cards instead of 5.​

 SUMMARY of ACTION
Deal 5 hole cards to each player. Arrange board cards.
Bet
 Reveal 4 cards.
Bet
 Reveal 4 cards.
Bet
 Reveal 4 cards.
Bet
High only or Hi-Lo Cards Speak: Showdown
High-Low Declaration: Declare
Showdown

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PLAYING TIPS FOR CROSSWALK STUD POKER
You must take into account all of the hands that can be made in either of the 2 options.  This complicates the game a bit.  Most frequently, you will find that the winning  hand is made from 2 hole cards and one 3 card column.  Often it takes the nuts or second best possible hand to win.  This is especially the case for the low hand if played as high-low split.  A very important point to keep in mind is that in an 8 handed game when players are dealt 5 hole cards and 12 common cards are on the board all 52 cards will be in play.  If a specific card is not on the board or in your hand somebody else has it. 

STARTING HAND SELECTION 
First of all, it must be acknowledged there will be times when it will only take 1 of your hole cards to make the winning hand.  For the high hand it could be any card.  For low it is obvious that it must be a very low card - the lowest card available that does not appear in the row that will make the lowest hand.  But, do not conclude that you can or should play every and any starting hand.  Bear in mind that the winning hand is made from one of the columns more often than from one of the rows, There are 2 reasons for that:  There are more columns (4) than rows (3) to choose from.  It is easier for 3 cards to be coordinated than for all 4 to be.  

Most of the time you will be playing  2 hole cards.  As always, you want to have been dealt a hand that gives multiple possibilities for winning and that will most often come from having coordinated 2 card couples.  Coordinated couples are those that make pairs and suited connecting cards.  With 5 hole cards, there are 10 couples of 2 cards available.  The more the couples are coordinated, the better the starting hand.  For example:  A♣ A♦ K(any) 2♣ 3♦ or
A♣ A♦ K♣  K♦ 2(any).   Strong starting holdings like these have multiple chances of leading to a winning full house, flush, straight or the best low.  
For high having a high pair or two is a good start, provided they are also coordinated to other cards.  For your 5 hole cards you will be dealt any 2 pair about 5% of the time and any one pair about 42%.  Without additional coordination pairs alone (even aces) are not a good starting hand.    Suited high connected cards are helpful for both straights and flushes.   Unsuited connectors are best if they are high cards or low cards.  Middling connectors tend to make mediocre straights and lows.   High suited cards, preferably an ace with a small card give both nut flush and low hand possibilities.    You don't want to see trips in you hand since you can only use 2 cards.
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 Obviously, for low 2A is the best start.  A protected low like 32A is significantly better.  3A or 32 gives you a one card draw to the nuts. Usually, anything less than these three 2-card low hands needs a lot of help from the board and stands little chance of winning without it.  Again, the more coordinated low cards are with your other cards, the better.

THE COMMON BOARD CARDS
There are four 3 card combinations plus three 4 card combinations available in Crosswalk Stud poker.  It can be complicated, so you need to pay very close attention.  You must also be aware of all the board cards in order to help you in assessing the likely winning hands. 

 To make a straight or flush a column or row must be coordinated.  Straights and flushes will be easier to make using one of the 3-card columns rather than a 4-card row.  Straight possibilities are fairly common, and if no flush or pair appears on the board will be the likely winner.  Only occasionally will a whole column or row have all cards suited, so flushes are less common.  But, if one is possible you will probably need the nut flush.  To make a full house or quads a column must include a pair or trips.  To make a full house a row requires that it contain 2 pair or 3 of a kind.   For quads to be possible the row must contain 3 of a kind.    However, while a set containing trips on the board is a huge longshot,  it bears mentioning.  Even if you hold cards that make the best possible full house it may not be enough to win.  With 8 players, if the case card does not appear elsewhere on the board, someone has it in their hand to make quads. 


If competing for the low hand you have to watch the board carefully as each card is revealed.  The group which makes the best low hand can easily change turning what you thought was a winner into a loser.  When it is a 4 card row that dictates the lowest hand only one hole card is needed to complete it.  In this case you must only play the nuts and should not be surprised that you will be tied by one or more other players.