Omaha

About the Game

'Two from the hand, three from the board' is the Omaha players' rule.

In Omaha you receive four cards (not two as in Hold'em) and you must use exactly two of the four cards to make your hand. This means of course that three of the board cards must be used. Hence arose the expression: 'Two from the hand, three from the board'.

How to Play

The action in Omaha plays out very much like Texas Hold'em. Four cards are dealt face down to each player. Then five community cards are dealt to the table. The game proceeds identically to Texas Hold'em. The final hands must include exactly two of the player's four cards and exactly three of the table's five cards. The cards speak for themselves. High hand takes the pot.

There are a total of four betting rounds in Omaha. The first and second rounds are set at the low limit of the tables' stakes structure and the final two rounds are set at the high limit of the structure. Example: If the stakes structure is $5/$10 then the bets and raises would be set at $5 for the first two rounds and $10 for the final two rounds.

A maximum of four bets is permitted per player. Betting rounds consist of a bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and a player has only the option to call or fold once capped.

Order of Play

• The dealer for the current game is chosen
• The blinds are placed
• The dealer gives each player four cards face down
• The first betting round takes place
• Three community cards (the Flop) are dealt face-up to the center of the table
• The second betting round takes place
• A forth card is dealt to the community cards (the Turn card)
• The third betting round takes place
• A fifth card (the River) is dealt to the community cards
• The fourth betting round takes place
• Showdown. The best five-card hand is determined
• The winner takes the Pot

Omaha Rules

Buttons and Blinds

Dealer Button- the Button moves from player to player at the beginning of each hand and identifies the current dealer position; the player at this location is considered 'the dealer'. After each hand is completed the dealer button is moved to the next player to the left. This player will be the dealer during the next hand.

Blinds– As in Texas Hold'em, there's no ante, so the two players to the left of the dealer must post blind bets. A blind is a forced bet before you receive your initial cards. The player to the immediate left of the dealer posts the Small Blind and the player to the immediate left of the small blind will post the Big Blind. This is used to seed the pot with cash. Everyone at the table takes their turn playing the blinds. No one is exempt.

Small Blind - The small blind is equal to one half of the minimum bet (Example: in a $3-$6 game, the small blind would be $1.50).

Big Blind - The big blind is a bet equal to the minimum bet (Example: in a $3-$6 game, the big blind would be $3).

When you first take a seat at an active table you're forced to post the equivalent of the big blind. You can do this by waiting until you are in a position to post it (you will be the second player to the left of the dealer's position). Another way would be to post it to start the game from another position. If you were to miss the regular rotation of posting the blinds, you would be required to post the big blind in order to re-enter the game. If you were to sit out and miss three big blinds, you would then be ejected from the table, forfeiting your seat.

BETTING

There are four rounds of betting in this game. The first is initiated after four cards, pocket cards, are dealt face down to each player. The next three cards, flop cards, are then dealt. Betting resumes. The fourth card, turn card, is dealt for the table. Another round of betting ensues. The 5th and final card, the river card, is dealt, after which the final betting resumes. When all bets are in, the showdown takes place between the remaining players. The winner is declared from the showdown.

Betting Structure - The stakes being offered at the particular table determines the limit or maximum bet on any player's turn. Example: at a $1-$2 table, the limit on any bet is $1 on the first two betting rounds and $2 on the final two betting rounds. Betting rounds consist of a bet and three raises. The final raise is capped and a player has only the option to call or fold once capped.

THE SHOWDOWN

The first person to show his hand is the last person to show strength with a bet or raise. The winning hand is the highest five-card hand using exactly two of the four pocket cards and three of the five board cards. If none of the players bets or raises during the final round, the first person to show his hand is the player closest to the left of the dealer. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is divided equally.