Omaha High Rules
Omaha High is like Texas Hold ‘Em, with
only two exceptions: Players are dealt 4 cards instead of 2
and players must use 2 out of their 4 cards NO MORE and NO LESS
to form their hand.
THE BUY-IN
You must buy-in a minimum amount of chips when sitting down
at your chosen table. The minimum limit is equal to ten times
the lower bet limit of the game. For example, on a $3/$6 table
the minimum buy-in is $30, on a $10/$20 table the minimum buy-in
is $100.
THE GAME
Omaha High uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where
the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players
to the left of the button place live bets called the small and
big blinds. 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 play begins with four cards dealt facedown
to each player. Action starts with a betting round beginning
with the player to the left of the blind bets and continuing
clockwise around the table. Players may bet, check, raise or
fold in turn. The big blind has the privilege of last action
and may check or raise the bet.
Three community cards called "The Flop"
are then dealt up in the center of the table and another betting
round takes place beginning with the player to the left of the
dealer button. Another card is dealt face up (called "The
Turn") followed by a round of betting.
The fifth and last card called "The River"
is dealt face up and a final round of betting takes place. Players
remaining in the hand will then show their cards and the winning
poker hand will be awarded the pot. Players must form their
best five-card poker hand from only two of their four pocket
cards and any three of five community cards.
SIT DOWN
6 to 10 players plus a dealer are seated around a table.
DEALER BUTTON
In front of one of the players is a round disc or button. This
disc determines the order of betting (posting the blinds) and
moves to the left one player at a time, after each hand.
POST BLINDS
Before the cards are dealt at the beginning of each hand, the
two players directly to the left of the dealer button must post
"blinds". To post a blind is to place a bet before
getting cards.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts
the "small blind," equal to half of the minimum bet
(Example: $5 for a $10/$20 game). The player to the left of
the small blind posts the "big blind," equal to the
amount of the minimum bet (Example: $10 for a $10/$20 game).
POCKET CARDS
Once the blinds have been posted, the first round of cards is
dealt. These consist of four cards face down to each player and
are called the "pocket cards". Each player can see
his or her own pocket cards.
Then the first round of betting takes place, beginning
with the player immediately to the left of the big blind and
continuing in a clockwise direction around the table.
BETTING
Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a
$3/$6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the
last two. The bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each
round of betting. In other words, there can be one bet and three
raises in each round.
THE FLOP CARDS
Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.
These cards are called the "Flop". All three cards
are "community" cards and can be used by all the players
at the table to make up their best possible hand.
After the flop is dealt, a second round of betting
takes place, again beginning with the player immediately to
the left of the dealer button. All subsequent rounds of betting
begin with the player to left of the dealer button.
THE TURN CARD
Following the flop, a fourth "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. This card is called the
"Turn" card and can also be used by all players. It
is followed by a third round of betting.
THE RIVER CARD
Finally, a fifth and final "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. It is called the "River"
card and is followed by a fourth and final round of betting.
SHOWDOWN
Once all betting is complete, players determine the best five-card
hand that they can make from two of their four pocket cards
and three of the five community cards. Four of these cards will
be in their own possession and dealt as down cards, and five
will be face up as community cards to be shared by all players.
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 immediately
to the left of the dealer. As in Texas Hold' Em a button is
used to indicate the dealer's position. The "button"
is moved clockwise around the table so that every player can
benefit from the advantage of being last to act once per round.
Like Hold' Em, position is an important advantage with the player
on the button being in the best position possible.
START AGAIN
After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the
dealer button is moved one player to the left and the next hand
begins.
