Omaha poker, or Omaha High, is a variation of Texas Holdem poker thatoffers much wider hand possibilities that adds another layer ofstrategy and excitement to the game.
The Game
As with Texas Holdem, Omaha is a game during which players usecommunity cards to create a hand. In Omaha however, players are dealtfour cards (hole cards) dealt face down, while five community cards aredealt face up on the table throughout a series of four betting rounds.
Rules
Again, as with Texas Holdem, the object is to win the pot that playersinvest in by betting during the various rounds but with two majordifferences. In Omaha, players create their best poker hand by using twoof their four hole cards, combined with three community cards. The bestfive-card poker hand among those in contention for the pot wins.
Types of Omaha
The game of Omaha itself has variations. Omaha Hi /Lo uses the gamedetails above but plays with low and high poker hand possibilities. As per Texas Holdem, there are three betting variations of Omaha that can be played out in ring or tournament game play.
- No Limit: Players may bet all of their chips at any time.
- Pot Limit: Players may bet an amount equal to the pot size.
- Limit: Players may bet a fixed amount for each round.
Below, you'll learn the basics of playing Omaha (High) online, within your home or in a brick & mortar poker room or casino.
How to play Omaha
The Button
In Omaha, a disc known as the dealer "button" serves to recognize whichplayer sitting at the table is the dealer for that particular hand. The cards are dealt in a clockwise direction from the dealer button. Eachtime the cards are dealt, a new betting round begins. An Omaha handstarts when the first card is dealt and ends when a winner is declared.After each hand has been completed, as with standard poker rules, the"button" moves clockwise to the next active player. This is done becausethere is an advantage to having to act last and therefore each playerwill get his fair share of early, late and middle positions. This playerwill be considered to be "playing the button" for that hand.
Blinds
The player to the immediate left of the button is first to receive acard and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal tohalf the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar (Forexample, in a $4-$8 game, the small blind is $4; in a $3-$6 game, thesmall blind is $3. The player to the immediate left of the small blindis required to post the big blind, equal to the lower limit bet (Forexample, in a $3-$6 game, the big blind is $6.). When a new player sitsdown at an Omaha poker game, they must either post the equivalent of thebig blind or wait for their turn in the big blind. This prevents Omahaplayers from gaining an advantage by avoiding the blinds and jumping inand out of games. If you have missed one or both blinds, our softwarewill prompt you to put in the correct amount. You can also wait for theblind to get to your position. This is called coming in on the blind.Both blinds in Omaha poker are considered live bets and therefore,according to poker rules, have the option of checking, calling, raisingor folding when the betting action returns to their position.
Betting Rounds
First Round (Pre-Flop) - After the Omaha players in the blind positionsput their blinds into the pot the dealer deals four cards called "holecards" to each player. At this time each player can see his own cardsbut not those of his opponents. After seeing their hole cards, playersnow have the option to play their hands by calling, raising or folding.On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and stillretain his hand. On the first round only, the betting starts with thefirst active player to the immediate left of the big blind. The minimumbet in this round is the size of the big blind. Thus in a $5/$10 LimitOmaha game, it would cost a minimum of $10 for the player who acts firstto call in this initial round of betting. (The maximum dollar value andnumber of raises per round depends on version of Omaha being played asdescribed below.)
Second Round (Flop) - Next, three cards are dealt face-up on the boardalso known as the "flop". These three community cards are available toall active players. In this round play begins with the first activeplayer to the immediate left (clockwise) of the dealer button, who hasone of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, eachsucceeding active player has, in turn, one of three choices; call,raise, or fold. Bets and raises occur in lower limit bet increments.Therefore in a $5/$10 Omaha game the bet would cost a minimum of $5.
Third Round (Turn) - When betting action is completed for the flopround, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha poker game. Play once again begins with theactive player immediately left (clockwise) of the dealer button and the same rules apply as the second round except that poker betting doublesfrom the lower limit bet to the higher limit bet. In a $5/$10 game,betting on the turn is done in $10 increments.
Fourth Round (River) - When betting action is completed for the turnround, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifthand final community card in an Omaha game. Play once again begins withthe active player immediately left (clockwise) of the dealer button asexplained above.
Showdown - When all the betting is done, and if more than one player isstill in for the pot, then the showdown determines who wins the game of Omaha. In Omaha, it is possible that one or more betting rounds not takeplace if only one active player has any chips left with all otheractive players having bet all their chips (all-in). When this occurs,any remaining community cards will be dealt face up and a showdown willtake place. The last player to open or raise is required to show theircards first and anyone else can fold (muck his cards if he decides hehas lost. Players who elect to fold do not have to show their cards.(i.e. muck his cards if he decides he has lost. However the hole cardsof all players who stay in to the showdown are included in the handhistory, even if they choose to muck).The player with the best five-cardhand wins the pot. In Omaha poker, players must use two of their fourhole cards in combination with three of the cards from the board. In theevent of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between theplayers with the best hands. Omaha rules state that all suits are equal,so split pots are more common than in other variations of poker.
There are two different types of Omaha Poker games, made different by their betting structures
- Limit: Players may bet a fixed amount for each round.
- Pot Limit: Players may bet an amount equal to the pot size.
Limit Omaha
In Limit Omaha, players must bet a pre-determined fixed amount per eachround. The betting amount is equal to the big blind for the first two rounds of betting and doubles up for the last two rounds of betting. Amaximum of 4 bets is allowed per round which includes a bet and three raises. (Example; in a $5/$10 Limit Omaha game, players must bet $5 andraise by $5 up to a maximum of $20 for the pre-flop and flop rounds,they must bet $10 and raise by $10 up to a maximum of $40 for the turnand river round).
Pot Limit Omaha
In Pot Limit Omaha, the minimum amount a player can raise must equal orbe greater than the last bet or raise within the same round. The maximum a player may bet is equal to the amount in the pot including his callbefore making the raise. (Example; a player's call is $5 and the pot is$20, he may raise to a maximum of $50. His call of $5 brings the pot to$25 and he may raise the amount equal to the pot of $25, thus the raiseis $25.)