Omaha Poker rules and tips to help you playbetter. Winning is more fun than losing especially when you are playing Omaha Poker online.

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.

Betting

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. The software always ascertains which of the player's hole cards to play in combination with which community cards, and also always awards the pot to the active player holding the best hand.

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). The maximum allowable wager is always indicated on the Bet prompt and the lowest allowable wager is the default in the Bet window.

Omaha Poker Bet Limits

When you first go to a table, an information box appears that tells you the name of the game ("Welcome to Omaha Hi"), the limits and type of game (for example, "$4/$8 Fixed Limit"), the blinds (for example, "Blinds: $2/$4"), and the buy-in (for example, "Minimum Buy-In $40"). In a pot-limit game, a maximum buy-in is enforced. The minimum buy-in is generally 20 times the size of the big blind. So, for example, when you sit down at a $0.25-$0.50 pot-limit Omaha High game, you will see in the information box "Maximum Buy-in $50." If you click Sit Down and try to buy in for less than $10, a notice pops up that reads "You need to post a minimum buy-in of $10 to play at this table."

Fixed-Limit Games - bet limits are enforced, which are determined by the stakes offered at the particular table. For example, at a $2-$4 table, the limit on any bet is $2 on the first two betting rounds and $4 on the final two betting rounds. There is a bet and three raises allowed in each individual round. Each bet or raise is at the limit for that round. Thus, the first player to bet in the first round of betting has the choice of folding or betting $2. If someone has made a bet, the next player has the choice of folding, calling the $2, or raising $2 (making the total bet at that point $4). If there has been a raise, the next player has the choice of folding, calling the $4, or raising $2 (making the total bet at that point $6).

Pot-Limit Games - The minimum bet at the start of each round is the amount of the big blind wager. The maximum eligible bet is the amount of money currently in the pot. The maximum allowable bet is calculated as the pot size after an individual calls all existing wagers. For example, if there is $10 in the pot and Player 1 wagers $5, then Player 2 could call $5 or raise up to an additional $20. That is, when Player 2 puts her $5 into the pot, the pot becomes $20. She could just call the $5, or raise any amount from $5 to $20. Thus, she could put in a maximum of $25. During the course of a round of betting, a bet size cannot decline. (A bet or raise must equal or exceed the preceding bet or raise.) If someone bets or raises $5, then the next player's minimum raise would be $5. You could not, for example, raise a $5 bet by $2. (Exception: You can always go all in—wager all of your remaining chips—even if that amount would cause you to make a raise smaller than that permitted by this rule.)

Posting to Enter a Game

New players can enter a game in the big blind position to avoid paying the new player post, which is equivalent to the big blind. A new player can choose to post the equivalent of the big blind to enter the game at any time except when he is between the button and the big blind position. A returning player who has missed the big blind or small blind can choose to post the missed blinds and reenter the game, as long as he is not between the button and the big blind position. A seated player who has missed the blinds or a player just sitting down can always choose to wait for the blind, that is, sit out until the blind gets to him.

Other Important Points

Buy-In - When you first sit down to the table, you are prompted with "Enter $ to buy in." The amount displayed to you is set to default to your entire account balance. If you wish to take a lesser amount to the table, simply override the amount in the box by typing in the desired buy-in amount. The minimum buy-in is generally 10 times the small bet, although that amount is higher for no-limit and pot-limit games. Also see "Bet Limits" above.

For pot-limit and no-limit games, the maximum buy-in amount is 100 times the big blind.

Omaha Dealer - (Our dealers never sleep, and they don't accept tips!) - Our virtual dealer strictly enforces all game rules. The starting dealer position, or dealer button, is chosen at random and moves clockwise one player after each hand.

To start a hand, the cards are dealt in a clockwise direction from the dealer button. All new players to the game must either post the equivalent of the big blind or wait for their turn in the big blind. (Also see "Posting to Enter a Game" above.) 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.

Dealer Button - The yellow disk (labeled with a D) that moves from player to player at the beginning of each hand is called the dealer button. It identifies the current dealer position—as if that player were actually dealing the cards. The player at this location is said to be on the button. After each completed hand, the dealer button moves one player to the left.

Betting Order

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 button (when you are viewing the table from behind the button). The big blind is a forced bet made by the player to the immediate left of the small blind.



• Small Blind - In our Omaha game, 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. Exception: In a $.05-$.10 game, the small blind is $.03.)



• Big Blind - In our Hold'em game, 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. The software will prompt you if you have missed one or both blinds to put in the correct amount. You can also wait for the blind to get to your position. This is called coming in on the blind. (The term also applies to when you first sit down.) (Also see "Posting to Enter a Game" above.)



• 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 button. 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 from the popup box that appears when it is your turn. If you choose one of the automatic options, your bet is made automatically on your turn. If you select Sit Out or you close the window after a round has started, your bet will be considered a fold. If your connection is lost, your hand will be played as an All In bet. (This feature is restricted to a maximum number of times per day, to prevent individuals from gaining an advantage by purposely allowing themselves to be timed out.)



• 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 (the prompt says Bet).



• Succeeding Rounds - In all rounds except the first, the betting starts with the first active player to the left of the button, 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

At the showdown, if more than one active player remains, the software displays all hole cards, and awards the pot to the holder of the highest hand.

Omaha Poker Strategy

In Omaha High-Low, there will always be a high hand winner, and there may also be a low hand winner. The low hand must qualify with all 5 cards under 9 (8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or A). Two of your four down cards are played for high and two are played for low. Players must play exactly two out of their hands for each direction. Aces are played both high and low. Straights and flushes do not disqualify a hand for low, so a player ending with (5, 4, 3, 2, A) would have an unbeatable LOW hand and a 5 high straight to play for HIGH. A player with this hand would have a good chance of winning both ways. He or she could also have another high hand better than the straight. The most important thing to keep in mind in split pot games is “big profit” is the difference between winning half the pot and winning it all. * It is a lot more than just twice as much. Scooping the pot usually builds a healthy addition to your stack. Settling for only half the pot often leaves you barely ahead of where you were before the hand started.

** Expert Omaha Hi Lo players only play starting hands, like those recommended here, where they have a good chance of winning both ways. Omaha is a game of "nuts". There are so many players, using so many cards. There are usually some good hands being played, so even if you finish with decent hands in both directions you could get killed. It is important to maximum your assets, and minimize your liabilities. So after the flop or maybe the turn, if it looks like you don't have an almost certain nut for one end and a decent shot at the other, you should probably fold up and wait for the next hand. If you really feel confident then you should go for it. Make sure to pick those situations wisely.

Talk to your Omaha poker opponents:

Nothing gives you more information about how an opponent plays than simply asking. People will often volunteer information about their play, and “proudly” answer your questions. Not only can you learn things that you may not have otherwise picked up on, but now you have a better idea on how that opponent plays. You can use this incorporate this info into your style and not only build your game, but even better so build your game against that opponent.

Playing people's emotions:

You don’t want to peg someone as loose or tight or at least not at the table. Most people change their approach depending on the emotions they are feeling. Very few people stick to their game. They are called "rocks" and only play their very best hands. Aside from that, most opponents change their strategy frequently. The important thing is to adapt your strategy to the way your opponent is playing right now. Success starts with leverage. (Leverage=Advantage) Understanding your opponent gives you leverage. If you don’t let your emotion get the better of you then you have the Advantage.

Omaha Poker rules and tips to help you playbetter. Winning is more fun than losing especially when you are playing Omaha Poker online.