Marlon King gave Hull the lead on the stroke of half-time before Stoke responded admirably after the break and snatched a deserved equaliser through Ricardo Fuller.
Some feisty challenges in the keenly contested opening stages set the tone, with Hull determined to stand up to Stoke's power game.
But neither goalkeeper was extended in a largely uneventful first 20 minutes, with a mis-hit shot from Stoke's Tom Soares the best anyone could muster.
Stoke finally posed a serious threat just before the half hour, when Fuller shot a foot wide under the challenge of Kamil Zayatte after Mamady Sidibe created the chance.
And Sidibe was then inches away from getting on the end of a fine cross from Soares with the game opening up and the home side building up a head of steam.
Hull's mischievous substitute Dean Windass, warming up, was booked as he attempted to impede Rory Delap as he wound up for a trademark long throw.
But it was the visitors who took the lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time with their first attempt on the home goal.
A long free-kick from Sam Ricketts was headed back by Michael Turner and Dean Marney got a vital touch, before King rifled a 12-yard shot into the roof of the net.
Stoke were stung and came out bombing at the start of the second half, with Fuller brilliantly denied by Boaz Myhill within two minutes of the restart.
Delap's long throw created the chance and Fuller's firm downward header from eight yards was scooped off the line by Myhill's right hand.
It was frenetic stuff and Stoke substitute Michael Tonge almost set up an equaliser with his first touch after replacing Soares in the 62nd minute.
Tonge took a pass from Fuller in his stride before sliding a low cross which narrowly avoided Delap's outstretched boot at the far post.
Hull were always looking to counter and good work by the grafting Geovanni and King led to a Marney shot which was saved by Thomas Sorensen.
But Stoke got the equaliser their territorial superiority deserved in 73rd minute when Fuller got ahead of Turner and had his heels clipped by the onrushing Myhill.
Myhill almost atoned as he got a hand to Fuller's penalty, placed low to the keeper's left, but the ball had enough power to roll over the line and into the back of the net.