Omaha Poker Rules

How to Play Omaha - Omaha Hi Lo

Omaha is a variation of poker that has been growing in popularity over recent years. It is the second most popular game found at online poker rooms, after Texas hold'em. There are always plenty of ring games and Omaha tournaments available.

Placing the Blinds
To begin the game, the blinds must be placed. The small blind is placed by the player to the immediate left of the dealer and the big blind is placed by the player to the small blind's immediate left. The dealer then deals four cards face down to each player.

Pre-flop
The first round of betting, known as the pre-flop, takes place at this point. Betting begins with the player to the big blind's left and each player has the chance to fold, call or raise.

Flop
Once all players have placed their bets, the dealer will deal the flop. The dealer burns (discards) the top card from the deck and deals three community cards, face up into the center of the table. A second betting round will then take place with each player having the chance to fold, call or raise.

Turn
Once all players have bet, the dealer will burn the top card of the deck and will deal the fourth community card, face up into the center of the table. This is known as the turn. Another betting round will begin.

River
Once all players have placed their bets, the dealer will burn the top card of the deck and deal the final community card face up into the center of the table. This card is known as the river. The final betting round will begin.

Winning at Omaha
Once the final betting round has taken place, the remaining players in the game need to make up a final five-card poker hand. This hand is made up of two of their hole cards and three of the community cards. The game is similar to Texas hold'em, except that players have more choice of cards to use for their final hand. These final hands are compared and the highest ranking hand wins. If no players hold ranked hands, the high card from each hand is compared to determine the winner.

Omaha Hand Rankings
Hands in Omaha can be ranked from highest to lowest as follows:

• Royal flush – five consecutive card, Ace high, in the same suit
• Straight flush – five consecutive cards in the same suit
• Four of a kind – four cards of the same numerical value
• Full house – three cards of one numerical value and two cards of another
• Flush – five cards of the same suit
• Straight – five consecutive cards, in any suits
• Three of a kind- three cards of one numerical value
• Two pair – two cards of one numerical value and two cards of another numerical value
• Pair- two cards of one numerical value

Variations of Omaha
There are two variations of Omaha poker and both are commonly found at online poker rooms. In Omaha hi, the player holding the highest ranking final hand wins the entire pot. In Omaha hi/lo, the pot is split between the highest ranking hand and the best qualifying low hand. A low hand is made up of five cards of 8 or lower.