Mexican Stud Poker Rules Explained

Are you a poker fan who is tired of community games? If yes, then you should definitely learn Mexican stud poker rules. The game has a plot-twisting element – you can choose to show your hand to your opponent whenever you bet.

Mexican stud poker rules explained

If Mexican stud is the first stud poker game you are learning, then the rules might sound a little bit confusing. However, learning the Mexican stud poker rules shouldn’t be a problem for those who are familiar with how to play 5-card stud poker.

The first thing you need to know about stud poker games is that there are no community cards. This means that unlike in Texas Hold’em, players can only use their own cards for creating combinations. Another interesting detail about this variation of poker is that you and your opponents will have to reveal 4 of the 5 cards. This makes it a perfect poker game for those who have card-counting skills. Overall, hiding your last card and trying to find out everyone’s full hand is what makes the game so dynamic and intriguing.

Card deck & Wild Jocker

Now, let’s talk about the Mexcian stud poker deck. It’s important to note that the number of cards might differ on various online casino sites in the UK. Some casinos prefer short decks – decks without 8s, 9s, and 10s, while others use a full 52-card deck and one wild Jocker. Although it seems that the difference between these two decks is insufficient, it can actually change the whole course of the game. Moreover, some of the combinations also differ depending on whether the deck is short or full, but we will get back to this later.

The presence of a wild card also helps to diversify the game. For instance, if the Joker is dealt face-down, it can act as any card in the deck and you can use it to complete certain combinations. However, in case it is dealt face-up, the card simply becomes an Ace. Therefore, if you happen to have a hand with the Joker, try to keep it face-down.

Mexican stud poker combinations

For those of you who have already played community games on online poker sites in the UK, learning Mexican stud poker combinations wouldn’t be a problem. Yet, there are a few differences. Almost all of them are caused by the presence of a wild card in the game. However, the major difference between community poker games and Mexican poker is that in Mexican stud a Flush ranks higher than a Full House.

You can take a closer look at the differences between combinations in Mexican stud poker and Texas Hold’em in the following table:

Short deck vs. full deck

Another important thing to keep in mind is whether you play with a short deck or a full deck. The number of cards in the deck is very important when it comes to poker combinations. For example, imagine having a 6, 7, J, Q, K hand, and folding because you didn’t realize that it was a straight.

How to play Mexican stud poker

Once you are familiar with the basics and you know all of the combinations, it’s time to start playing the game. Mexican stud poker starts with an ante bet – all of the players must put a wager in order to enter the game. After that, the dealer gives everyone two cards. At that point, the game can follow one of the two scenarios – you will either get one face-up and one face-down card or you will choose which card will be revealed.

As there is no button, the person with the highest face-up card starts the betting round. At the same time, a player with the lowest card can’t fold or check. Therefore, someone will always bet in each round. The game follows the same pattern up until each player has a full hand – one face-down and four face-up cards. Finally, a person with the best combination wins the game.

Where to play Mexican stud poker online

Now, when you have learned the Mexican stud poker rules, it’s time to apply your knowledge and practice. Today, online poker sites in the UK offer all types of exotic varieties of poker. For instance, you can find both 5-card and 7-card stud games on Bet365 Poker. Bet365 is probably one of the busiest online poker platforms in the world, with the new games added on a daily basis. Moreover, all of the new players are welcome to participate in freerolls and entry-level tournaments with a £0,015 buy-in.

If you want to learn more about the welcome package and gaming profile, feel free to check our review on Bet365 Poker. 

You can discover more about Bet365 Poker here.