The
Basics
Omaha is very similar to Texas Hold'em with only a few, but important
differences.
In Omaha while there are still 5 community cards as there are in Texas Hold’em,
each player is dealt 4 hole cards instead of 2. Although you may think this is
hardly worth taking the time to emphasize, the fact is, unlike Hold’em, Omaha
only allows players to make their final 5-card hand, by using only 2 of their 4
hole cards, and only 3 of the community cards.
Just so you’re clear, the final 5-card hand of each player left in the game must
consist of 2 of their 4 hole cards, and 3 of the 5 community cards. Other than
this major difference, Omaha is played using the same method as Texas Hold’em.
Terminology and Facts
Dealer Button ("Button","Buck","Puck")
This is a device that is used in online poker rooms to mark the dealer among the
players for each hand. The dealer button is a small disk that is marked with the
letter "D". The dealer button is not only essential to the players so they know
who is dealing, but also because the two players to the left of the dealer must
post the two blinds in the game. After the completion of each hand, the dealer
button moves to the left.
Blinds
In games with blinds, there are two blinds posted - the small blind (half of the
minimum level bet) and the big blind (the full minimum bet). Before the game
begins, the small blind is posted by the first player closest to the dealers
left, and the big blind is posted by the player to the left of the small blind
player.
The purpose of the blinds is to make it so that there is money in the pot before
the game starts. That way the betting can begin and players are encouraged to
take part in the hand. It also means that no one will walk away empty-handed
should the hand end quickly.
The size of the blinds is determined by the stakes of each table. Therefore if
you are playing at a $4/$8 table, and the typical small blind is half the
minimum bet, the small blind will be $2, and the big blind will be the full
minimum bet of $4.
Betting Structure
The betting structure is the same for every table. The only aspect that will
change is the amount of money involved, which will correspond to the stakes for
the table you choose to play at. For the purpose of this chart we will use the
$4/$8 table example:
Small/Big Blinds 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Final Round
$2/$4 $4 $4 $8 $8
Note: For each round of betting, there is a limit of 1 bet and 3 raises.
Therefore, in the $4/$8 example, betting would be restricted to a total of $16
in rounds 1 and 2, and $32 in rounds 3 and 4.
Hole Cards
Also known as "pocket" cards, hole cards are those dealt to each player and are
face down, so that only the player can see these cards.
The Flop
These are the first three community cards issued by the dealer.
Turn
The fourth community card that is dealt
River
The fifth and final community card to be dealt
Omaha In Action
Round One - Let the game begin
As soon as a dealer has been selected and the blinds posted, the game begins
with the dealer dealing each player 4 hole cards clockwise round the table. Once
this is complete, the first round of betting starts and things begin to get
interesting!
Round One Betting
At this point of the game, players must carefully consider their hole cards and
determine if they have potential. Betting commences with the player to the
immediate left of the big blind player, and follows clockwise round the table.
In this betting round each player, with the possible exception of the player who
posted the big blind, may either choose to fold (quit the game), call (meet the
bet) or raise, increasing the big blind to a full bet. If players still left in
the round choose to only call the big blind, then the player who originally
posted the big blind is the only player who has the option to check (stay in the
game without calling or raising) their own blind.
Players wager using the smaller level of the stakes at the table (Note: Refer to
the betting structure listed above to learn about the limits and rules for the
betting rounds).
Round 2 - The Flop
By this point of the game, the excitement increases as the dealer deals the
first three community cards face up on the board (the middle of the table). Now
players can use these 3 communal cards in combination with their 4 hole cards to
determine their hand possibilities.
Round 2 Betting
For this round, betting commences with the first player closest to the dealers
left (it doesn’t matter if the dealer folds, betting always commences with the
player closest to their left) and continues clockwise round the table. Betting
follows the same structure as in the first round, with players able to fold,
call, and raise. The first player to make a wager may check, and if no other
raises are made, the other players may also check.
Like the first round, players wager using the smaller level of stakes at the
table.
Round 3 - The Turn
Once the second betting round has come to an end, the dealer deals the fourth
community card on the board. Now the game becomes even tenser as the players
left in the game now have 6 cards to work with.
Round 3 Betting
The third betting round follows the same as the second betting round, with the
exception that now players must wager using the higher level of the stakes at
the table.
Round 4 - The River
At this point of the game, palms really start to sweat as the fifth and final
community card is dealt on the board. Players now have all 9 cards at their
disposal, but must make the best possible 5-card hand out of only 3 of the
community cards and 2 of their hole cards.
Round 4 The Final Bet
Betting commences as it did in the last round, with the higher level of stakes
at the table making up the wager.
Showdown
Here it is, the moment every player waits for – to see if their blood will run
cold with the results or pump hot and fast with the victory.
Each player left in the hand show their cards, beginning with the last player to
bet and continuing in that pattern. During the showdown players may also choose
to “muck” (fold out of the game, without showing their cards) their hand. The
winner naturally takes the pot.
If in the event, a player wins by default, which means that every other player
in the hand folded, no showdown will occur, and the winner is given the option
to show their cards or not. For the most part players choose not to show their
winning hand, as it adds to the drama of the game, and keeps the other opponents
guessing what the great hand was.
