Omaha

See also

• Seven Card Stud
• 2-7 Single Draw

Omaha Hi also known as Omaha is played in the same manner to Texas Holdem, but that 9 cards are used, building a wider range of mathematical hands. 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 case that you are familiar with Hold’em you are almost there. If you don't, they are easy to learn. The main differences are these: Omaha deals four pocket cards (rather than 2), and the showdown uses exactly 2 of their four pocket cards plus 3 board cards (rather than a choice of any combinations of board and pocket cards).

Poker rooms offer both Omaha High and Omaha Hi-Lo to their players. The differences between the games concern the way the prize pool is shared. In Omaha High, the player with the highest combination takes the entire pot, and the prize pool Omaha Hi-Lo is divided between the gamblers who hit the best and lowest combinations.

And once more - TWO hole cards MUST be used to hit a hand - no more, no less. In this tutorial we will describe all essential steps to make you feel comfortable on the poker tables.

Blind bets. Omaha Hold’em is played with a mandatory bet called blind bets. Before the hole cards are dealt, the two players, referred to as Big and Small Blind, closest to the dealer’s left pay a small and a big blind accordingly to create a starting pot.

The Deal. Each player receives four cards from the pack, known as pocket cards. These cards are visible only to the owner holding them.

Betting round. After the deal, there is a initial betting round. The person after the Big Blind initiates the first. Depending on prior activity in the hand a player has following choices to play his hands by checking, calling, betting, raising or folding. A betting round continues clockwise around the poker table several times if there are raises and re-raises. The betting round ends when all gamblers have either called all bets or folded.

Stealing the Pot.  If during a round of betting you make a bet and all players fold to you, you've bought the
pot. You have the right to open or muck your hand.

The Flop (3rd street). The flop contains three cards being dealt face up to the center of the poker table. These are communal cards, they are shared by the players.
Another round of betting will now follow, starting from the first remaining person, called “under the gun” (to the dealer’s left side) and moving in a clockwise direction around the table.

The Turn (4th street). After the second round, the 4th communal card is given. The third betting round takes place, starting with the 1st active player to the dealer’s left who is still in the hand.

The River (5th street). The last card is the river. The 5th street is dealt face up to the center of the poker
table, and is also a communal card. The aim is to hit the strongest five-card combination from the seven available (the two pocket plus the 5 board cards).
The final betting round now follows in the same manner 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 open the pocket cards. The remaining players’ cards will be revealed moving in a clockwise fashion, unless a hand is weaker than the winning combination shown. Then, you'll have the right to reveal, or muck (without opening). The highest 5-card hand grabs the money.