Omaha Guide

Played around a traditional poker table with up to ten players, Omaha is possibly the second most popular form of the game after Texas Holdem. Omaha allows players to make more winning hand combinations although in most instances it is played almost identically to Texas Holdem.

The Objective

Players need to create a winning five-card hand by combining two hole cards with any three community cards that are dealt through the course of the game. The player/s with the best hand at the end of the game wins the pot.

Betting Structure

At the beginning of each new hand, blinds are placed by two players into the pot. These are equal to the value of the small blind (half the minimum bet that applies to the first round of betting) and the big blind (the minimum bet that applies to the first round of betting).

Omaha Game Rules

Omaha poker consists of four rounds: The Preflop, the Flop, the Turn and the River. Players need to make the best hand from a total of nine cards that are dealt – four hole cards and five community cards altogether. The rules of Omaha state that a player may not use more or less than a total of two out of their four hole cards, as well as no more and no less than a total of three out of the five community cards dealt.

• 1. Four cards are dealt to each player around the table face down. This is known as the Preflop Round. These hole cards are meant for players’ eyes only and are not divulged. The first round of betting begins.
• 2. Three cards, known as community cards are dealt into the center of the table at the beginning of the Flop Round. These cards are dealt face up and can be used by all the players to strengthen their hands. Another round of betting begins among any players left in the game.
• 3. A fourth community card is dealt face up in the center of the table to be used by all players. This is round is called the Turn. Once again, another round of betting begins among players still left in the game of Omaha.
• 4. The fifth and final community card is dealt to the center of the table. This round is called the River. A final round of betting now takes place among players around the table.
• 5. The Showdown round begins, whereby all the remaining players around the table show their cards. The player who reveals the best five-card hand among all the players is declared the winner and grabs the pot. There can be more than one winner in Omaha (such as when the best hands are of equal value), in which case the pot is split evenly among all the winners.

Tips and Strategies

• 1. Study your opponents. Try to look for telltale signs and special mannerisms that may disclose information about their hands.
• 2. Don’t play too predictably. Get caught bluffing once in a while, and vary your game play.
• 3. A low pair on the flop is not worth much in Omaha.
• 4. Aim to flop two pair, a set or better. A high pair with an overcard is also not worth much on the flop in Omaha.

Conclusion

Players are drawn to Omaha poker because of the simplicity of its rules, as well as the fact that they can create more winning combinations due to the higher number of cards that are put at their disposal in the game.