Omaha Poker Rules

Although Omaha Hold'em (Omaha Poker) isn't as popular as Texas Hold'em, it is just as fun and exciting to play. There are some major differences between the two, but for the most part the same rules apply.

At the start of the game, all players are dealt four hole cards after the appropriate antes/blinds are posted. This is one of the major differences between Omaha Hold'em and Texas Hold'em, as there are double the hole cards and thus more potential hands that can be made. After the hole cards are in play, there is a round of betting that is done in the same way as Texas Hold'em (i.e. check, call, raise, fold) before the five community cards are dealt.

After the first round of betting, three community cards are flipped over. These are commonly referred to as the flop, and are where most players really decide if they are going to continue to play or if they are going to fold their hand.

Once the three cards are on the table, another round of betting ensues before the turn card is flipped over. For people who were unsure or hoping for something on the turn, this is their last safe chance to make a hand before they get drawn into following through until the end. Many players will have everything they need to make a hand on the turn, or they will try to bluff their way through the game. Two common bluffs are people following through with just checks and calls, and the other is that they will bid so high that most people are fearful of losing that much money (called buying the pot).

Finally, after another round of betting, the river card is flipped. This card can save people or break their hand by killing their odds of winning by possibly giving someone else the edge. Generally, people will bid biggest during this round because they can get away with sucking someone into it. In many cases, people will go all in to either gain as many chips as possible or to force someone into folding.

After the final round, the players will make the best hand possible using two cards from their hole cards and three from the community cards. This is another difference from Texas Hold'em, as the players are not allowed to play the community cards with only one of theirs or using a high card to win.

There is also another form of play that is common, that is known as HiLo play. In this method of play, the players make the best possible high hand as they can and the best possible low hand. Low hands are made up of cards from Ace to 8 with an Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 being the best low hand and a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 being the worst low hand. When playing Omaha HiLo, the pot is split between the best high hand (cards over 8) and the best low hand that can be made by any player.