An Introduction to Omaha High Poker

Omaha High is another great community poker card game, quite similar to Texas Holdem although some rules are slightly different. For example each player is dealt four cards facing down as pocket cards (oppose to 2 in Texas Holdem), and each player must use exactly 2 cards from their pocket cards and three cards from the board (the community cards in the middle) to make their poker hand of 5 cards.

Different variations of Omaha High

There are a few different variations of Omaha High poker, these are Limit Omaha High, Pot Limit Omaha High, and No Limit Omaha High. Limit Omaha High means within the game there is a set limit that the betting of each player cannot go over. Pot Limit Omaha High means the player can bet the amount of the pot and no higher. No Limit Omaha High means the players can bet any amount of money and can bet all of their chips if they choose to at any point in the game. 

How To Play Omaha High Poker

Starting off – the 2 players to the left of the dealer place the 2 blind bets, the big and small. Each player is dealt four cards face down called the pocket or hole cards.

Bets – the player left to the player who placed the big blind can call, raise or fold. If a player calls it means they place a bet equal to the amount of the big blind, they can raise which means they have to place a bet higher than the big blind and fold means they do not wish to play anymore and give in their cards. Each player takes it in turns to place their bet going round the table in a clockwise direction.

The community cards – three cards are placed in the centre of the table (the board) facing up, these are called the flop. Another round of betting is conducted in the same fashion as before. Then a fourth card is drawn and placed with the other community cards, the fourth card is called the 4th street or turn card. From seeing this card another round of betting is completed. Finally a fifth card is placed among the community cards, called the 5th street or river. The final round of betting takes place.

Show your cards – in the last part of the game everyone shows their cards. Players have to use 2 cards from their pocket cards and 3 cards from the community cards. The best hand of poker wins the game and wins the pot.