Omaha High

Buy In

To begin, players must 'buy-in' with a minimum of 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.

Game Summary

Omaha High uses a marker called the 'dealer button' to indicate where the cards are to be dealt from. Prior to the deal, the two players to the left of the dealer button are forced to place bets called the 'small blind' and the 'big blind'. It is called a blind because players must place a bet before they see their cards.

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 can bet, check, raise, or fold, in turn. The big blind has the privilege of the last action and the benefit of seeing how the other players at the table are betting.

Three community cards known as "The Flop" are then dealt in the center of the table, at which point another round of betting takes place, starting with the player to the left of the dealer button. Another card is dealt face up (known as "The Turn") followed by a round of betting.

The fifth and last card called "The River" is dealt face up. A final round of betting takes place, following which the remaining players must show their cards to the table. The winning poker hand will then be awarded the pot. This winning hand must be formed using only two pocket cards, and any three community cards.

Sit Down

From 6 to 10 players are seated around a table.

Dealer Button

To determine the order of betting and posting of blinds, a marker is used, known as the 'dealer button'. This button moves clockwise around the table, being passed to the next player at the start of every new hand.

Post Blinds

Before cards can be dealt at the start of each hand, the two players directly to the left of the dealer button must post "blinds". The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the "small blind" (half of the minimum bet, e.g. $5 for a $10/$20 game). The player to the left of the small blind must post the "big blind" equal to the amount of the minimum bet (e.g. $10 for a $10/$20 game).

Pocket Cards

Once blinds have been posted, the first round of cards are dealt. These consist of four cards dealt face down to each player known as "pocket cards". At this stage, each player can see his or her own pocket cards only. Then the first round of betting is initiated by the player immediately to the left of the big blind, and continuing clockwise around the table.

Betting

Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, on 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, i.e. there can be one bet and three raises in each round.

The Flop

Next, three cards are dealt face up in the center of the table, known as "The Flop". These are "community cards", meaning all players at the table can use them to make their best possible Poker hand. Once the flop has been dealt, there is a second round of betting, again starting with the player immediately to the left of the dealer button. All subsequent rounds of betting will begin with this same player.

The Turn

Following the flop, a fourth community card is dealt. This card is called "The Turn" card, and is followed by a third round of betting.

The River

The fifth and final community card is now dealt, known as "The River" and again is followed by a round of betting. This is the forth and final round.

The Showdown

Once all betting is complete, the winner is determined by who has the best five-card hand consisting of two of their four pocket cards and three of the five community cards. Only two of the four pocket cards dealt can be used, therefore if a player is dealt four kings, only two of the kings count toward the final hand; the remaining three cards must come from the community cards.

If 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 marker is used to indicate the dealer's position. The button moves clockwise around the table, passed to each player in turn at the start of each new hand. Position is vitally important in the game of Poker, so this will give every player an equal chance to capitalize on good positional play.

Start Again

After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the dealer button is moved one seat clockwise and the next hand begins.