Omaha poker is the second most played variety of poker after Texas Hold’em. With a very different but equally appealing dynamic, Omaha poker already has a loyal legion of followers who specialize in the game.

Beginners, whether they are new to Omaha poker or to poker in general, may well not know how it works. In any case, we are going to review the fundamental aspects of this style of poker so that you know how to play Omaha poker, what are the most recommended strategies and what your game should be based on to be able to opt for the best prizes in each round.

How to play Omaha poker

In Omaha poker, each player is dealt four cards. These cards belong exclusively to the player and will be used to make the best hand. After the cards are dealt to each player, five community cards are dealt face up, placed in the center of the table.

In this variety of poker, unlike Texas Hold’em, which allows a combination of hole cards and community cards to be used in varying proportions to make the best hand, three community cards and two-hole cards must be used to form the winning hand. An unchanging formula which, although more rigid, adds to the excitement of the game.

Broadly speaking, there are three types of Omaha poker games that can be played:

• PLO. This is Pot Limit Omaha. Here, each player can bet the entire pot amount. It is the most popular game among Omaha Hold’em fans.
• NLO. No Limit Omaha, No Limit Omaha. Here each player is free to bet any amount, even all of it if he / she feels like it.
• Fixed Limit Omaha. Fixed limit Omaha poker games have fixed limits for each round, which must be respected and which may not be exceeded under any circumstances.

Important aspects of Omaha poker to be aware of

The rules of Omaha poker are simple. Let’s start with some basics:

Preliminary considerations

• In both PLO and NLO, the numbers you can see refer to the small blind and the big blind. For example, if you see “PLO €1/€2” on a table, it’s a Pot Limit Omaha game with a €1 small blind and a €2 big blind.
• The big blind in fixed limit Omaha poker games is equivalent to the smallest bet.
• The small blind in fixed-limit Omaha poker games is half the size of the big blind.
• The first player to start talking after the cards have been dealt and the betting round has begun is the player to the left of the Big Blind (UTG). It continues in a clockwise direction.
• Pot Limit Omaha in its High variant is the poker game that moves the biggest amount of money in the shortest amount of time. That’s why so many money-hungry players jump right into PLO, some with more success than others.

Preflop and flop in Omaha Poker

• Each player can call or raise the BB at the start of the betting round.
• The betting structure can change depending on the variants.
• At the end of the first betting round, the flop is dealt face up. It consists of three cards. Action resumes with the player behind the BUTTON.
• If the game is a fixed-limit game, each bet and raise is made in unchanging increments of the small bet. If the game is €1/€2, in increments of €1.

Turn and river in Omaha poker

• The fourth and fifth community cards are dealt face up, respectively.
• Action resumes with the active player placed flush on the BUTTON.
• The raising and betting interval is maintained if the game has a fixed limit, obviously.

What are raises like in Omaha poker?

Omaha poker has very well-defined rules for all types of play. However, there are several things to consider when it comes to betting and raising depending on the limit of the game.

Pot Limit Omaha

In PLO, the minimum bet is equal to the Big Blind. However, each player is free to bet the amount in the pot at any time. That’s why it’s called Pot Limit, because the limit is the pot.

The minimum raise must be at least equal to the previous bet of the same round. If a player has bet 8 euros, the next raise must be 8 euros.

The maximum raise is the value of the pot size, made up of the sum of the pot, the table bets plus the amount the active player has to call before raising.

No Limit Omaha

In NLO, the minimum bet is equal to the Big Blind. However, players are free to bet the full amount of their chips at any time they see fit.

The minimum raise in No Limit Omaha must be at least equal to the previous bet or raise.

The maximum raise is the total amount of chips the player has at the table. And it is worth remembering that in No Limit Omaha there is no maximum limit on the number of raises allowed, so players can make as many as they want.

Fixed Limit Omaha

Fixed limit Omaha games have bets that are carried out in very well-structured and pre-defined amounts. On the preflop and the flop, each bet and raise has to be of a value equal to the value of the big blind, and all bets are doubled on the turn and river.

In this type of game, up to four bets per player are allowed in each round: a bet, a raise, a re-raise and a final raise (known as a ‘cap’).

Now that you know how to play Omaha Hold’em, why not try your hand at it? Omaha is a very enjoyable variety that brings variety and freshness among so many Texas Hold’em tables.