How To Play Omaha Poker

Omaha Poker is a community poker game that is similar to Texas Holdem in that you are dealt both pocket cards and community cards which you share with the other players. The goal is once again to make the best hand possible using your pocket cards and the community cards. A player is dealt four pocket cards and must make a winning hand using at two of these and three of the community cards.

A Limit Omaha Poker game means that the size of the bet is fixed on each street. An example of this would be, in a $1/$2 Texas Holdem poker game, the bets are made in increments of $1 before and after the flop. On the turn and the river the bets increase to $2. If you are new to the game I highly recommend that you play in a structured limit game.

A Pot Limit Omaha Poker game is a combination of structured limit/ No limit, in which you can make a maximum bet at any time up to the amount of money that is in the pot.

In a No Limit Omaha Poker game there is no limit to the amount that you can bet. But there is usually a minimum for each bet.

Here is a summary of how to play Omaha Poker:

1. Blind Bets

2. Deal - each player is dealt 4 cards

3. First betting round

4. The Flop - the first three community cards are dealt

5. Second betting round

6. The Turn - the fourth community card is dealt

7. Third betting round

8. The River - the final community card is dealt

9. Final betting round

10. Showdown

Here is a step by step rundown of how to play Omaha Poker

Omaha makes use of a small disc with a 'D' depicted on it to identify which player is the dealer. After each hand is played out, this disc and the dealer position is rotated clockwise one position.

The two players left of the dealer are required to post the small and big blind respectively. The small blind is half the lower stake limit; where as the big blind is equal to the lower stake limit. The big blind is also the size of the minimum bet.

Blinds are utilized to force the betting action and ensure that there is money to play for in every hand.

After the blinds have been posted each player is then dealt four cards face down. These first four cards are referred to as "hole cards”.

This is followed by the first round of betting. The first round of betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop

After the first betting round the first three community cards are dealt face up on the table. This is referred to as the flop.

The second round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. The player has the option to bet, check or fold.

The Turn

After the second round of betting, one community card is dealt face up on the table. This card is commonly known as the 'turn'.

The third round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. The player has the option to bet, check or fold.

The River

The final community card is dealt face up on the table. The final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer. The player has the option to bet, check or fold.

The Showdown

After the final round of betting takes place, any remaining players will now display their hands to determine who wins. This starts with the player left of the dealer. A winning hand must use two of the hole cards and three of the community cards.