Omaha

RULES OF PLAY

  • The Setup: Omaha is typically played with 2 to 10 players at the table. A standard 52-card deck is used. Poker chips are used for betting.

  • The Blinds: Omaha typically uses two forced bets known as the small blind and the big blind, similar to Texas Hold’em. The player to the left of the dealer button posts the small blind, and the player to their left posts the big blind.

  • Hole Cards: Each player is dealt four hole cards (private cards) face down.

  • Betting Round 1 (Preflop): Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, players take turns making betting decisions (check, fold, call, or raise). Betting continues clockwise around the table until all players have either folded or matched the highest bet.

  • The Flop: Three community cards are dealt face up in the center of the table.

  • Betting Round 2 (Flop): Betting resumes, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button. Players can check, bet, call, raise, or fold as in the previous round.

  • The Turn: A fourth community card is dealt face up on the table.

  • Betting Round 3 (Turn): Another round of betting takes place, following the same rules as the previous rounds.

  • The River: A fifth and final community card is dealt face up on the table.

  • Betting Round 4 (River): The final round of betting occurs, following the same rules as the previous rounds.

  • Showdown: If two or more players remain after the final betting round, they reveal their hole cards to determine the winner.
    In Omaha, players must use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards to make the best possible five-card poker hand. No more, no less.

  • Hand Rankings: The standard poker hand rankings apply in Omaha. The best hand wins, with the Royal Flush being the highest and a high card being the lowest. If two or more players have the same hand, the pot is split evenly among them (unless there is an odd chip, which goes to the player closest to the left of the dealer button).

  • Winning the Pot: The player with the best hand wins the pot. If there is only one remaining player after all others have folded, they win the pot without a showdown.

  • Start a New Hand: After the pot is awarded, the dealer button moves one position to the left, and a new hand begins with the posting of blinds.

  • Repeat: The game continues with players taking turns posting blinds, receiving hole cards, and going through the betting rounds until a winner is determined or until players decide to end the game.

It’s essential to remember that in Omaha, you must use exactly two of your four hole cards in combination with three of the five community cards to make your hand. This requirement often leads to stronger hand combinations and more significant action compared to Texas Hold’em.

Learn to Play

Games can be play Fixed Limit, Pot Limit, No Limit, or Spread Limit