OMAHA ONLINE POKER

The game of the future, as many poker experts predict, is a variation of Texas Hold’em. Except for the fact that Omaha deals four pocket cards (rather than two), and the showdown only uses two pocket cards and three communal cards (rather than a choice of any combinations of communal and pocket cards).

Omaha Poker Terminology
Sound like a pro by adding the following poker terms to your vocabulary. Soon you’ll be whispering ‘flop’, ‘turn’, ‘river’ and ‘buck’ in your sleep.

Blind Bet: A "blind bet" is a forced bet that is placed by each player in turn before the cards are dealt. In Omaha it is posted by the two players to the left of the dealer. A "small blind" is placed by the player to the dealer's left. The "big blind" is placed by the player left of the small blind. As the dealer button moves, so do the blinds.

Flop: The dealing of the first three communal cards.
Turn: The fourth communal card dealt
River: The fifth, and final, communal card dealt
Puck/buck/button: A moving disc which indicates the dealer, and moves in a clockwise direction.

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The rules of this game are very similar to Texas Hold'em, so if you know those you are almost there. If you don't, they're easy enough to learn.

Object of the game - to finish with the best hand, and win the pot. Chip requirement - you must have enough chips to place a blind bet and a bet.

Sequence of play

• The players to the left of the dealer begin the game by posting blind bets. The player on the dealer's left posts a small blind bet, and the player on the small blind's left posts a big blind bet.
• The dealer's position at the table of Omaha Poker changes after every game. The dealer-button shows the dealer's position at the table.
• Four pocket cards are dealt to each player.
• In the first round of Omaha Poker, the player to the big blind's left plays first and can either:
  
  Fold
  Bet
  Raise



• In the first round, betting is capped at one bet and three raises per player.
• In the second round, three community cards are dealt. This is called the flop. A round of betting follows and players can either:
  
  Check
  Fold
  Call
  Raise



• In the third round, a fourth community card is dealt. This is called the turn. Another round of betting follows.
• In the fourth round a fifth and final community card is dealt. This is called the river card. The final round of betting follows. The remaining players then use two of their pocket cards and three of the community cards to create the best five-card high hand possible.

Important: Winning hands must consist of two pocket cards and three community cards.

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As per normal poker rules - playing and betting proceeds in a clockwise direction.
The two players to the left of the dealer post the blind bets.
Small Blind (the player who sits left of the dealer) bets half the lower limit.
Big blind (the player who sits left of the small blind) bets equal to the lower limit.
Betting increments in the game determine the blinds. In a game of $2 and $4 betting increments, the small blind is $1, and the big blind is $2.

The blind bets in Omaha are considered active bets and, therefore, players have the option to check, fold, call or raise when the betting returns to their position.
First round betting - options are to fold, bet, or raise.
Only one bet and three raises per player are allowed on the first round.
Players cannot "check" in the first round, as blinds are live bets, not antes.

Second and subsequent betting rounds - options are to check, fold, bet, or raise.

All bets must be placed in conjunction with the game's betting increments.

There are four possible betting rounds in Omaha poker. Each bet and raise during the first two rounds is set at the lower limit of the stakes structure, and for the last two rounds at a higher limit structure. For example in a $1/$2 Omaha game, all bets and raises are $1 for the first two rounds (after pocket cards are dealt and after the flop). All bets and raises are $2 for the last two rounds (after the turn and after the river), following accepted poker rules.

The maximum allowable number of bets per player during any betting round in Omaha poker is four. This includes a (1) bet, (2) raise, (3) re-raise, and (4) cap. The term cap is used to describe the 3rd raise in a round since betting is then capped and can't be raised further. Once capped, players will have only the option of calling or folding.

In betting rounds where players have folded, the first active player left of the disc/dealer is first to act.

To ensure fairness for all, new players entering the Omaha game are required to post the equivalent of the big blind. All players have the option of sitting out and waiting for the actual big blind to come around to their position and entering the game at that point.

By preventing players from constantly entering poker games in a late position and leaving before they're required to post a blind, these rules stop potential abuse of the online poker environment.

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More starting combinations: Each player is given four pocket cards; therefore players have six times the number of starting hand combinations than they do in Texas Hold’em.

Omaha is a split-pot game: Whenever, you have a high hand and see three low cards on the board, your high hand has already lost some value. The odds are you’ll probably be splitting the pot among your poker peers.

Be alert in early position: Play few hands from an early position. You’ll throw many hands away, but you’ll be saving your bankroll and ego from further bruising.

Play coordinated hands: If you’re first four cards do not suit up, throw away your hand and wait for a better opportunity.

Fit or fold: If the flop doesn’t improve your hand, or offer a strong draw in one or both directions, fold immediately.

The best strategy: Play low cards that have the potential of making high hands. Be selective but don’t be afraid to be aggressive!

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