Omaha Poker
Omaha is a popular community card game. It is played much like holdem, except that each player receives four hole cards instead of two. Also, players are required to use two, and only two hole cards in making a hand.
That last point bears repeating . . .
Players are Required to use Two, and only Two Hole Cards in making a hand
Players may not use one card from the hold and four from the board. They may not "play the board". They must use two hole cards when making a hand.
Omaha is dealt at the tables of the World Series of Poker as well as most online cards rooms.
Gameplay:
The tables in a limit betting style version of Omaha have minimum and maximum bet limits. These limits are posted, and become part of the table name. For instance, at a $3/$6 Omaha table, the bets are fixed at either $3 or $6 increments, depending upon the betting round.
Play begins with one player being designated dealer, and the two players to left of him (or her) posting blind bets. The first blind better makes a bet equal to half the opening round bet size. In the case of a $2/$4 table, that would mean a $1 bet (the small blind). The second blind better makes a bet equal to the small bet size, in this example $2 (the big blind).
One quick note, if the small blind amount is not even, say at a $3/$6 table where half the small bet would be $1.50, round down. The small blind would be $1 in this instance.
The dealer then deals four cards to each player, face down (their hole cards). The first round of betting takes place. Play starts with the player to the left of the big blind (this is only on the first round. Subsequent rounds of betting start with the player to the left of the dealer). Players either call (or match) the bet in front of them, raise, or fold their cards. Most games allow only four bets per round - a bet, a raise, a re-raise, and a final re-raise. Once everyone has contributed to the pot equally, the flop is dealt.
The dealer places three cards across the center of the table face up. These cards are known as the flop. They are the first of the community cards dealt, and are shared by all players. The object in Omaha is to use two hole cards (two and only two) and three community cards to create the best possible five card hand.
After the flop, a round of betting takes place using the lower bet size. The betting begins with the player to the left of the dealer. Once everyone has contibuted equally to the pot, another card is dealt face up in the middle of the table.
This card is called the turn card. It is a community card as well. After dealing the turn card, another round of betting takes place, this time using the higher betting size.
After the betting round is complete, a final card is dealt face up in the center of the table. It is called the river card. After the card is dealt, a final round of betting (at the higher bet size) takes place. Once the betting round is complete, the showdown takes place.
The player that can use two cards from his hole cards and three cards from the community cards to make the highest five card hand wins the pot.
