Omaha Poker – The Game
Omaha Poker – Bets And Blinds
In order to begin a game of Omaha Poker the two players to the left of the dealer must place a blind, a mandatory entry fee commonly used in Poker. The first player on the dealers left posts a small blind and the second player to the left places a big blind. The size of both blinds is pre-determined by the stakes of the game.
Omaha Poker – The First Round
In the first round of Omaha Poker betting, four cards are dealt face down to each player and the betting begins with the next player to the left of the big Blind. Because the blinds are not actually bets the ensuing players may not check, they can either call the same amount as the big blind, raise or fold. All bets made will go into a pot.
Omaha Poker – The flop
After the first round of betting is over, three community cards are dealt. These are dealt face up and the second round of betting begins.
Omaha Poker – The second round
The betting begins with the first player to the left of the dealer, he may either check or bet. The minimum bet this player can make must be equal to the amount of the big blind posted in the first round. The player may also increase the bet or fold. As the betting moves around the table, all players must match the highest bet on the table. If the player who opened the betting round checks and all other players check too, the third betting round will follow.
In the third betting round, a fourth community card is dealt and another betting round begins. After all bets are made, a fourth and final betting round starts.
Omaha Poker – Final round
In this round the fifth and last community card is dealt and the betting begins. After all bets are made, the hand with the highest ranking cards wins. Note that you may still only use two of your four hole cards to create your best hand. No more no less.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker
With the same basic rules and deal as standard Omaha Poker, this is a game that takes the good with the bad, since the pot is divided between the highest and lowest ranking hand. To qualify for the Lo, a hand must contain five non-paired cards all lower than 8. If no Lo hand qualifies, the pot is won by the best high hand only.
Although tricky, it is possible for a player to take a crack at winning both the Hi and the Lo hand. In this game, a Straight or Flush with all cards below 8 is valid as a Lo, but since the hand is strong, it is also a force to be reckoned with among Hi horses. For example, A, 2, 3, 4 ,5 is a straight below 8 but also a fierce combatant for the Hi title. Taking down both pots is called a “scoop”.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – The Game
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – Bets and blinds
In order to begin a game the two players to the left of the dealer must place a blind, a mandatory entree fee commonly used in poker. The first player on the dealers left posts a small blind and the second player to the left places a big blind. The size of the blinds is pre-determined by the stakes of the game.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – The first round
Four cards are dealt face down to each player and the betting begins with the next player to the left of the big blind. Because the blinds are not actually bets the ensuing players may not check, they can either call the same amount as the big blind, raise or fold. All bets made will go into a pot.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – The flop
After the first round of betting is over, three community cards are dealt. These are dealt face up and the second round of betting begins.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – The second round
The betting begins with the first player to the left of the dealer, he may either check or bet. The minimum bet this player can make must be equal to the amount of the big blind posted in the first round. The player may also increase the bet or fold. As the betting moves around the table the all players must match the highest bet on the table. If the player to open the betting round checked and all other players checked too the third betting round will follow.
In the third betting round a fourth community card is dealt and another betting round begins. After all bets are made, a fourth and final betting round begins.
Omaha Hi-Lo Poker – Final round
In this round the fifth and last community card is dealt and the betting begins. After all bets are made, the pot is shared between the holder of the Hi & Lo hand. Note that you may still only use two of your four hole cards to create your best hand. No more no less. A scoop here is not going to win you a Pulitzer prize, but something tells us that it won’t worry you too much.
