Omaha Hi Poker - How to play
Omaha Hi Poker follows the same rules as Texas Hold'em Poker , but with two exceptions:
1. Players are dealt four "pocket" ("hole cards") cards instead of two.
2. Players must use two "pocket" ("hole cards") cards and three "community" cards to make their best high hand
The principle is the same, but the two differences in the rules demand a very different strategy for playing Omaha Hi Poker - welcome to omaha online!
Though not as popular as Texas Hold-em Poker , Omaha Hi Poker is still a commonly played version of the game and one which holds a prestigious reputation in Poker tournaments.
Sample Game of Omaha Hi Poker
Before beginning the game, the player sitting clockwise to the button puts in a small blind. The button is the player acting as dealer on a given round. The small blind is usually 50% of the small bet (eg: $2.50 in a $5/$10 game of Omaha). The big blind player (sitting clockwise to the small blind player) puts in the big blind which usually matches the amount of the small bet ($5 in a $5/$10 game of Omaha).
The four hole cards are then dealt. The player sitting clockwise of the big blind begins the betting. At this point, the "flop" card, which is also the first community card, is placed on the table.
Once the flop round is over, the next community card to be deal is the "turn" card.
The player sitting clockwise to the button begins the next round, where betting is now made in the amount of the high bet (eg: $10 in a $5/$10 game).
At this stage of the game, the "river" card, which is also the final community card, is placed on the table. The player sitting clockwise to the button begins this next round.
Once the final betting round is over, it is time to show your cards. The last player to have bet or raised must show their cards first. If no bets were made on this last round, then the player sitting clockwise to the button shows their cards. The pot is won by the player holding the best hand made up of five cards.
In contrast to other forms of Poker, such as Hold'em, players can only use two of their hole cards (there are four in total) with the three community cards on the table, in order to form their hand.
Omaha Hi Poker Glossary
Button: A button is used to represent the person who will be serving as dealer. This position rotates throughout the game. Aside from during the pre-flop round, the person who is in the button position acts last in the betting round
Big Blind: There are two forced bets in the pre-flop stage of the game, known as blinds. The big blind is the larger of these two. The big blind is put in by the person sitting second over from the button, in clockwise rotation. The amount of the blind equals the small bet, e.g: $2 on a $2/$4 game.
Community Cards: The cards that are dealt face-up in the center of the table and are shared by all players.
Flop: The flop cards are the first three community cards in Omaha Poker. The flop refers to the first three community cards that are dealt in the game.
Hole Cards: A card which is dealt facing down, so that other players cannot see it.
River: The river card is the final community card in Omaha Poker. It follows the three flop cards and the turn card.
Small Blind: There are two forced bets in the pre-flop stage of the game, known as blinds. The small blind is the lesser of these two. The small blind is put in by the person sitting immediately next to the button, in clockwise rotation. The amount of the blind equals half of the small bet, eg: $1 on a $2/$4 game.
Turn: The turn card is the fourth community card in Omaha Poker. It follows the three flop cards and precedes the river card.
