Omaha Poker Rules: How to Play Omaha Poker

Omaha poker rules follow closely the rules of Texas Hold’em. The five stages of game play remain—the Preflop, Flop, Turn, River and Showdown.

How to Play Omaha Poker: The Similarities to Texas

Other commonalities between Texas and Omaha rules include the five community cards. In both styles of play all players share five community cards that are turned over after betting rounds.

What Differentiates Omaha Poker

The key difference in the Omaha poker rules is that each player is dealt four cards instead of two. In Texas you can use one or none of your pocket cards though, while in Omaha rules you have to use two of your four pocket cards.

Preflop

In the Omaha poker online and offline rules the dealer, who’s indicated by the dealer button, deals each person four cards, going around the table four times. These four cards, which you must not reveal to other players, are your pocket cards. After this a round of betting occurs.

Flop

In the flop stage the dealer turns over three cards in the middle of the table. These community flop cards, combined with players flop cards, now make up the players’ hands. Omaha poker online rules state that betting occurs again after the flop.

Turn

After Flop betting, the dealer turns over another card, making a fourth community card. Players bet again.

River

The fifth community card, called “the river” and sometimes “fifth street,” ushers in the last round of betting.

Showdown

The players who have not yet folded show their cards, making the best hand out of five of the seven cards available to them (two pocket cards and the five community cards). The winner takes the pot.