General Game Information
Omaha is a faster paced variation of Texas Holdem.
Game Play
The dealer in Omaha is determined by which player has the dealer chip or button in front of them. The dealer chip moves clockwise around the table after each round is concluded.
The first money that is put into the pot is called the blinds. The value structure of the blinds can vary from table to table, so ensure you are familiar with this before you start playing! The game starts by the first player to the left of the dealer putting in the small blind. This is typically about halve of the table low limit. The next player to the left of the small blind is required to put in the big blind, this is usually the lower limit of the table being played at.
In Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards. After each player is dealt their respective four cards, the player to the left of the big blind must either call the blind, raise or fold from the round. Each player, in turn, must then either call, raise or fold. After all the players have had a turn, the dealer places three community cards face up in the middle of the table. At this point is must be said that with Omaha a player is only allowed to use two cards from his hand and three cards from the community cards to obtain the best possible poker hand. So careful consideration has to be made whether to stay in the game or fold.
At this point another round of betting occurs starting with the player to the left of the dealer. This round is called the Flop. When players have either called, raised or folded, another community card is placed in the center face up. This round is referred to as the Turn. In the Turn round, bets are usually the table high limit starting with the player to the left of the dealer.
Once this round's betting is finished, the River round starts. In this round another and final community card is placed face up in the center. Again double bets are made, this the final round of betting.
After all bets have been made in the River round, the Showdown occurs. The final player that made a bet in the River round must then either show his hand or muck. This is then where the best poker hand is made from two of the players hole cards and three of the community cards. The player with the highest standard 5 card poker hand then wins the pot.
