Omaha Poker is a poker game variant that ranks second next to Texas Hold'em in terms of popularity. Poker players can have more fun and action on the table while playing this game because of its bigger hands and bigger pots. This means that the pot money goes to a higher amount as compared to the Texas Hold'em game. Therefore, Omaha players must be ready in paying bigger amounts for the small and big blinds.

The Omaha is similar to Texas Hold'em only with a difference in the number of cards dealt. In the former, players are dealt with four hole cards instead of the two. From the four hole cards, the player has to choose two of them and combine these with three community cards to form the big five hand cards.

The Texas Hold'em allows players to use one, two or none of their hole cards. In the Omaha Poker, the rules are different. If the player didn't make use exactly two hole cards, the game tends to be unplayable and too wild because of the additional two hole cards.

This is quite troublesome at the onset of the game as players shall use more cards from the table for additional help.

Blinds and Dealer

Omaha follows the same principle of blinds applicable in Texas Hold'em. The small bet is paid by the player seated at the dealer's left while the big bet is paid by player seated at the small blind's left. The small blind's amount is equivalent to 50% of the lower bet limit while the big blind is equal to the amount of the lower bet limit.

At the beginning of each hand, the dealer moves to the left with one space and every player must be able to pay both the small and big blinds. In the case of a full time dealer, a "dealer's button" is used to determine his position on the table.

Pre-flop

When all players have completed their blinds, the dealer distributes the cards to every player one at a time starting from the one seated to his left going clockwise around the table. Every player's four cards are facing down.

First Round Bet

The player seated left of the small blind commences the betting. Before the next betting continues, the player has to decide on the minimum bet whether to stay in, fold or raise.

flop

In this stage, the dealer lays three cards in the center of the game table all faced up. These three cards will be the community cards which players can use to complete the five big cards. The player can therefore combine three community and two hole poker cards to make the five card poker hand.

This is followed by another betting commenced from the first player straight from the dealer's left. Before the betting continues, the player must call for a bet, check or fold.

Turn

Next to the flop, the dealer lays one community card on the table faced up. This is followed by another betting as initiated by the player seated left of the dealer. At this point, all players must make a bet and the amount must be higher than the upper bet limit.

River

After the 'turn', the dealer deals one last facing up community card in the center of the game table. Same as the previous stage, another betting scene takes place. If, after this betting round, one player is left, he then proceeds with the showdown.

Showdown

This is the stage where the winning player will be revealed. Players remaining shall then reveal his or her own five cards using a combination of two hole and three community cards from the center of the table. The player having the best five hand poker cards wins the game and gets the pot.