Playing Omaha Hold'em

In Omaha Hold'em the dealer deals four 'hole' cards face down to every player. The general protocol is that in a casino poker game or a game played online, the actual dealer does not play in the game, and the player who acts in the dealer's position is represented by a 'dealer button', and has the right to act last during every betting round.

The 'small blind', seated to the left of the dealer, is forced to post a bet of approximately half the minimum bet for the opening betting round. Next to the small blind on the right is the 'big blind', who is required to post a forced bet equal to the minimum bet for the 'preflop' betting round. For example, in a 10/20 limit Omaha hold'em game, the small blind will be required to post $5 and the big blind will be forced to post $10. If a new player enters the game, even if they are not in the big blind, they will be required to post a big blind in order to play. In tournament hold'em especially, there is sometimes an 'ante' in addition to the blinds. An ante is a small bet required of all players that is placed in the middle and does not count toward the blinds.

Play always proceeds in a clockwise fashion around the table, starting from the dealer, except preflop where the blinds act after the dealer.

Omaha Hold'em Betting Rounds

As with Texas Hold'em, there are a total of four betting rounds in Omaha. Once each player is dealt his or her four 'pocket cards', a round of betting known as the 'preflop' betting round occurs. After all action concludes on the preflop round, the dealer will deal the 'flop', containing three 'community cards' dealt in the centre of the table, face up, that every player must use in conjunction with two of their pocket cards to form a five card poker hand.

After all flop betting is finished, the dealer shall place another card face up in the centre of the table, called the 'turn' card or 'fourth street'. Betting takes place, once again, in a clockwise fashion until all wagers have been met. After betting concludes on the turn, the dealer will deal the final card face up into the centre of the table, called the 'river' card, or 'fifth street'.

After all river betting is finished, the players still in the hand will show their pocket cards, and the best five card poker hand, using two and no more than two of their hole cards and three of the board cards, will win the pot. Unlike in Texas Hold'em, in Omaha, a person's hand must use exactly two of their hole cards and three of the community cards to make their best poker hand. If two or more players have a hand of equal strength, those players will split the pot.

Omaha Hold'em Variants

There are two primary variations of Omaha Hold'em – limit and pot-limit. Very rarely will Omaha be played no-limit (although this is sometimes the structure used in low-limit online play).

Limit Hold'em

In limit Omaha, players must bet in incremental amounts each time they wish to bet or raise. For example, in a '20/40' game, players must bet or raise in $20 increments in the preflop and flop betting rounds, and in $40 increments on the turn and river. Depending on the rules of the establishment where the game is played, there can be four or five total bets in a single round before the betting is capped (the exception to this rule is that, sometimes, when there are only two players remaining in the hand, 'house rules' will allow for unlimited raising).

Pot-Limit Hold'em

In pot-limit Omaha, players may bet or raise any amount they want between the minimum bet, which is the size of the big blind, and the total pot size on any street. Players cannot bet 'all-in' as they can in no-limit hold'em, except, of course, if their 'all-in' bet is no greater than the pot size.