How To Play Omaha Poker

Ohama Poker plays the second best in attracting a large amountof people in card games next to Texas Hold'em. Ohama Poker isvery similar to Texas Hold'em, with the main difference beingthat a player can choose his or her hand out of nine cardsinstead of seven. This is the reason for the growing popularityof the game.

Omaha, which has the same structure as Texas Hold'em, is playedvery similar to Texas Hold'em; the only difference being thateach player is dealt four hole cards instead of two. The playerspost the blinds and then receive their hole cards. Afterreceiving the hole cards, a betting round takes place and thencomes the 'flop', the 'turn' and the 'river' with a bettinground between each of them.

The main difference between Omaha and Texas Hold'em is that eachof the players has to form his hand out of precisely two holecards and three board cards. This is different from TexasHold'em where a player could use either one or both (or evennone) of his hole cards. If a player is trying to win the lowhand, he must use two unpaired hole cards that are ranked lowerthan eight, and three board cards, also unpaired, that are alsoranked lower than eight.

In Omaha, the starting hands should be coordinated, which meansthat they should fit together. What you really want are cardsthat are more likely to form into straights, flushes or a fullhouse. It's very rare that a pair would hold up on an Omahatable. Look for double-suited hands, giving you two chances of aflush and cards that are close together or considered in a run.

In playing the game, this is an example where many new Omahaplayers falter. The players, for instance, see four spades onthe board, which are the community cards, and they have the Aceof Spades in their hand. They think they have the nut flush,forgetting that a player must use two hole cards, thereforeneeding two spades in his hand to make a flush.

Omaha is played either Pot Limit or Limit. The game is notplayed No Limit, as having four hole cards gives so many extrapossibilities, chances, and permutations. If playing No Limit,the game would be too wild and without direction.