Omaha Hi

• Each player receives four face-down cards (pocket cards) to start.
• At the showdown each player must use two of their four pocket cards and combine them with exactly 3 board cards.

This makes Omaha a 9 card game, with more cards to choose from players will finish by entering the showdown with stronger cards.

General Sequence of events:

1. The dealer deals each player their own four cards face-down (pocket cards)
2. First betting round
3. The dealer turns over three community boardcards (the flop) face-up
4. Second betting round
5. The dealer turns over 1 more community boardcard (the turn)
6. Third betting round
7. The dealer turns over 1 final community boardcard (the river)
8. Final betting round
9. Showdown
   

The Buy-In

Omaha High players must buy-in a minimum amount of chips when sitting down at their chosen table. The minimum limit is usually equal to ten times the lower bet limit of the game. For example on a $2/$4 table the minimum buy-in is $20, on a $20/$40 table the minimum buy-in is $200.

Playing the Game

Like all other variations of poker, Omaha High Poker uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where the cards need to be dealt from. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the button (seats 2 and 3) place live bets called the small and big blinds (also called Antes). It is called a blind because players must pay this amount before seeing their cards. It's called live because it counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round. The first player to the dealer's left (seat two) is the small blind and must kick in half the lower limit ($1 on a $2/$4 table). Seat three is the big blind and must kick in the full value of the lower limit ($2 on a $2/$4 table).

The Pocket Cards

As in Holdem, the deal rotates clockwise around the table beginning with the player to the big blind's left. Each player is dealt four cards faced down, called the pocket cards.
When Playing Omaha High Poker, action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to the left of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the table. They call by matching the big blind ($2 on the $2/$4 table) or may raise by kicking in the big limit ($4 on the $2/$4 table). In this round checking is not allowed. If the player doesn't want to Call, they may fold. The big blind has the opportunity of last action and may check or raise the bet.

The Flop

Once the first round of betting has come to a close, three community cards called the flop are then dealt up in the center of the table. All three cards can be used by all the players at the table to make up their finest possible hand. An additional betting round then takes place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button. This betting round begins with the blinds, or the first outstanding seat on the dealer's left. Checking is allowed now and for the rest of the hand. Bets are placed at the lower limit ($2 in our game). Players may check, bet, raise or fold in this round.

The Turn

Another community card is dealt face up, called the turn. Again betting begins with the blinds, however, Bets and Raises are at the high limit $4.

The River

The fifth and last card community called the river is dealt face up and a concluding round of betting takes place, again at the high limit.

The Showdown (drum role please…)

It's the showdown in Omaha High Poker that differs from Texas Hold'Em. Players remaining in the game will then confirm their cards, with the best 5 card hand winning. This 5 card hand must be made up from two of their four pocket cards and three of the five community cards.

Therefore, if a player is dealt four kings down, only two of the kings count toward the final hand. The remaining three cards must come from the community cards. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split with any odd amount going to the player directly to the left of the dealer.

As in Texas Hold'em, the button used to specify the dealer's position is moved clockwise around the table. This allows every player to benefit from the advantage of being last to act once per round. Like Hold'em, position is a significant advantage with the player on the button being in the best position possible.