Omaha Holdem Rules

Now let’s see the game rules in more details. Here we will focus on the online version of the game. Each player will see a virtual table with all game participants. There will be a dealer button indicating the player who will be playing a role of the dealer. The dealer button moves clockwise from one player to another after each hand. At a new table the first player who joins becomes the dealer. Next player will need to place a small blind – a starting bet that values half of the small game stake, rounded to a whole number. The player after that places a big blind – another starting bet that values a full small game stake. After all players buy into the table, the actual game starts.

The dealer deals all players four cards each. These cards are face down. You will be able to see only your cards, as your opponents’ cards will be hidden. Each player (starting with the one after the player who posted the big blind) will be able to fold, call or raise the big blind. The raises are usually limited, though they don't have to be. After all bets are called, the dealer deals three community cards (the “Flop”). All players can see these cards and use them to make their hands. Another round of bets will happen at this time, starting from the player on the dealer’s left side. After the fourth community card is shown (the “Turn”), there is yet another betting round with the bet amount going up to the big stake limit. After the fifth community card is shown (the “River”), the last betting round occurs. After betting is finished, a player with the best five card hand (which must be made of two personal and three community cards) wins. If you placed a bet and all of your opponents folded, you win the pot.

If you are playing Omaha Hi/Lo poker, you will see one difference from regular Omaha Holdem game. With Omaha Hi/Lo the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand divide the pot fifty-fifty. A low hand qualifies if it doesn’t have a card that is larger than 8. Also a qualified low hand is not influenced by flush or straight combinations.