Omaha Poker
Omaha is second only to Texas Hold’em Poker in its popularity among today's poker players. Both games use a community card pile, but where Texas Hold ’em gives players two private cards, Omaha doubles this to four. The extra cards mean that more combinations are possible, resulting in a more challenging game in general. If you're signing up to one of the top Omaha poker sites and you're ready to dabble in this intriguing poker game we've detailed everything you need to know on this page.
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Omaha Poker Tips
Variations of Omaha Poker Games
One of the biggest attractions to the game of Omaha at leading poker sites is the flexibility that comes with the game. There are several different game types available and each comes with a slightly different set of rules.
What you will notice from the three variations that we outline below is that the difference comes in the form of the bets that you can place. In terms of general rules, the games will remain the same.
Pot Limit Omaha Poker
Pot limit games will reflect the amount that is in the pot as the maximum you can then bet. For example, if there is £50 in the pot, then the maximum bet you can place is £50.
Because of the style of the game and the high rates of variance that come with Omaha compared to other online poker variants, the majority of games that are played are pot limit.
No Limit Omaha Poker
No limit games are more popular at top online casinos than they are in brick and mortar casinos. This variation allows players to bet as large as they want at any point in the game. The only limitation here will be the number of chips that they have in front of them.
Fixed Limit Omaha Poker
Fixed limit games have a predetermined amount that can be placed for each bet. This is set out at the start of the game and it will not deviate throughout.
For example, if you’re playing with blinds of £1 for the small blind and £2 for the big blind, the fixed bet for the game will always be that of the big blind, so in this case, £2.
Omaha Poker Rules
If you’re familiar with Texas Hold’em Poker, then Omaha will follow a lot of the same rules. However, if you are new to the game, we will walk you through how it works and what you need to know.
The game starts with a dealer button, a small blind and a big blind. The big blind will always put in double the amount of the small blind. These positions rotate clockwise for each hand.
Each player will then be dealt four cards from the deck. The idea of the game is to create the best poker hand using two of your four cards (mandatory) and then three of the community cards.
After the cards have been dealt, a round of betting will occur. Once this is complete three cards are dealt face-up on the table. The initial three cards are known as the flop. Again, another round of betting takes place.
A fourth card is dealt (the turn) and then the final card (the river), with betting rounds proceeding each. Once this is complete, the players still in the hand turn their cards and the winner is the player with the strongest poker hand from any two of their four hole cards and three community cards.
One of the vital things to remember here is that you have to use two of the four cards you are dealt. This is often a common mistake that many new players make when starting.
Key Terminology of Omaha Poker
As with all games of poker, there are a few key terms that it’s good to get to grips with before you start to play. Here are some of the more common:
- Hole Cards | the four cards held by the individual players
- Flop | the first three cards in the community pile
- Turn | the fourth card in the community pile
- River | the fifth and final community card dealt
- Omaha Hi | common version of game where the highest hand wins
- Omaha Hi-Lo / Omaha 8 | variant where both high and low hands win
- Small Blind and Big Blind | two forced bets made by the players to the left of the dealer
- PLO | Pot Limit Omaha
- PLO8 | Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo / Omaha 8
- Scooping | winning both the high and low pot with the same hand in Omaha Hi-Lo / Omaha 8
How to Play Omaha Poker
Omaha is an incredibly exciting variation of poker and it’s possible to make a lot of money from the game by applying even the simplest of strategies. The inclusion of four hole cards adds a different dynamic to it compared with the likes of Texas Hold’em, but with it comes an increased number of pitfalls as well.
Below we’ve added a few basic strategies and things to consider at different stages of the game. Rarely are any two hands you play are ever the same, so you will need to adapt these to your situation where possible.
Before we jump in, we just wanted to add that applying even basic strategy to Omaha poker is going to get you ahead of the majority of players at your table. It’s not as mainstream a game as the likes of Texas Hold’em which means there are more weaker players and an easier basic strategy that you can apply.
Basic Strategies
Taking things back to basics, you need to make sure that you’re aware of the rules of the game you are playing. You must know the betting limits, such as pot limit, no limit or fixed limit games.
We’ve several articles on-site already about more advanced Omaha poker strategies, but we wanted to include a couple of notable mentions if you’re new or looking to improve from a beginner’s platform.
Each is based on the timing of your hand in reference to the community cards being dealt, but you’re likely going to be able to apply most at any stage of Omaha poker.
Pre-Flop
Starting hand knowledge here is absolutely key. You need to know what hands are strong and what is weak, before then betting accordingly.
Just because you have a wide range of cards to choose from, don’t fall into the trap of playing too many hands pre-flop. This will only get you into tough spots later down the line and won’t be profitable.
Note your big hands and bet as hard as you can whilst you are strong. Don’t overplay hands like one or two pair as they often have little value when it comes to showdown.
The Flop
When the flop has been dealt, you need to ask two questions:
- Has my hand connected for any ready-made hands?
- Does my hand have any big draws attached to it?
In both situations, we want to be looking to play out our hands. If we connect hard then we want to bet big. If we are in a spot where we have a lot of draws to big hands, then we don’t necessarily need to bet big, but we certainly don’t want to be folding.
The Turn
As we get to the turn the importance of position and pot control start to come into play. By acting last we not only determine the last play, but we also see the line that our opponent wants to take.
At this point, we want to be paying less for our draws, but we are still looking to bet hard with any strong hands.
The River
The final play of the hand is all about assessing the information that has already been given to you. We have seen three actions from any opponents still in, which includes pre-flop play, flop and then turn. If they have bet hard and fast, chances they have a strong hand. If they have been passive, but unwilling to fold, chances they were drawing.
We can now work out if these draws have connected or if they have missed. Hands like a pair and two pair are not strong final hands in Omaha. Straights, flushes, sets, straight flush and above are where the money is made.
History of Omaha Poker
Omaha is unusual among card games as its invention cannot be pinned down easily. The exact origins of the game are unknown, but there was a similar game known as Twice Threes that was popular in American cities such as Detroit and Chicago in the 1960s, even spreading as far as New York. It went through some modifications as it drifted across the country.
One of the major differences between the variations found in the north and south was that the north played with five cards dealt with each player, while the southern states dealt four – the latter becoming the standard in Omaha poker.
This game was also played under several different titles, going by names of other locations such as Fort Worth and Oklahoma, before Omaha was settled on in the 1980s. It is believed the Nebraskan town was chosen as it is in the centre of the United States and was seen as an agreeable compromise between all the other location-based names.
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FAQ
What’s the difference between Omaha Poker and Texas Hold’em?
The main difference between the two is that in Omaha you are dealt four hole cards whereas in Texas Hold’em you are dealt just two. Omaha requires you to use two, and only two, of the four cards. In Texas Hold’em, you aren’t *required* to use any and could technically use the five community cards as your showdown hand.
What is the best starting hand in Omaha Poker?
The best starting hand in Omaha is A-A-K-K, double suited. This gives the player the highest two pairs on offer, along with the highest possible flush draw from the double suited. They can make a Royal flush from this combination as well.
What is the nut low in Omaha Hi Lo?
This would be 5-4-3-2-A.
Can you use all 4 cards in Omaha Poker?
No, you can only use 2 of the 4 hole cards that you are dealt. You then need to take any three of the community cards to create the best 5 card hand possible.
How do you win Omaha Hi Lo poker?
You need to win both the hi hand and the lo hand in Omaha hi-lo. If two different players win one of each, then the pot is split between them. If there is no low hand, then the player with the best high hand will scoop the pot.
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Contributors
Hi, I'm Lee James Gwilliam
"With over 10 years as a poker player and 5 in the casino industry I’m here to share my experience and passion."
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Reviewer since February 2016
