See also
Omaha High or just Omaha is played in a similar manner to Texas Hold'em, except that 9 cards are used, creating a wider array of mathematical combinations. This makes for a more sophisticated game where you have to be really good in. Omaha rules are very similar to Texas Holdem, so in the event that you know those you are almost there. Anyway, they're easy to learn.
The basic differences are these: each player is dealt 4 pocket cards (rather than two), and the showdown plays two of their pocket cards combined with three communal cards (instead of a choice of any combinations of board and pocket cards).
Online poker rooms offer both Omaha Hi and Omaha Hi-Lo poker to you. The differences between the games affect the way the pot is distributed.
In Omaha High, the player with the best combination wins the whole pot, and the pot Omaha Hi-Lo is divided between the players who hold the best and lowest hands.
And once more - exactly TWO pocket cards MUST be played to hit a combination - no more, no less. In following tutorial we will learn all essential steps to help you feel at home on the tables.
Cards are dealt from the place of Button, which rotates to the left around the poker table after each game. The player became as Button for a hand is identified by a small "D" marker on the table in front him. The poker room’s software automatically deals cards on behalf of the Dealer.
Blind bets. Omaha Hold’em is played with a mandatory bet known as blinds. Before the pocket cards are dealt, the two persons, called Big and Small Blind, directly to the left of the Button position make a small and a big blind accordingly to create a starting prize pool.
The Deal. Each player gets four cards, called private cards. These cards are visible only to the person holding them.
Betting. After the deal, there is a first betting round. The player sitting after the Big Blind plays the first. Depending on prior activity in the hand a player has the rights of checking, calling, betting, raising or folding. A round of betting proceeds clockwise around the poker table several times if someone raises and re-raises the pot. The round of betting concludes when the players have either called the last bet or folded.
Stealing the Pot. If during a round of betting you make a bet and all players fold to you, you've stole the pot. You have the option to open or muck your hand.
The Flop (3rd street). The flop contains three cards being dealt face up in the middle of the board. These are board cards, they are common to the players.
A betting round will now take place, starting from the first remaining person, known as “under the gun” (to the button's left) and proceeding in a clockwise fashion around the board.
The Turn (4th street). After the second betting round, the fourth common card is dealt. The third betting round begins, starting with the first remaining person to the button's left who is still in the hand.
The River (5th street). The closing card is the river. The card is dealt face up to the center of the poker table, and is also a common card. The aim is to get the highest 5-card hand from the seven available (the two hole plus the five common cards).
The last round of betting now follows in the same way as previous rounds. Those players that still stay after the completion of the betting then move to the showdown.
The Showdown. It's time to show the pocket cards. The remaining players’ cards will be shown moving in a clockwise order, unless a hand is weaker than the winning hand shown. Then, you'll have the choice to show, or fold (without revealing). The best five-card combination gets the pot.