Something Different: Oxford Stud Poker Game Rules

Learning the various Oxford Stud poker game rules can be an interesting undertaking, as the game seems to have a few rules taken from many standard forms.

Despite what the name may have people thing, this is actually not a kind of stud poker. What it is, however, is a kind of hybrid between community and stud versions of the game, taking a few rules from each in a generally confusing fashion. In fact, a large part of the reason it is so uncommonly heard of is that many of those who do attempt it find themselves feeling a little crazy trying to keep the rules that seemingly belong to several different versions straight in their head. It is widely considered one of the strangest versions out there and sometimes seen as being too much trouble to learn, and not worth it to know. Still, for those who are interested in learning, the Oxford Stud poker game rules are as follows.

At the start, the rules are very similar to 7 card stud, in that each player receives 2 cards facing down and 1 facing upwards. Usually, whoever has the lowest visible value begins the betting (if it's tied, generally the person with the highest alphabetical suit bets first). At the end of the first round, two community cards are dealt to the board and the next round of wagers begins with whoever had the highest showing poker hand, which is made up of their face-up card from the start and the two community deals. After this second round, another face-up is dealt to each player. The third round starts based on the highest partial poker hand, which this time is made up of the old hand with the addition of the new face-up.

After the third round is finished, this process repeats itself one more time, with hands made up from 5 cards (2 communities and 3 face-ups) deciding where the bets begin. After this, the final showdown begins, where in the pot is split between the highest hand and the lowest qualifying low hand, and the player with the highest value is the winner, similar to in hi-lo. Essentially, the game is partially stud, with community cards, and a pot split thrown in that makes this an oddity all to itself. When put like that, it is hardly surprising that this is such an uncommon, unpopular variation that is often considered to be the oddest one of all.

All in all, Oxford Stud poker game rules are certainly an interesting case. It is very widely considered to be far too much trouble to learn how to play to be worth it to have the skill. Still, it is a valid form and has its own community of players who enjoy it and would likely love for the opportunity for more to learn. For those who enjoy community, stud, and hi-lo versions of the title, this could even be exactly the right way to spend a good, long night at the casino.