Monterey Cowboy Poker

Omaha Poker Rules

Omaha is the second most played poker game on the internet after No Limit Texas Holdem. Over the years, Omaha has slowly increased in popularity. Here are some basic rules that will help you get to grips with the game of Omaha.

Pre Flop

Before any Poker Stars cards are dealt, two players must post the small blind and big blind. The small blind is posted by the player directly to the left of the dealer, followed by the big blind, which is the player directly to the left of the small blind.

Once both Big Blind and Small Blind have been posted, then the dealer will deal 4 cards face down to all the players at the table. These are known as the hole cards.

Then all players will decide to either call, raise, or fold. Once all players have had the choice to act on their hole cards, the dealer will then deal the flop.

Flop

The dealer will place 3 cards face up, this is known as the flop. Once the dealer has dealt the flop, another round of betting will start. This time it will start with the player that is directly the dealer’s left. He has the choice to check or bet. If he checks, the player to his left also has the choice to bet or check. However, if he bets, then the player to his left has the choice of call, raise or fold. He can no longer check as the previous player had bet.

Once the round of betting is complete, the dealer will turn one over more card, known as the turn.

Turn

Once the dealer has turned over the fourth card, another round of betting takes place between the remaining players.

River

The dealer will turn over the final card, known as the river. Like previous, there will be a round of betting among the remaining players. However, this is the last round of PokerStar betting and after the betting is finished – remaining players will show their hands to each other in a showdown.

Showdown

This is where the biggest difference between Omaha and Texas Holdem occurs. In holdem, players only are dealt 2 cards and have to make the best possible hand from the 5 community cards and the 2 hole cards. However, in Omaha players have 4 cards in their hand and 5 community cards to use. The player must use exactly 2 cards in his hand and 3 from the community cards.

Once the player has decided on his best possible hand from 2 cards in his hand and 3 on the board, he then has a showdown with all remaining players in the pot. The winner is the player with the best hand, and he collects the pot.