How To Play Omaha High

Omaha High (Omaha) is very similar to Hold'em, but has a greater variety of possibilities thereby making for some extremely exciting games.

Omaha is a community card game. Omaha is played the same as Hold'em with the following two exceptions:

• Each player receives four face-down cards (pocket cards) to start.
• And at the showdown each player must use exactly two of their four pocket cards and combine them with exactly three boardcards.

RULES AND ORDER OF BETTING ACTION FOR OMAHA HIGH

The dealer deals each player four hole cards face down. Each player can see only his own cards.

First betting round

The dealer spreads three community cards face up on the table. These three cards are commonly called "the flop".

Second betting round

The dealer turns over a fourth card face up on the table. This fourth card is commonly called "the turn".

Third betting round

The dealer turns over one final community card face up on the table. This fifth and final card is commonly called "the river".

Fourth and final betting round

Players show their hands. This is commonly called "the showdown".

Remember, poker is a game of the best five cards. At this point, the best hand wins the pot. At the showdown in Omaha, players must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards. Since you have a total of four hole cards, it is ok to use two hole cards for your high hand and two different hole cards for your low hand. (Be careful as this part of Omaha confuses many hold’em players.)

BETTING
There are four betting rounds for each game in Omaha. Each bet in the first two rounds of betting is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds (preflop and flop). The last two rounds of betting (turn and river) are set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. In a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $10 for the last two rounds.

One bet plus three raises (four total bets) are the maximum amount of bets allowed per betting round. This would consist of (1) a bet, (2) a raise, (3) a re-raise, and (4) another re-raise (also known as “a cap”). The term cap is used to describe the third raise in a round since betting is then capped and cannot be raised anymore. Once a player has made the third raise (thereby capping the pot) then players will have only the option of calling or folding. Check raising is allowed in all games.

DEALER BUTTON
In order to designate which player is the theoretical dealer in hold'em games, a round disk is used. This disk is called the dealer button or simply "the button".

When the first hand is dealt in Omaha, the button is always given to the player that is to the immediate right of the dealer chip rack. In tournaments, however, one card is dealt to each player and the button is given to the player with the highest card. After each hand is completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player and this player will be considered to be the dealer, and will act on his hand last on each betting round for that game. It is a big advantage to act last in Omaha and by moving the button, each player gets to take a turn at having this advantage. When it’s your turn for the button, you are said to be “playing the button.”

SMALL AND BIG BLINDS
The player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. The big blind is equal to the lower limit bet. These bets are referred to as blinds because players must post them before the dealer deals any cards to the players. You are at a disadvantage when you its your turn to post a blind, since you’re actually putting money out on table before you see your cards, whereas other players have a chance to see their cards before they decide to invest any money in that hand or not. As the button moves around, everyone gets a turn to be a blind. These blinds are similar to the ante that is required in other games such as 7-Card Stud.

Both the small and the big blinds are considered live bets. They have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action comes back around to their position. After the flop and after each subsequent betting round, the first active player to the left of the button is the first to act.
When players first sit down to play, they will be required to post the equivalent of the big blind only once or they have the option to "sit out" until it is their natural turn to post the big blind. This rule is in place to ensure game fairness to all players. The rule prevents the possibility of players entering games in late position and then leaving before they are required to post the big blind. When you first enter a game it is always a good idea to either wait for your turn for the big blind or post your blind immediately after button passes you. Using either one of these ways, you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

THE WINNER
At the end of the final (fourth round, called the river) round of betting, the remaining live players show their hole cards and the highest value hand wins the pot.