Oasis Poker (Belgium Rules)

Last Update: June 26, 2010

Introduction

Oasis Poker is a variation of Caribbean Stud Poker. The rules of Oasis Poker are the same as Caribbean Stud, except the player is allowed to exchange cards, for a price of course. Under the version addressed in this page the player may not fold if he chooses to switch cards. I call this the "Belgium Variant", because that is how I understand the game is played in that country. For the more liberal, and more common, version, where the player may still fold after switching please see my main page on Oasis Poker.

Rules

1. The player makes an ante wager plus optional side bonus side bet.
2. Player and the dealer get five cards each. All cards are dealt face down, except one dealer card is exposed. The player may examine his own cards but sharing of information is not allowed.
3. The player has the option to switch one card of his choice for the next card in the deck. There is a fee to do this, equal to the ante wager. This fee is non-refundable.
4. The player may switch one or more cards. The fee for switching one card equals the ante, the fee for switching two cards is two times the ante, three cards for three times the ante, four cards for two times the ante, and five cards for one times the ante.
5. If the player did not switch, then the player may either fold or raise. Under the Belgium rules addressed here, the player may not fold after switching, and must raise.
6. If player folds he forfeits his cards, ante bet, and side bet (if made).
7. If player raises then he must make a raise wager exactly equal to twice the ante.
8. The dealer will turn over his other four cards.
9. The dealer must have an ace/king or higher to qualify. In other words, the lowest qualifying hand would be ace,king,4,3,2.
10. If the dealer does not qualify then the player will win even money on his ante wager and the raise will push.
11. If the dealer qualifies and beats the player both ante and raise will lose.
12. If the dealer qualifies and loses to the player then the ante will pay even money and the raise according to the Raise Pay Table below. Other pay tables have been known to exist.
13. If the player and dealer tie then both the ante and raise will push.
14. The bonus bet win will be entirely based on the poker value of the player's original hand.

Strategy

Sorry, I have not quantified the strategy for the Belgium rules yet. I do indicate strategy when the player can fold after switching in my main page on Oasis Poker. It could be said, if you shouldn't switch there, you shouldn't switch under the Belgium rules. I can also say that the player should never switch more than one card.

Odds

The following return table is based on the pay table above. Other pay tables are known to exist, which would change the odds.

The lower right cell shows a house edge of 1.95%.

After possibly switching and raising, the average final bet, including the switching fee, will be 2.34 units. The element of risk is thus 1.95%/2.34 = 0.87%. On average the player will switch 7.03% of the time.

Side Bet

I indicate the odds of the side bet in my Caribbean Stud Poker section. Some casinos have been known to base the side bet on the hand after switching. This can be a very good rule for the player. However, if you see it, you're on your own.

Comments

I have an uncomfirmed report from a reader that in Belgium the player may not switch one card only. The above analysis is not based on this alleged correction.