Omaha is a poker game that bears striking resemblance to Texas Hold'em.
Order of play
In the game of poker, similar to Texas Hold'em, the initial participant assumes the role of the Small Blind and the subsequent player takes on the responsibility of the Big Blind. Following this, the concealed individual cards are distributed.
In Omaha, each participant receives a set of four undisclosed cards. Following this, four rounds of betting take place, and a total of five communal cards are placed on the table. Each player must then utilize two of their own concealed cards and three of the shared cards to form the strongest possible hand.
Omaha bears several similarities to Texas Hold'em. Both games consist of four betting rounds, and a total of five community cards are placed on the table. However, there are several crucial differences. In Omaha, each player receives four private cards, whereas in Hold'em, they only get two.
In Omaha, the game requires the utilization of two personal cards and three communal ones, whereas in Hold'em, players have the freedom to determine the number of personal cards they wish to employ.
The rules for flop, turn, and river (and the betting rounds) remain unchanged from Texas Hold'em. Players are given the option to fold, call, bet, raise, or check. The maximum number of raises allowed is three (one bet and three raises).
Bet limits
The different types of stake limits, namely Fixed Limit, No Limit, and Pot Limit, operate in Omaha just as they do in Texas Hold'em. In Fixed Limit Omaha, the size of bets and raises is predetermined. In No Limit Omaha, there is no specific limit on the size of raises, while in Pot Limit Omaha, the maximum raise amount is equal to the current pot size. A more detailed explanation of No Limit and Pot Limit stake limits can be found in the section dedicated to stake limits.
Omaha High/Low
The regulations for Omaha High/Low are considerably more intricate. During the Showdown, the pot is distributed between the player who possesses the "highest" hand (i.e., the best hand) and the player with the "lowest" hand. This particular variation of poker is also known as "Omaha Eight or Better" in English.
The term "highest" hand refers specifically to the best hand. There are certain rules for the "lowest" hand. The "lowest" hand must consist of five cards (two from the personal and three from the shared) that are all lower than or equal to 8. It must not contain any pairs. With the "highest" hand, we mean precisely the finest hand. There are specific regulations for the "lowest" hand. The "lowest" hand must comprise five cards (two from the individual and three from the communal) that are all lower than or equal to 8. It is forbidden to include any pairs.
As an example, it can be stated that a hand consisting of A2345 is a superior "lowest" hand compared to the hand 24568. The hand A2345 is also a strong "highest" hand. Due to the stringent requirements for the lowest hand, it often happens that no hand meets these criteria. In such cases, the player with the "highest" hand emerges as the victor, claiming the entire pot.