Omaha (or Omaha Hold'em) is a community card poker game based on Texas Hold'em, with four betting rounds. Community cards are cards dealt face up to the center of the table (five in total) and shared by all players. Each player is privately dealt an incomplete hand (of four cards), which is then combined with the community cards to make a complete hand.
At the showdown, each player's hand is the best five-card hand made from exactly three of the five cards on the board, plus exactly two of their own cards. Note, unlike Texas Hold'em, a player cannot play only one of their cards with four of the board, nor can they play the board (all five board cards), nor play three from his hand and two from the board, or any other combination. Each player must play exactly two of their own cards with exactly three of the community cards.
Sequence of game play
1. Dealer One player is the nominal dealer for the hand. The dealers position moves clockwise at the end of each hand; the dealers seat is indicated by a dealers button.
2. Blinds The two players to the left of the dealer, posts the small- and big blind respectively.
3. Pocket cards Each player receives four cards face down (the players own cards are also known as hole cards as well as pocket cards).
4. First betting round The action starts with the player to the left of the big blind, and continues clockwise.
5. Flop Three community cards are turned face up on the table.
6. Second betting round The action starts with the first player to the left of the dealer who is still in the hand, and continues clockwise.
7. Turn Another (the fourth) community card is turned face up on the table.
8. Third betting round The betting advance as before. (In a fixed limit betting structure the bets are now doubled.)
9. River The final (the fifth) community card is turned face up on the table.
10. Last betting round The betting advance as before.
11. Showdown If more than one player reaches this stage, all remaining players show their hands. The first bettor or last raiser shows first, and then only those who beat that hand has to show. The highest ranked hand wins the pot.
Example
Player As pocket cards
Player Bs pocket cards
The Board
Now in order to create a hand, a player must use precisely two hole cards with three board cards. Therefore player A does not have a full house, jacks over tens, as that hand includes three hole cards. Nor does player A have a flush, as a flush can only be made with one hole card in this case. Therefore player As best hand is a straight, utilizing the K
and J
holecards. Player B uses the pair of aces in the pocket to create a three of a kind.
Player As final hand
Player Bs final hand
Added 2005-07-21 04:21:13
