Omaha - The Basics

Game Description

Omaha is a poker game in which each player receives four cards (hole cards) dealt face down, while five cards are dealt face up on the table. All players play their best five cards, but they must use exactly two of their four hole cards in combination with exactly three of the five common cards on the table. The best five-card poker hand among those in contention for the pot wins.

The betting starts after four cards are dealt to each player. These cards are unique to each player. The next three cards (called flop cards or, simply, the flop) are then dealt in the center of the table. These cards are community cards and are part of each active player's hand. A second round of betting occurs. The fourth community card (the turn card) is dealt in the center of the table, followed by another (third) round of betting.

The final community card (the river card) is dealt in the center of the table, followed by a final (fourth) round of betting. The turn and river cards are also community cards used by all players. When all bets have been equalized, the showdown takes place among the remaining players—also known as active players—and the winner is declared. If only one player remains at the end of any round, there is no showdown and the pot is awarded to that lone remaining player. A player uses the best five cards among the combination of any two of his pocket cards with any three of the community cards to determine his hand. (See Winning Hands.)

Check-and-raise is allowed in all Omaha games (except on the first round, when a player, on his turn, must either bet or fold).

To start a hand, the cards are dealt in a clockwise direction starting from the dealer. All new players to the game must either post the equivalent of the big blind or wait for their turn in the big blind. This prevents players from gaining an advantage by avoiding the blinds and jumping in and out of games. Each time the cards are dealt, a new betting round begins. A hand starts when the first card is dealt and ends when a winner is declared.

The Omaha cards are dealt in a specific order and betting also takes place in a specific order. The order is as follows:

Blinds - The small blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left of the dealer. The big blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left of the small blind.

Small Blind - As a general rule, in Omaha the small blind is a bet equal in size to one half the game's minimum bet, rounded down to the nearest unit. (For example, in a $4-$8 game, the small blind is $2.

Big Blind - The big blind is a bet equal in size to the game's minimum bet. (For example, in a $4-$8 game, the big blind is $8.)

Missed Blinds - Players are required to post the small blind and the big blind once per round or their equivalent upon reentry to the game if the blinds are missed. You can also wait for the blind to get to your position. This is called coming in on the blind.

First Round - After the players in the blind positions put their blinds into the pot, the dealer deals four cards (pocket or hole cards) to each player, at which time each player can see his own cards but not those of his opponents. On the first round only, the betting starts with the player to the left of the big blind, who has one of three choices, call, raise, or fold. On the first round only, a player cannot check (make no bet) and still retain his hand. On the first round only, the player in the small blind position acts after the dealer. The player in the big blind position acts after the small blind.

Raise/Call/Check/Fold - Once a betting round has started you must select one of these options when it is your turn.

Option - The player who has the big blind is given the option to raise, check, call, or fold when it is his turn. If no one has raised, the big blind has the option of checking (that is, not increasing the bet) or raising.

Succeeding Rounds - In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer, who has one of three choices, check, bet, or fold. Until there is a bet, each succeeding active player has the same choices. Once a bet is made, each succeeding player then has in turn one of three choices, call, raise, or fold.

At the showdown, if more than one active player remains, all hole cards are displayed and the pot is awarded to the holder of the highest hand.

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