This is game with five ‘community’ cards. The Omaha variation allows for four ‘hole’ cards belonging to the player. Of this total of nine cards, each player must make a hand of five using two hole cards and three community cards. Because more cards are involved than in the Texas two hole card variation, the chances of getting higher hand a greater. The game is referred to as Omaha Holdem, Omaha Poker, or simply Omaha.

The player to the left of the dealer opens with a forced bet of an agreed on percentage of the minimum bet, though it is usually half. This first player is the ‘small blind’. The next player, the ‘big blind’, makes a forced bet of the minimum bet, double the ‘small blind’. Some games have only one blind and some have up to three.

Instead of the two cards dealt face-down for the Texas variation, the dealer deals each player four ‘hole’ cards, all face-down, starting with the player to their left. In this round, the betting is opened by the player positioned to the left of the ‘big blind’. Betting begins with the minimum and rotates clockwise until getting to the ‘small blind’ who must then decide whether to forfeit their initial percentage of the original bet and fold, or to call or raise. The ‘big blind’ is last in the rotation to bet and must either call, raise or fold.

The dealer now deals three up-turned ‘community’ cards into the centre. These three cards are called ‘the flop’. The blinds are no longer a consideration of the betting which is now is begun in the traditional manner by the player to the dealer’s left. For this round, bets begin at the minimum and move around in a clockwise direction until all players have called, raised or folded. One more up-turned ‘community’ card is dealt, called ‘the turn’. Betting proceeds in the same order as before except it begins with the maximum bet and comes to a close when all players have either called, raised or folded.

The last ‘community’ card is dealt face-up and is termed ‘the river’. Proceeding in the same order, the betting is again of the maximum and rotates until all bets are called or players have folded. The winner is the player who has the highest hand if one or more opponents have called his bet. Or the winner is the last player to remain after all opponents have folded.

OMAHA STRATEGY

With four hole cards, of which two must be used, combined with five community cards, of which three must be used, this is a game of high or ‘nut’ hands. A ‘nut’ hand is a poker hand which is the highest possible hand that the board cards suggest. Omaha strategy is to play for these high hands. Although the ‘nut’ hand is suggested by the board cards it is impossible to tell whether a player has four of a kind or a straight flush. These two hands are the golden or ‘pure nut’ hands of the game.

Since each player is dealt four hole cards, there is a far greater variety of potential good hands than in Texas Holdem. Because of this the initial betting is generally more cautious since all players have the potential for good hands.

Omaha is a game in which players often neglect the odds and bet romantically because their hands seem much better than in other variations of the game, but the ones who want to win need to refrain from sentimental play and know that two high pairs or a good three of a kind are usually no match for the winning hand.

Those who know the game recognise that it’s sensible to play for the ‘nut’ hands. Since players have to (and may only) use two of their four hole cards, those who are dealt three or even four of a kind are left with only a pair. If it’s four of a kind, the potential for the hand to develop is reduced more extensively than three of a kind, since two cards have to be considered as dead. Even the high three of a kind hole hand is generally considered a futile pursuit unless a player’s fourth card is also high or, even better, high and of the same suit as one of the three which might suggest a possible high straight.

So what may appear a great hand in terms of traditional poker, is really nothing of the kind. The player with three of a kind has an opportunity to use the fourth card and develop to a full house or a straight, but it is the player with a high pair and two other versatile cards who has the better hole cards.

The basic idea for a strong starting hand is to have a variety of high cards with the potential to turn the community cards into one of a limited number of ‘nut’ hands. Raises are uncommon before the flop except for players with a pair of Kings or Aces who should have a strong third or third and fourth card. If you haven’t made two pairs or better on the flop, the suggested Omaha Strategy would be to fold unless you are bluffing.

If the flop suggests a possible flush or straight, fold unless you have another hand going and it has been strengthened. Always remember that this is a game of strong hands and it takes little for opponents to get something which would beat a hand that would be good in other variations of poker.

Pay close attention to your opponents betting style – loose play is the norm for players who have few chips left so expect an ‘all in’. It’s always a good ploy to bluff every so often to keep your play unpredictable. Familiarise yourself with the potential hands that your four hole cards might make and make sure your chance of winning is good enough to beat the suggested board hand.