A cross-bet, strictly speaking, features no distinction between the house and the players. In a traditional setup, the house opens a table and players place bets—a many-to-one format.
A cross-bet here, however, meant a direct wager solely between Liu Bufan and the old man. Unlike the arrogant young man in the beginner's area, whose side games were still managed by the house, this cross-bet relied entirely on each man's own skills.
For instance, if they played high-low: my 10 beats your 6, I win; or my 4 is lower than your 5, I win. The winning and losing rules were established by both parties in advance.
Chapter 476