Omaha Introduction

Omaha High is a community poker game, similar to the more popular Texas Hold'em game, but with marked differences in both play and strategy. The main difference lies in your pocket cards, 4 of which are dealt face down 2 of which must form part of your hand.

Trying to make a great 5 card hand with 9 cards may appear simple, but remember you must use "2 from the hand and 3 from the board". So those 4 Aces in your hand may be deceptive!

Dealer Button

In front of a selected player is a silver disc called the Dealer button. This disc displays which order the cards are to be dealt (going clockwise). Before any cards are dealt, the player immediately to the left of the dealer button must post a 'small blind'. The player to his / her left must post a 'big blind'.

Blinds

The 'small blind' player must post a number of chips equal to half the minimum bet, e.g. 0.50 for a 0.50/1 game. Likewise, the 'big blind' player must equal the minimum bet, e.g. 1 for a 1/2 limit game.

Blinds are placed in the pot to trigger the betting and give all players an incentive to enter the hand. Blind bets also means that the winner of the hand will always collect a pot rather than nothing at all!

Pocket Cards

Now it's time to play some cards. Four pocket (face down) cards are dealt to each player - but remember - only two of these cards can form part of your final hand.

1st round of betting

Once every player has received their pocket cards, the first round of betting can begin. This begins with the player to the left of the big blind and goes round in a clockwise direction.

Your betting depends on how well you think your hand will fare against other players. The three choices are to:

•   Fold - decide that your cards aren't good enough to win the hand.
•   Call - match the big blind stake and stay in the betting.
•   Raise - up the stakes, meaning your opponents will have to match your amount or fold.

If you have staked the big blind you can "check", i.e. you remain in the hand for free. But if another player bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in.

Please note - the stakes can only be raised three times during each round of betting. This (and the next) round of betting is set at the lower level of table stakes. For example, in a 0.50/1 game, all raises are increments of 0.50.

Flop Cards

Now it's time for some more cards. Three are dealt face up in the middle of the table. These are communal cards, i.e. every player can use them to try and make the best hand possible.

2nd round of betting

Now it's time to get back to some betting! With 7 of your 9 cards now in view, you will now have a much better idea of what your best hand is likely to be.

In this and the following rounds of betting, the first player to act is directly to the left of the dealer button. Again the options are to Call, Fold or Raise. Alternatively, if no-one has yet contributed to the pot, you can "check". You remain in the hand for free, but if another player bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in. Again initial bets are in increments of the lower table stakes.

Turn Card

The suspense is mounting as the fourth communal card is dealt face up in the middle of the table which is called the 'Turn' card. Again, this can be used by every player to make their hand as good as possible. At this point, you should be getting an idea of how good your potential hand is.

3rd round of betting

The only difference between this round of betting and the previous two is that this (and the next) round of betting is set at the upper level of table stakes. For example, in a 0.50/1 game, all raises are increments of 1 instead of the previous 0.50.

River Card

Now it's time for the last card of the round, the all-important River card! This is the fifth communal card and, like the Flop cards & Turn card, is dealt face up in the middle of the table.

4th round betting

This is your last chance to bet, so no holding back you've come too far! The betting follows the same pattern and stakes as the 3rd round. After the betting has ended, we now have a final pot.

You now have nine cards from which to choose:

•   4 Pocket Cards (of which exactly 2 must be selected)
•   3 Flop Cards
•   1 Turn Card
•   1 River Card

Winner

The winner of the round subsequently takes the pot. If there are multiple winners, naturally, the pot is split between these players.

Deal 'em up again!

Ready for some more cards? After the pot has been handed to the winner(s), the dealer button moves left one player and a new hand begins. Are you up to the challenge?