Omaha Hi Guide

Omaha Hi is a community card game with rules that are very similar to the most popular version of poker, Texas Hold ‘em, played with four hole cards and five community cards.

The Objective

Players need to make the best high poker hand possible, based on traditional poker rankings, using no more and no less than two hole cards, and no more and no less than three community cards.

Betting Structure

There are two kinds of bets in Omaha Hi. The first is the ante bet that is less common, and is usually used in tournament play only.

The second bet structure is the blinds – forced bets played with every hand. The small blind is half the low limit bet size, as well as the big blind, which is equal in value to the low limit bet size. The two players to the immediate left of the dealer post the blinds.

In fixed Omaha Hi, all bets are required to be equal to the size of the low limit bet in the first two rounds of play. In the last two rounds, bets are required to be equal to the high limit bet.

Omaha Hi Game Rules

There are four rounds of betting in Omaha Hi: The pre flop, the flop, the turn and the river. The end of the game is known as the showdown. The game is played out as follows:

The Pre flop Round:

• 1. The player to the dealer’s left posts the small blind.
• 2. The player to his or her left posts the big blind.
• 3. The dealer deals two cards to each player around the table face down.
• 4. The player to the left of the big blind decides whether to fold, call or raise. Calling consists of putting in the low limit bet. Raising consists of doubling the low limit bet.
• 5. Play proceeds clockwise around the table.

The Flop Round:

• 1. Three community cards are dealt to the center of the table.
• 2. The player to the dealer’s left starts the round, which proceeds in a clockwise position around the table.
• 3. Bets and raises are equal to the low limit bet size.

The Turn:

• 1. A fourth community card is dealt to the middle of the table.
• 2. Play proceeds as in the pre flop and the flop rounds.
• 3. Bets and raises are now equal to the high limit bet size.

The River:

• 1. A fifth (and final) community card is dealt to the middle of the table.
• 2. Play proceeds as in the pre flop, flop and turn rounds.
• 3. Bets and raises are now equal to the high limit bet size.

The Showdown::

Not everyone who started out in the game of Omaha Hi will remain until the end. Those who do can show their hand and stand in line to win the pot. A player can opt not to show his or her cards (known as ‘mucking it’). The player/s with the best high poker hand wins the game.

Tips and Strategies

• 1. Try to avoid playing aggressively with weaker, second rate hands as you would in Texas Holdem. This has proven to be an unsuccessful strategy in the long run.
• 2. If you are heading towards the showdown, make sure that you have the top available hand.
• 3. Remember that straights and flushes are common hands in Omaha Hi, so don’t bet too strongly on them.

Conclusion

Omaha Hi is a popular version of poker that can be found at online and traditional casinos throughout the world. Players are drawn to its simple rules and quick, strategy-based play.