Omaha Poker

Omaha poker is another well-liked variation of poker. In fact, it is fast becoming one of the most popular styles of poker, second only to No-Limit Texas Hold’em.  In Omaha poker, players are dealt four 'hole' cards which only they can see, and five 'community' cards are dealt face up on the table for the use of all players. The hand of each player must be made of a combination of two of their four hole cards, as well as three of the community cards shared by all players.

The game of Omaha poker is divided into four rounds of betting, which proceeds in a clockwise rotation around the table. Betting begins from the left position, next to the dealer button, and moves one place to the left after each hand is played. In online Omaha poker games, the ‘live’ dealer is replaced with the dealer button.

The winning player is the player with the highest five card hand after the final round of betting. If it occurs that two or more players hold equally-strong winning five-card hands, then the pot is divided between the those two tying players. If there is an odd chip after the divide, it will be given to the player sitting in the position closest to the left of the dealer button. At ZyngaPlusPoker.com the value given to the odd chip is equal to1 cent.

Before the Omaha poker game begins the two players in the positions to the left of the dealer post 'blind' bets. These bets are known as ‘blind’ bets because they are made prior to the players seeing any of the community cards. The blinds are there to ensure that there is money in the pot when the game begins. The player in the position to the left of the dealer posts the 'small blind' (or half the minimum bet), and then the player to his left posts the 'big blind' (an amount equal to the minimum bet).

Before the flop, each player is dealt four cards which only they can see. These cards are known as 'hole' cards. Next, the first round of betting is started by the player positioned to the left of the big blind. This player, who is known as 'under the gun', can do one of the following:

Call

Player matches the amount bet in the big blind,

Raise

Player increases the amount bet, or

Fold

Player gives up his cards and any stake in the game.

When the betting comes back around to the player who made the initial full bet (the big blind) that player can 'check', or choose to stay in the game without adding any amount to the pot. However, if an opponent has raised, the big blind player has three options available: to call, re-raise or fold.

In Omaha poker, the flop consists of three 'community' cards, dealt face up on the center of the table, which all players can use to make their five-card hand. A second round of betting then proceeds. 

The turn consists of a fourth community card being dealt face up on the table, followed by the third round of betting. 

The fifth community card is dealt face up on the table. This is the final community card, and is followed by the final round of betting. 

At the final stage, if more than one player is left in the game, a showdown commences. In the showdown, the players reveal their cards and the player holding the highest hand is declared the winner (see Rank of Hands). If two players have an equally strong hand, the pot is divided between both players.