Omaha Poker
Omaha poker is an exciting game derived from Texas Hold'em. Each player is
dealt four private cards (‘hole cards’) 5️⃣ which belong only to that player. Five
community cards are dealt face-up on the ‘board’. In Omaha games, all players 5️⃣ use
exactly three of the community cards together with exactly two of their hole cards to
make the best five-card 5️⃣ poker hand. No more, and no less. Follow this link to view the
rankings of Omaha poker hands.
Types of Omaha 5️⃣ Poker Games
Pot Limit Omaha Poker - A
player can bet what is in the pot (i.e.R$100 into aR$100 pot). This 5️⃣ is the most popular
form of Omaha Poker.
- A player can bet what is in the pot (i.e.R$100 into aR$100 5️⃣ pot).
This is the most popular form of Omaha Poker. No Limit Omaha Poker - A player can bet
any 5️⃣ amount, up to all of their chips.
- A player can bet any amount, up to all of their
chips. Fixed 5️⃣ Limit Omaha Poker - There is a specific betting limit applied in each game
and on each round of betting.
Below 5️⃣ is a general explanation on how to play Omaha
poker. The basic rules for all Omaha variants are the same, 5️⃣ with the exception of the
different betting structures between them. More details on these different betting
structures follow.
How to Play 5️⃣ Omaha Poker
Basic Strategies
In Pot Limit and No Limit
Omaha games, the games are referred to by the size of their 5️⃣ blinds (for example,
aR$1/$2 Omaha game has a small blind ofR$1 and a big blind ofR$2).
Betting then
commences from the 5️⃣ player to the left of the big blind. In Fixed Limit Omaha games, the
big blind is the same as 5️⃣ the small bet, and the small blind is typically half of the
size of the big blind, but may be 5️⃣ larger depending on the stakes. For example, in
aR$2/$4 Limit game the small blind isR$1 and the big blind isR$2. 5️⃣ In aR$15/$30 Limit
game, the small blind isR$10 and the big blind isR$15. Now, each player is dealt their
four 5️⃣ hole cards. Betting action proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the
player ‘under the gun’ (immediately clockwise from the 5️⃣ big blind).
Pre-Flop
After
seeing his or her hole cards, each player now has the option to play his or her hand 5️⃣ by
calling or raising the big blind. The action begins to the left of the big blind, which
is considered 5️⃣ a ‘live’ bet on this round. That player has the option to fold, call or
raise. For example, if the 5️⃣ big blind wasR$2, it would costR$2 to call, or at leastR$4
to raise. Action then proceeds clockwise around the table. 5️⃣ Note: The betting structure
varies with different variations of the game. Explanations of the betting action in
Limit Omaha, No 5️⃣ Limit Omaha, and Pot Limit Omaha can be found below. Betting continues
on each betting round until all active players 5️⃣ (who have not folded) have placed equal
bets in the pot.
The Flop
After the first round of betting is complete, the 5️⃣ ‘flop’ is
dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to
all active players. 5️⃣ Play begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the
button. Another round of betting ensues. In Fixed Limit Omaha, 5️⃣ all bets and raises
occur in increments of the small bet (for example,R$2 in aR$2/$4 game).
The Turn
When
betting action is 5️⃣ completed for the flop round, the ‘turn’ is dealt face-up on the
board. The turn is the fourth community card 5️⃣ in an Omaha game. Play begins with the
active player immediately clockwise from the button. Another round of betting ensues.
5️⃣ In Fixed Limit Omaha, bets and raises on the turn are in increments of the big bet (for
example,R$4 in 5️⃣ aR$2/$4 game).
The River
When betting action is completed for the turn
round, the ‘river’ is dealt face-up on the board. The 5️⃣ river is the fifth and final
community card in Omaha poker. The final round of betting begins with the active 5️⃣ player
immediately clockwise from the button.
The Showdown
If there is more than one remaining
player when the final betting round is 5️⃣ complete, the last person to bet or raise shows
their cards, unless there was no bet on the final round 5️⃣ in which case the player
immediately clockwise from the button shows their cards first. The player with the best
five-card 5️⃣ hand wins the pot. Remember: in Omaha, players must use two and only two of
their four hole cards in 5️⃣ combination with exactly three of the cards from the board. In
the event of identical hands, the pot will be 5️⃣ equally divided between the players with
the best hands. After the pot is awarded, a new Omaha poker game is 5️⃣ ready to be played.
The button now moves clockwise to the next player. If you like to play tournament
poker, 5️⃣ we offer Omaha tournaments as well.
Pot Limit, No Limit, Fixed Limit Omaha
Omaha
rules remain the same for Fixed Limit, No 5️⃣ Limit and Pot Limit poker games, with a few
exceptions:
Pot Limit Omaha
The minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha is the 5️⃣ same as the size
of the big blind, but players can always bet up to the size of the pot.
Minimum 5️⃣ raise:
The raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same
round. 5️⃣ As an example, if the first player to act betsR$5 then the second player must
raise a minimum ofR$5 (total 5️⃣ bet ofR$10).
Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is
defined as the total of the active pot, plus all 5️⃣ bets on the table, plus the amount the
active player must first call before raising.
Example: If the size of the 5️⃣ pot isR$100,
and there is no previous action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a
maximum ofR$100. 5️⃣ After that bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. That
player can either fold, callR$100, or raise any 5️⃣ amount between the minimum ($100 more)
and the maximum. The maximum bet in this case isR$400 - the raiser would 5️⃣ first
callR$100, bringing the pot size toR$300, and then raiseR$300 more, making a total bet
ofR$400.
In Pot Limit Omaha, there 5️⃣ is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.
The
minimum bet in Pot Limit Omaha is the same as the 5️⃣ size of the big blind, but players
can always bet up to the size of the pot. Minimum raise: The 5️⃣ raise amount must be at
least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round. As an 5️⃣ example, if the
first player to act betsR$5 then the second player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total
bet ofR$10). 5️⃣ Maximum raise: The size of the pot, which is defined as the total of the
active pot, plus all bets 5️⃣ on the table, plus the amount the active player must first
call before raising. Example: If the size of the 5️⃣ pot isR$100, and there is no previous
action on a particular betting round, a player may bet a maximum ofR$100. 5️⃣ After that
bet, the action moves to the next player clockwise. That player can either fold,
callR$100, or raise any 5️⃣ amount between the minimum ($100 more) and the maximum. The
maximum bet in this case isR$400 - the raiser would 5️⃣ first callR$100, bringing the pot
size toR$300, and then raiseR$300 more, making a total bet ofR$400. In Pot Limit Omaha,
5️⃣ there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed. No Limit Omaha
The minimum bet in No
Limit Omaha is 5️⃣ the same as the size of the big blind, but players can always bet as
much more as they want, 5️⃣ up to all of their chips.
Minimum raise: In No Limit Omaha, the
raise amount must be at least as much 5️⃣ as the previous bet or raise in the same round.
As an example, if the first player to act betsR$5 5️⃣ then the second player must raise a
minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10).
Maximum raise: The size of your stack (your chips 5️⃣ on
the table).
In No Limit Omaha, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of raises allowed.
The
minimum bet in No 5️⃣ Limit Omaha is the same as the size of the big blind, but players can
always bet as much more 5️⃣ as they want, up to all of their chips. Minimum raise: In No
Limit Omaha, the raise amount must be 5️⃣ at least as much as the previous bet or raise in
the same round. As an example, if the first 5️⃣ player to act betsR$5 then the second
player must raise a minimum ofR$5 (total bet ofR$10). Maximum raise: The size 5️⃣ of your
stack (your chips on the table). In No Limit Omaha, there is no ‘cap’ on the number of
5️⃣ raises allowed. Fixed Limit Omaha
Betting in Fixed Limit Omaha is in pre-determined,
structured amounts. Pre-flop and on the flop, all 5️⃣ bets and raises are of the same
amount as the big blind. On the turn and the river, the size 5️⃣ of all bets and raises
doubles. In Limit Omaha, up to four bets are allowed per player during each betting
5️⃣ round. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap (final raise).
In
the PokerStars software, it’s not 5️⃣ possible to bet less than the minimum or more than
the maximum. The bet slider and bet window will only 5️⃣ allow you to bet amounts within
the allowed thresholds.
Omaha Hi/Lo (aka Omaha 8-or-better, Omaha 8, or Omaha/8)
In
addition to Omaha 5️⃣ poker, PokerStars also offers the popular variant of Omaha Hi/Lo.
This version of Omaha splits the pot between the highest 5️⃣ and lowest poker hands, giving
the game a whole different feel.
Learn How to Play Omaha for Free
