Cash Games - Understanding Omaha
Omaha Poker is very similar to Texas Hold’em with a couple of different game-changing factors. Firstly, instead of two hole cards each player is dealt four hole cards.
Secondly, in Omaha players must make the best possible hand using exactly two of their hole cards (no more and no less) and three from the five community cards.
Pot Limit
In Pot Limit Omaha (most popular form of Omaha Poker), the maximum a player can bet is the amount that is in the pot. For example, a $100 bet into a $100 pot.
Positions
The following are the positions that you should know before playing the game.
- Big Blind- The player on the left of the small blind. The big blind is the same as the minimum bet size.
- Small Blind- The player immediately left of the dealer must post the small blind.
- Dealer- Each hand has one designated dealer. The dealer position determines the small and big blind positions. The dealer button is passed clockwise after every hand.
Action
- Check- Check to complete your turn without betting. Remember that checking may be considered as a tell for possessing weak hands.
- Bet- If you have a good hand, you may want to bet to win a bigger pot.
- Raise- Tell your opponents that you're not messing around.
- Call- Call to look up your opponent's hands. Not all bets equate to strong hands.
- All-in- Apply maximum pressure on your opponents.
- Fold- To throw away your cards and forfeit whatever you have put in the pot.
Betting Round
There are four betting rounds in Omaha.
- Pre Flop- The betting round that takes place after the players receive their hole cards.
- The Flop- The betting round that takes place after the first three community cards are dealt.
- The Turn- The third betting round that takes place after the fourth community card is dealt.
- The River- The last betting round that takes place after the fifth and final community card is dealt.
The Showdown
The showdown begins when there are two or more players who are still in play when action ends on the river. The player with the strongest hand will take the pot. When the showdown ends in a tie, the pot is split evenly among the winning players.
