How to Play Omaha Poker

For many poker players who start out learning how to play Texas hold'em, Omaha poker is often the next game to discover.

If you are thinking about exploring this poker variant and you would like to learn how to play Omaha poker, this beginner's guide to the game gives you everything you need.

Continue reading to find:

Here we go over the poker rules for Omaha poker.

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1. What is Omaha poker?

The more you play poker, the more you keep hearing how Omaha poker is the game to play to get the best action and challenge the best players.

In the past 10 years or so, Omaha poker became one of the most popular poker variants. Some go as far as to say that Omaha poker (pot-limit Omaha or PLO, specifically) is on a trajectory to surpass Texas hold'em and become the most played game in the world.

Part of the game's success has to do with its rules. Like most poker games, the basics of Omaha poker are the same as those in Texas hold'em - meaning that if you know how to play one, you are in a good spot to play the other.

When it comes to Omaha poker, there are different sub-variants out there, each with its specificities and dedicated player bases.

The two most popular types of Omaha poker (i.e. those you'll find at every major poker site) are:

Pot-limit Omaha (PLO)
Omaha hi-lo

This guide on how to play Omaha poker focuses on pot-limit Omaha (PLO) poker, one of the most played games of the year and probably the easiest version of the game to learn as a beginner.

If that's not what you are looking for or if you are already fluent in PLO poker, you can read about Omaha hi-lo poker rules here.

2. How To Play Omaha Poker

To play Omaha poker, you'll need a 52-card deck of French cards. Also, unless you are in for an old-fashioned game with beans, buttons, and pennies, you'll need some poker chips, a dealer button, and two "blind" buttons.

A game of Omaha poker needs two to ten players to begin.

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Like in other poker games, the action of a hand of Omaha poker includes several betting rounds and a combination of private ('hole') and community cards ('the board').

When learning how to play Omaha poker, the first thing you want to remember is the names of the different phases that compose a hand.

Pre-flop: This is the initial betting round. Some players (the 'Blinds') are obliged to place a bet, while the others can decide whether to call, fold, or raise.
The flop: This is the second betting round. Once the dealer places the first three community cards on the board, face up, the players still in the hand decide how to act.
The turn: The third betting round. The players still in the hand decide how to act once the dealer places one more community card on the board, face up.
The river: This is the last betting round. The players still in the hand decide how to act once the dealer places the last five community cards face up on the board.
The showdown: The players still in the hand reveal their cards.

Preflop Action

The Big Blind (BB) and the Small Blind (SB) place their bets on the table so the action can start.

The dealer distributes four cards to each player, all face down. As we will see later, this is one of the key differences between Omaha and Texas hold'em poker.

The first betting round begins as soon as all the cards reach the respective players. The first player to act is left of the Big Blind, which is known as Under the Gun or abbreviated as "UTG".

The action continues clockwise until it reaches the Big Blind.

All players have the following options:

Call: They place a bet equal to the size of the Big Blind (or to the highest bet placed before them, in case someone in the hand decides to raise).
Raise: They increase the bet, making it more expensive for other players to stay in the hand.
Fold: They give back the card and leave the hand.

The Flop

The dealer places three cards on the board, all face up. This is called the "Flop", and these cards are community cards that every player can use to construct their best poker hand. In total, five community cards will be dealt throughout the hand, with the flop revealing three cards at once before another card will be dealt on either turn or river.

A new betting round begins as soon as the three cards are on the table.

The Flop betting round is identical to the previous one.

The Turn

The dealer places one more card on the board, again face-up. This next round is called the "Turn". All players still active in the hand enter a new betting round that follows the same pattern as the betting round on the flop (i.e. the player sitting the most left to the dealer acts first).

The River

The dealer places the last community card face-up on the table, which is called the "River". Once again, a new betting round follows.

Once the final betting round has concluded, if two or more players are still active in the hand, the "Showdown" ensues. If only one active player still remains — for example, a final river bet scared the other player away — then the only active player will scoop up the pot without having to show down his cards.

The Showdown

Once the action has reached the showdown, the remaining active players in the hand turn their hands over. In Omaha, it's mandatory to use two cards out of the four-card starting hand, and combine them with exactly three of the five community cards to construct a poker hand.

No more, no less! Two cards from your hand, and three from the board.

This is an important rule difference from Texas hold'em, where two, one, or even none of your hole cards can be used to create the best possible poker hand (if no cards from your hand are used, it's known as "playing the board").

There is no playing the board in the game of Omaha! You will always need to use two, and exactly two cards from your hand, combined with three community cards from the table.

Once players have turned over their hands, the player with the highest combined five-card poker hand wins the hand and takes down the pot.

And here's where most beginners get in trouble.

Players who are just starting to learn how to play this game and are unfamiliar with the Omaha poker rules tend to make a lot of mistakes when building five-card hands.

The most common PLO poker mistake people make when they learn how to play Omaha poker is to forget they need to use at least two of the four hole cards to build their final hand.

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Let's look at one example.

A player holding A♥Q♣7♦6♦ looks at a board of 9♥4♥2♣J♥Q♥, thinking he has made the nuts with an ace-high flush.

Wrong!

The Omaha poker rules do not allow you to make a hand using only one hole card (A♥) in combination with four community cards (the four hearts on the board).

In fact, this player only has a pair of queens, not a flush. Not that good all of a sudden, huh?

How to Bet in Omaha Poker

Another key element to Omaha poker is rules and restrictions regarding betting. There are important differences between Omaha poker and Texas hold'em — not being aware of them could cost you a lot of precious chips.

Like in Texas hold'em, the minimum bet allowed in Omaha is always the equivalent of the big blind.

In a $1/$2 PLO poker game, a player's minimum bet is $2.

However, in no-limit hold'em, the player can always bet all their chips at any point. It's the name of the game, "No-Limit!"! (and the game's beauty, if we might add.)

In pot-limit Omaha, the most popular game variant, betting is — as the name would imply — limited by the pot size. The maximum bet allowed in PLO is equal to the size of the pot.

Calculating a "pot-sized" bet can be trickier and often requires the dealer's help to determine the exact amount. Luckily, this is no problem when it comes to online poker, and in any casino worth its salt, a professionally trained dealer should have no issue calculating this quickly and correctly for you.

If the pot is $10 and a player is first to act, the calculation is easy: the maximum possible bet is $10.

However, poker is never that easy. You must be prepared for different situations and calculations if you don't want other players to exploit your lack of experience.

Let's use an example to understand how betting works in PLO poker.

In this fictional PLO poker hand, $10 is in the pot when a player bets $5. The next player, however, decides to up their game and announces the intention to 'raise pot'.

How much is that?

Based on the previous bets, the most that player can bet is $25.

This number is calculated by adding the $5 to call to the $20 that would be in the pot after the call ($5 + $20 = $25).

Even advanced poker players find this confusing sometimes, but when you deconstruct the bet sizing it makes sense.

1) The pot is $10 before the bet
2) A player bets $5 (the pot is now $10+$5 = $15)
3) A player wants to "raise the pot". He first matches the $5 that was already bet, bringing the pot up to $20
4) The player then adds the $20 to his total as that's the 'pot size'. Therefore, he bets $20+$5 = $25 in total, or the maximum bet is $25 here.

When you play Omaha at a casino, the dealer will take care of the math for you should you announce you wish to bet the pot.

Things get even easier when you play online because the calculations appear on the screen, automatically.

3. The Hands in Omaha Poker

Pot-limit Omaha (or "Omaha high") is known as an "action game, " which is one reason why it is popular among high-stakes players.

Since players start with four hole cards in Omaha instead of two, they can make a much wider range of hands.

Therefore, hand values tend to be higher in Omaha than in Texas hold'em, with players making 'the nuts' or the highest possible hand much more frequently.

If you think about it, in PLO, players aren't dealt just a single two-card combination (as in Texas hold'em), but six different two-card combinations (among the four-hole cards) from which to choose the best hand.

It isn't unsurprising that players tend to make much better hands at showdown in Omaha poker.

In Texas hold'em, making two pair or three-of-a-kind can be a very strong hand, but in Omaha, there will often be better hands out there to beat those holdings.

In fact, two pair is often considered the most overplayed hand among novice Omaha players, especially when making the transition from Texas hold'em. Don't be that person — stay vigilant when holding two pair in Omaha!

Let's look at two more examples.

Example 1.

You have been dealt 10♠9♠8♥7♥ and by the river the board is 7♠9♥K♥J♣2♦.

Using the ten and eight in your hand, along with three community cards, you have a jack-high straight.

The problem is that any opponent holding Qx10xXxXx would complete a higher, king-high straight and therefore beat you.

If the betting gets heavy on the river, that's probably exactly what is happening.

Example 2.

You hold J♠J♣9♠9♥ on a board of 9♦K♠Q♥5♦3♦.

You have a set of nines, which would be a fantastic holding in Texas hold'em. But Omaha poker is a different game, and several hands could beat yours.

Anyone with KxKxXxXx or QxQxXxXx would have a higher set, and an opponent with Jx10xXxXx would have a straight.

There is also a flush possibility, meaning anyone with X♦X♦XxXx (two diamonds) would make a flush.

Due to the nature of so many better hands, an opponent may just be calling your bets with a set of kings or queens as they may fear a straight or flush, so even if you are not facing any immediate aggression, you could still be beaten so proceed with caution.

4. Differences Between Omaha and Texas hold'em?

Like Texas hold'em, Omaha is a 'flop' game that uses community cards. Players are dealt their own hands face down — their 'hole cards' — and use those cards in combination with the five community cards (the flop, turn, and river) to make five-card poker hands.

However, there is one big difference between Omaha and Texas hold'em.

Whereas in Texas hold'em all the players receive two hole cards each, in Omaha they get four hole cards.

Of those four hole cards, players must choose two to be used in combination with three of the five community cards to build their five-card poker hands.

Yes. In an Omaha poker game, each player must use two of their hole cards and three of the community cards to build a poker hand.

That's different from Texas hold'em where players can use:

both of their hole cards (and three community cards),
just one hole card (and four community cards),
or no hole cards (and all five community cards, which is called "playing the board").

In pot-limit Omaha, the poker hand rankings are just the same as in Texas hold'em.

Like Texas hold'em, pot-limit Omaha or 'PLO' poker is played as a 'high-hand' game, which means the hands go (from best to worst):

royal flush
straight flush
four-of-a-kind
full house
flush
straight
three-of-a-kind
two pair
one pair
high-card.

Other Omaha Poker Tips

The Importance of 'Position'

Just like in Texas hold'em, poker positioning is an important element in Omaha.

Many consider this game aspect to be even more important in Omaha poker. That's due to the pot-limit betting format and all the combinations a player can make with an Omaha hand.

When you have 'position' on your opponents, you can follow their actions and base your decisions on the information you received.

When you are out of position, it becomes much harder to make the correct decisions. The lack of information can lead to wrongful assumptions and push you to take risks not justified by the value of the cards you hold.

Another benefit of being in position is that you have a better chance of controlling the pot size, which is often based on the strength of your hand and your overall goal in the pot.

Being out of position to one or more opponents allows them to control the pot size and capitalize on the added information of knowing your actions first.

Bluffing in Omaha Poker

Because Omaha is so focused on the nuts, it might seem like bluffing plays an important role in the game.

A player can represent a wider range of hands in Omaha and also open up with a few more semi-bluffs available.

In fact, experienced Omaha players will often bet big draws heavily on the flop since, in some cases, those draws are mathematical favorites versus made hands.

All of which is to say players do bluff in pot-limit Omaha, but with so many possible hands out there, you have to be judicious when deciding when it is best to bluff.

The more you learn about the game, the easier it will become to pick up on these spots and determine how to proceed against various opponents.

Be Wary of the Blockers

Relatedly, "blockers" have also become much more prevalent in Omaha than in Texas hold'em.

Blockers are those cards you hold in your hand that prevent an opponent from making a specific hand.

For example, if a board reads K♠10♠5♥2♠4♦ and you hold the A♠ in your hand but no other spades, you may not have a flush, but you know your opponent cannot make the nut flush.

This gives you added power in the hand, allowing you to push your opponent off certain hands, as your opponent is guaranteed not to hold the nuts.

5. Where to Play Omaha Poker Games Online

As you would expect for a popular game like Omaha poker, you'll find PLO games at all the major poker sites online.

All the 'must-have' poker rooms listed below offer a very good selection of PLO games, with plenty of beginner-friendly free games.

Pick one of them, register a free account, and use the PokerNews exclusive welcome bonus to pay for your first real-money games of Omaha poker online.

Omaha Poker Rules FAQs

Is Omaha poker the same as Texas hold'em?

No, Omaha poker and Texas hold'em are distinct poker variants. In Omaha, players are dealt four hole cards instead of two.

How is Omaha poker played?

Omaha poker is played similarly to Texas hold'em. The main difference is that players use two of their four hole cards and three of the five community cards to make the best hand.

What are the starting hands to play in Omaha?

Good starting hands in Omaha typically include those with connected cards and high potential. Hands with pairs and coordinated suits are often preferred.

What is the best strategy for playing Omaha poker?

A successful Omaha strategy involves understanding the importance of starting hands, position, and adapting to community cards. Players need to be mindful of potential high hands.

How does betting work in Omaha poker?

Omaha poker features betting rounds similar to Texas hold'em. Players can check, bet, raise, or fold during each round, and the game includes pre-flop, flop, turn, and river.

Can I play Omaha poker online for real money?

Yes, many online poker platforms offer Omaha poker games for real money. Ensure you choose a reputable and licensed platform for a secure gaming experience.

What are the common mistakes to avoid in Omaha poker?

Common mistakes include overvaluing hands that are only strong for high, neglecting the importance of community cards, and not adjusting strategies based on the game variant (Omaha Hi).

Do you burn cards in Omaha poker?

Yes, Omaha poker is a flop game and follows the same rules as Texas hold'em. It's therefore customary to burn a card before dealing the flop, turn, and river.

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