Omaha Poker

Omaha Poker is largely an evolution of Texas Holdem. The rules are very similar, and only differ where small aspects of the game do. For this reason, this guide shall focus on the game rules specific to Omaha Poker, and for all other rules applying to the game, one should visit the Texas Holdem rules page.

The most obvious and defining characteristic of Omaha Poker is the dealing of 4 hole/pocket cards to each player in the Pre-flop round of betting. What is interesting, however, is that players are still required to use only 2 of their hole cards and 3 of the community cards to make their hands, as they would in Texas Holdem. There are 5 community cards dealt throughout the betting rounds, and they are all dealt face up. There can be no more than 10 players in each game of Omaha.

The betting structure is the same as in Texas Holdem:

The Pre-flop round- hole cards are dealt to each player, starting with the small blind.

The Flop - 3 of the 5 community cards are laid in the middle of the table by the dealer.

The Turn - a 4th community card is dealt face up on the table.

The River a 5th community card is dealt face up for all players.

The Showdown - all remaining players must reveal their final hands so that the winner can be determined and the pot awarded.

Omaha Poker can be played using 3 betting limits, exactly as in Texas Holdem:

1. Limit Omaha Poker– a predetermined betting limit is set.
2. No-Limit Omaha Poker – players can bet all their chips at any point in the game.
3. Pot-Limit Omaha Poker - players can bet no more than the pot amount.

Omaha Poker can also be played in a High Low variation. In Omaha High Low, the pot is split between the highest and lowest hand. The high hand is determined according to standard poker hand rankings, and the low hand is determined according to low hand rankings specific for this kind of Poker. Basically, the highest card in a low hand must no exceed an 8, and straights and flushes do no apply. Accordingly, the best possible low hand is an A-2-3-4-5. Because of the limitation on cards to not exceed 8, the game is also sometimes called “8 or Better”.