How to Play Omaha Hi Poker

Omaha Hi is a form of Texas Hold'em. The game itself is a bit more complicated as there are more cards in play, but it still is fun. There are tournaments in the professional poker world where you can win large cash prizes in Omaha Tournaments.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Well-Timed Aggression
• Playing Cards
• Poker Chips
• Money (where gambling is legal)

1. 

   The dealer is also called the "button" because of the small white disk that gets passed around the table. The small and big blinds are "posted" meaning that the designated players automatically put out the blinds before the cards are dealt. The small blind sits to the left of the dealer and the big blind is to the left of the small blind. The small blind is half the amount of the big blind.

2. 

   Each player is dealt four cards, face down, known as the hole cards. Each player looks at their hand, making sure the other players don't see it. Then, the player has a choice to either fold or bet. The bet must be at least the same amout of the big blind, but the player can raise if they choose.

3. 

   Once the betting is finished, the dealer gathers all the chips into the center of the table. He then "burns" a card - takes the top card and sets it aside, face down - then deals three community cards, known as the "flop" face up in the center of the table. Players may then choose to fold, bet, or check.

4. 

   The dealer deals a fourth community card known as the "turn" or "fourth stree." Players once again may choose to fold, bet, or check.

5. 

   The last community card, known as the "river," is dealt and another round of betting ensues. The players then show or "muck" their hand. The best five-card hand using exactly two of their hole cards and three cards from the board or community wins. The players may not use more than three cards from the board. The link in resources explains the hierchary of hands.

6. 

   ADDED NOTE: Omaha Hi/Lo is played exactly the same way. The difference is at the showdown, the pot is split between the holder of the highest hand, and the holder of the lowest hand, if the low hand qualifies. To qualify for the low hand the player must have five distinct cards (no pairs), with no card higher than an 8. Straights and flushes do not count againt the player. If there is no qualifying low hand, the high hand wins the entire pot.

Tips & Warnings

• The betting rules vary depending upon whether the game is Limit, Pot Limit or No Limit.
• Unlike Hold 'em, in Omaha Hi Poker you cannot use just one card from your hand, nor can you play the board. (Meaning that you must use two cards from your hand and you can't automatically win the hand because their is a hand using just the five cards in the community.)
• Here is an example of a hand to help you understand.
• Your Hand: Ah Kc Qc Jc
• The Board: 3h 4h 5h 6h 7h
• .
• You DO NOT have an ace-high nut flush, nor can you simply play the board for a straight flush. Using two cards from your hand, your best hand is: Ah Kc 7h 6h 5h
• .
• In other words, you should have folded.

Resources

• Poker Hand Ranks by Pokerlisting.com

[michaelmulvania]

on 8/9/2009 Very well writen article. I was impressed.

[HowDragon]

on 1/22/2009 Great instructions for playing Omaha Hi Poker. Thanks! 5*!