How to Play Omaha Poker

At a glance, Omaha Poker seems extremely confusing, but it’s not! If you have been wanting to get into it but just haven’t really known where to start, you’re in the right place! First you may want to learn how to play Poker itself - we have a seperate blog post so that you can learn! 

But, in this post, we’re going to be doing a complete rundown of how to play Omaha Poker, so you’ll know exactly what to do the next time you decide to give it a shot!

Before you start shuffling those cards, there are a few things you should know.

Types of Omaha Poker

First off, there are three different types of Omaha games you can play: Pot Limit, No Limit, and Fixed Limit.

Pot Limit means you can bet up to the size of the pot; No Limit means you can bet any amount up to all your chips; and Fixed Limit means there's a set betting limit in each game and on each round of betting.

So understand the games and the risks before you start playing! 

How to Play Omaha Poker

Alright, let's break it down! Here are the steps to play Omaha poker in a nutshell:

Step 1: Deal the Cards

The game begins with each player receiving four cards face down, known as "hole cards." Unlike Texas Hold'em, where players only receive two hole cards, in Omaha poker, each player receives four. This increases the number of possible hands that can be created, making the game more complex and exciting.

Step 2: Place Your Bets

Once the cards have been dealt, the player to the left of the dealer puts in a small blind, and the player to their left puts in a big blind. These are mandatory bets that ensure there is always money in the pot. The betting then proceeds clockwise around the table, starting with the player to the left of the big blind.

Step 3: Flop Time

After the first round of betting is complete, three community cards are placed face up on the table. These are known as the "flop" and are available for all active players to use along with their hole cards.

Step 4: Bet Again

Once the flop has been dealt, the second round of betting begins. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player has the option to call the current bet, raise it, or fold their hand.

This is where players start to get a better sense of how strong their hand is and how it might compare to their opponents. Players can use their knowledge of their own hand and the community cards to bluff, deceive their opponents, and potentially win the pot.

Step 5: The Turn

After the second round of betting is complete, a fourth community card is dealt face up on the table. This card is called the "turn" and is available for all active players to use in combination with their hole cards.

Step 6: Bet Some More

Once the turn has been dealt, the third round of betting begins. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player has the option to call the current bet, raise it, or fold their hand.

Step 7: The River

After the third round of betting is complete, the fifth and final community card is dealt face-up on the table. This card is called the "river" and is available for all active players to use with their hole cards.

Step 8: Last Bets

This is the final round of betting in Omaha poker. Starting with the player to the left of the dealer, each player can choose to call, raise, or fold. At this point, the pot can be quite large, and players may be reluctant to put more chips in the pot if they don't have a strong hand.

Step 9: Showdown

If there is more than one player left, the last person to bet or raise shows their cards. The player with the best five-card hand using two of their hole cards and three community cards wins!

And that's it! With all of the steps outlined above, you’ve got everything you need to play an awesome game of Omaha Poker!