Omaha Poker

Basics | Hand Rankings | Texas Holdem | Omaha | 7 Card Stud

The Rules of Omaha Poker

Omaha is similar to hold’em in using a three-card flop on the board, a fourth board card, and then a fifth board card. Each player is dealt four hole cards (instead of two) at the start. To make a hand, a player must use precisely two hole cards with three board cards. The betting is the same as in hold'em. At the showdown, the entire four-card hand should be shown to receive the pot.

The best possible five-card poker hand, using exactly two hole cards and three community cards, wins the pot.

Let's Play Some Omaha Poker

1. Opening deal – Each player is dealt four cards face down, which are known as hole cards or pocket cards.

2. First round of betting – Starting with the player to the left of the big blind, each player can call the big blind, raise, or fold. The big blind has the option to raise an otherwise unraised pot.

3. The flop – The dealer burns a card, and then deals three community cards face up. The first three cards are referred to as the flop, while all of the community cards are collectively called the board.

The Flop

4. Second round of betting – Starting with the player to the left of the dealer button, each player can check or bet. Once a bet has been made, each player can raise, call, or fold.

5. The turn – The dealer burns another card, and then adds a fourth card face-up to the community cards. This fourth card is known as the turn card, or fourth street.

The Flop			The Turn

6. Third round of betting – It follows the same format as the second round, but the size of the bets have usually doubled in limit games.

7. The river – The dealer burns another card, and then adds a fifth and final card to the community cards. This fifth card is known as the river card, or fifth street.

The Flop	The Turn	The River