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Omaha Poker

: Game Rules & Strategy
Object: The object of Omaha is to have the highest five-card poker hand at showdown, or to be the only player remaining in the hand after all other players have folded.

Hand Rankings: Hand rankings are as follows, with the highest hands first:

Hand Ranking Description Example
Royal Flush 5 suited cards in sequence, topped with the ace. For example, a Royal Flush in Spades. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Straight Flush 5 suited cards in sequence. For example, an Eight-high Straight Flush in Diamonds. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Four of a kind 4 cards of the same rank. For example, four Queens. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Full house 3 cards of the same rank, plus 2 cards of the same rank. For example, a full house with 3 aces and 2 fives is a Full House, Aces full of Fives. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Flush 5 cards of the same suit, not all of which are in sequence. For example, a King-high Diamond Flush. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Straight 5 cards in sequence, not all of which are the same suit. For example, a Ten-high Straight. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Three of a kind 3 cards of the same rank. For example, three Queens. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
Two pair 2 different occurrences of 2 cards of the same rank. For example, Two Pair -- Jacks and Nines. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
One Pair 2 cards of the same rank. For example, a pair of Queens. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card
High Card Cards all of which are different ranks and are not all the same suit. For example, Ace High. a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card a playing card

If two or more hands are the same ranking, the winner is the one having the higher cards. For example, a Flush with an Ace high beats a Flush with a King high. If the poker hands remain tied, then the highest card not being held in common (the kicker) determines the winner.

Should poker hands be absolutely identical in ranking, the pot will be split evenly between the two or more winning players. If there is an odd chip, then either the winning player to the left of the button will receive it, or the odd chip will remain in the pot for the next hand (depending on the card room).

The Play of the Game: The play of the game proceeds as follows:

  1. Each player is dealt four cards face-down (pocket cards)
  2. First betting round
  3. Dealer turns over three community boardcards (the flop) face-up
  4. Second betting round
  5. Dealer turns over 1 more community boardcard (the turn)
  6. Third betting round
  7. Dealer turns over 1 final community boardcard (the river)
  8. Final betting round
  9. Showdown

At the showdown, players MUST use exactly two of their pocket cards and three boardcards.

Betting Structure and Rules

There are four possible betting rounds in Omaha poker, shown in the list above.

Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure. For example in a $5/$10 game, all bets and raises are $5 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop).

Betting and raising during the last two rounds is set at the higher limit of the stakes structure. Same example; all bets and raises are $10 for the last two rounds (after the turn and after the river), following accepted poker rules.

The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any betting round is (usually) four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding. Note that there is no cap to the number of raises in No Limit and Pot Limit games.

Check-raising is (usually) allowed.

Button and Blinds

A flat disk is used at the table. This is called the dealer button to indicate the theoretical dealer of each hand.

After each hand has completed, the button moves clockwise to the next active player. This player will be considered to be playing "the button" for that hand. In Omaha the player to the left of the button is first to receive a card and is required to post a small blind. The small blind is equal to half the lower limit bet rounded down to the nearest dollar. The player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind, equal to the lower limit bet. 

Both blinds in Omaha are considered live bets and therefore, according to poker rules, have the option of checking, calling, raising or folding when the betting action returns to their position. After the flop and each subsequent betting round, the first active player left of the button is first to act.

When a player first sits at an active table they'll be required to post the equivalent of the big blind. All players have the option of sitting out and waiting for the actual big blind before starting to play. By preventing players from constantly entering poker games in late position and leaving before they're required to post, these rules stop potential abuse.

Position: Position is an important consideration in this game, and refers to your position at the table relative to the big blind. In a ten-handed game, when the big blind is one, two, or three players to your right, you are in early position; when the big blind is four, five, or six players to your right, you are in middle position; when the big blind is seven or eight players to your right (which, by the way, means that you are on the button), you are in late position.

Strategy

  • Only play at stakes that you are comfortable playing.
  • Playing at the free sites like Yahoo Games and MSN Games will not help you learn to master this game; players at those sites are just pushing chips around, and stay to the end on every hand because they have nothing invested in the game.

Read, read, read! Then practice, practice, practice! Then, win, win win! :)

Online Play: There are many online sites where you can play this style of poker -- but you need to make sure that the site accepts players fom your area of residence.

Best Bets: These sites have nice bonuses, great game selection, and excellent sit-and-go tournaments at all stakes.

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Good luck and have fun!

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