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OMAHA POKER
Omaha Introduction
Omaha poker is a community card game, similar in style to Texas Hold'Em, but with marked differences in play and strategy.
In four card Omaha, (the version played in most poker rooms), each player receives four cards on the initial deal as opposed to two cards in Texas Hold'em. To make a five card poker hand you must use two of your four pocket cards with 3 of the five community cards.
"Two from the pocket and three from the board"
The method of play is very similar to Texas Hold'Em.
Start Playing
The "button" signifies the dealer position, it moves clockwise after each hand.
As in Hold'Em the player to the left of the dealer is required to post the small blind, and the player to the left of the small blind is required to post the big blind. In a $2/$4 game the small blind is $1 and the big blind is $2.
Four cards are dealt face down to each player, one at a time, a round of betting takes place, exactly the same as Hold'Em.
The play now follows the same format as Hold'Em, until there are five community cards in the middle of the table.
Betting rounds consist of a bet and 3 raises maximum, as per Hold'Em.
Then the highest hand made from two pocket cards and three community cards wins the pot.
The first person to show their cards is the last person to bet or raise.
Strategy & Tips
The strategy for Omaha is virtually the same as Hold'Em.
But you must always remember that you can only use three of the community cards, and can only use two of your pocket cards.
So two pair on the board (community cards), counts as one pair as you cannot use all four cards. Remember this when looking for full houses.
Remember that since there are so many pocket cards in play, straights and flushes will be common. A lot more common than in Hold'Em.
OMAHA HI-LO
Introduction
Omaha Hi/Lo is a popular version of Omaha. In this game, the highest hand and the lowest hand get half of the pot each. The low hand must contain an 8 or better, and no pairs. You can use different cards for the two hands, and it is possible to win both the high and the low pot. If there is no qualifying low hand, then the high hand wins the whole pot.
As in Omaha, you must use two cards from your hand and three from the board, but you can use a different two cards for your high and low hands.
Start Playing
Each player is dealt four cards face down, one at a time. The betting schedule is exactly the same as Omaha and Hold'Em.
Strategy & Tips
Your Low hand must be 8 or better (lower). The lowest high card wins. If two or more players have the same high card, then the next lowest high card wins. Understand this part carefully, the lowest hand is determined by the high cards first. The five examples below demonstrate how this principle works.
Player 1. 8, 6, 4, 2, A
Player 2. 7, 6, 4, 3, 2
Player 2 wins, as 7 is lowest high card.
Player 1. 8, 6, 4, 2, A
Player 2. 8, 7, 4, 3, A
Player 1 wins, as 6 is next lowest high card.
Player 1. 8, 6, 4, 2, A
Player 2. 8, 6, 3, 2, A
Player 2 wins, as 3 is winning high card.
Player 1. 8, 7, 6, 4, 2
Player 2. 8, 7, 6, 5, A
Player 1 wins, as 4 is winning high card.
Player 1. 8, 6, 5, 4, 2
Player 2. 8, 6, 5, 4, A
Player 2 wins, as Ace is winning high card.
Omaha Hi/Lo takes a lot of skill, so practice before you play for real.
Best Omaha Hi/Lo Starting Hands
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