Poker Variations: Omaha

Omaha is an exciting poker game derived from Texas Holdem. Each player is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong only to and are seen only by that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players use three of the five community cards together with two of their hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand. To view the rankings of poker hands, visit our hand ranks page. Note that unlike Holdem you cannot use anything other than two of your four hole cards. A common mistake among beginners is they get a great hand like three aces in the hole and automatically think this gives them three of a kind aces. Of course in Omaha this is not true because only two of the four hole cards are available to use. Even if you are dealt four aces in the hole you can still only use two of them.

In Omaha, a disc also known as "the button", serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $2/$4 game). The player immediately clockwise the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Now, each player receives their four hole cards. Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise the big blind.

Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 game).

When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments.

When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise the button.

If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise the button shows his or her cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In Omaha, players must use two and only two of their four hole cards in combination with three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.

After the pot is awarded, a new game of Omaha is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.

As with Holdem There are three betting variations of Omaha available at most online sites:

Limit

In limit holdem the betting structure is determined before the game begins. Player can only bet and raise according to these pre-determined rules. Limit games are a lower risk than the other options.

Pot Limit

The game is played like limit holdem, but at any point in the game a player can bet up to the amount already in the pot. Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) is huge in Europe.

No Limit

The so called 'Cadillac of Poker.' No Limit Texas Holdem is the mother of all poker games! No Limit Omaha is considered by many Europeans to be their favourite alternative to No Limit Texas Holdem. Although in Europe Pot Limit is often preferred. In no limit any player can, on their turn declare that they are ALL IN and bet all the chips they have in front of them. This puts other players in the position of having to consider a massive bet to call and stay in the game.

Omaha H/L

A variation of Omaha is Omaha H/L. This is not a game recommended for beginners. It is possible for the main pot to be split equally between two different winning hands, one high and one low. The high pot is decided in the same way as regular Omaha, the low pot is awarded to the player with the lowest five card hand less than eight. For example 3 4 5 6 7 could win the high pot for being a straight (if that is the best hand) and the low pot for all cards being less than 8. However, in this example A 3 4 5 6 would be a better low and and would win the low pot. The low hand can be any sequence of cards less than eight with no pairs. If there are several low hands that qualify to win the best hand is considered to be the one with the most low cards in it. A 2 3 4 6 is better than A 3 4 5 6. This concept is confusing to many players and therefore the game is often played very badly by beginners who believe they have a monster hand when in fact they are easily beaten.

For more advanced information specific to Omaha H/L click here.

Further Reading (Omaha)