Omaha Poker: Basics and Rules

Omaha poker belongs to the same family as Texas hold 'em. This is why they are played almost exactly the same way. Almost--- that is, there are a few differences.

For one, omaha poker is played with four pocket or hole cards whereas Texas hold 'em uses two. Still, five community cards--- cards that will be shared by all players--- are also used in Omaha poker as it is in Texas hold 'em.

Two, in omaha poker, you can choose which two cards among your four pocket cards to combine with three community cards to create your poker hand. In short, as it is in Texas hold 'em, your 5-card hand must still be a combination of two hole or pocket cards and three community cards.

Omaha poker can be played using any of the three betting structures: Limit, Pot Limit, and No Limit.

An omaha poker game begins with the posting of a small blind and a big blind placed, respectively by the next two players seated at the dealer's left. Blinds are compulsory bets to make sure that players have a pot to chase a hand for. The big blind is always 50% more than the small blind. Since the dealer role rotates among players, everyone gets to become dealer, small blind, and big blind eventually.

The dealer then deals each player four face down or hole cards. The player seated at the big blind's left start the first round of betting. That is, players check, call, raise, or fold.

After everyone has made their bet, the dealer burns a card--- a card which is lain on one side and is not used in the game. Then the dealer places face up the first three community cards at the center of the table. These cards are referred to as The Flop.

This is followed by a round of betting.

Another card is burned. Then a single community card, The Turn, is dealt face up. This is again followed by a round of betting.

Another card is burned again. Then the last community card, The River, joins first four community cards. The last round of betting follows.

A showdown then takes place. Here, the best hand is awarded the pot.

Omaha poker has two variants: Omaha Hi and Omaha HiLo. What a winning hand is depends on which variant you are playing. In Omaha Hi, a winning hand is whatever's highest according to the game's built-in poker hand rank order. In Omaha HiLo, a winning hand can either be the hand of the highest rank order or the hand of the lowest rank order. In Omaha HiLo, tie is a frequent occurrence.

In sum, omaha poker is a community card poker variant where players have to combine community cards and pocket cards. Unlike Texas hold 'em, players get four pocket cards and the additional benefit of choosing two pocket cards to combine with three community cards to create their most winning hand.