Omaha
Omaha
Omaha High is a community poker game, similar to the more
popular Texas Hold'Em game, but with marked differences in
both play and strategy. The main difference lies in your pocket
cards, 4 of which are dealt face down 2 of which must form
part of your hand.
Trying to make a great 5 card hand with 9 cards may appear
simple, but remember you must use "2 from the hand and
3 from the board". So those 4 Aces in your hand may be
deceptive!
Dealer Button
In front of a selected player is a silver disc called the
Dealer button. This disc displays which order the cards are
to be dealt (going clockwise). Before any cards are dealt,
the player immediately to the left of the dealer button must
post a 'small blind'. The player to his / her left must post
a 'big blind'.
Blinds
The 'small blind' player must post an amount equal to half
the minimum bet, e.g. £0.50 for a £0.50/£1
game. Likewise, the 'big blind' player must equal the minimum
bet, e.g. £1 for a £1/£2 limit game.
Blinds are placed in the pot to trigger the betting and give
all players an incentive to enter the hand. Blind bets also
means that the winner of the hand will always collect a pot
rather than nothing at all!
Pocket Cards
Now it's time to play some cards. Four pocket (face down)
cards are dealt to each player – but remember –
only two of these cards can form part of your final hand.
1st round of betting
Once every player has received their pocket cards, the first
round of betting can begin. This begins with the player to
the left of the big blind and goes round in a clockwise direction.
Your betting depends on how well you think your hand will
fare against other players. The three choices are to:
Fold – decide that your cards aren't good enough to
win the hand
Call – match the big blind stake and stay in the betting
Raise – up the stakes, meaning your opponents will have
to match your amount or fold
If you have staked the big blind you can "check",
i.e. you remain in the hand for free. But if another player
bets, you will have to match his stake to stay in.
Please note - the stakes can only be raised three times during
each round of betting. This (and the next) round of betting
is set at the lower level of table stakes. For example, in
a £0.50/£1 game, all raises are increments of
£0.50.
Flop Cards
Now it's time for some more cards. Three are dealt face up
in the middle of the table. These are communal cards, i.e.
every player can use them to try and make the best hand possible.
2nd round of betting
Now it's time to get back to some betting! With 7 of your
9 cards now in view, you will now have a much better idea
of what your best hand is likely to be.
In this and the following rounds of betting, the first player
to act is directly to the left of the dealer button. Again
the options are to Call, Fold or Raise. Alternatively, if
no-one has yet contributed to the pot, you can "check".
You remain in the hand for free, but if another player bets,
you will have to match his stake to stay in. Again initial
bets are in increments of the lower table stakes.
Turn Card
The suspense is mounting as the fourth communal card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table which is called the 'Turn'
card. Again, this can be used by every player to make their
hand as good as possible. At this point, you should be getting
an idea of how good your potential hand is.
3rd round of betting
The only difference between this round of betting and the
previous two is that this (and the next) round of betting
is set at the upper level of table stakes. For example, in
a £0.50/£1 game, all raises are increments of
£1 instead of the previous £0.50.
River Card
Now it's time for the last card of the round, the all-important
River card! This is the fifth communal card and, like the
Flop cards & Turn card, is dealt face up in the middle
of the table.
4th round of betting
This is your last chance to bet, so no holding back –
you've come too far! The betting follows the same pattern
and stakes as the 3rd round. After the betting has ended,
we now have a final pot.
Showdown!
You now have nine cards from which to choose:
4 Pocket Cards (of which exactly 2 must be selected)
3 Flop Cards
1 Turn Card
1 River Card
You must now select the best possible five-card hand from
the above, bearing in mind you must use two from your hand
and three from the table. If yours is better than any of your
opponents, then you'll win the pot (providing you've continued
to bet right to the end!).
Winner(s)
The winner of the round subsequently takes the pot. If there
are multiple winners, naturally, the pot is split between
these players.
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