Omaha is a distinctive poker game that evolved from Texas Hold'em. Each player is dealt four cards face-down ("hole cards") followed by five community cards dealt face-up on the table or "board". Players attempt to make the best five-card poker hand using three of the five community cards on the board combined with two of their own hole cards.

In Omaha, a disc called “the button” is used to denote which player is the honorary dealer for the current hand. Before play begins, the player sitting clockwise from the button posts the “small blind” which is usually the smaller bet (for example, in a $5/$10 game, the small blind would be $5). The player sitting to the left of the small blind must post the “big blind,” which is always the larger bet (in the case of the $5/$10 table, the big blind would be $10). Once the blinds have been posted, each player is dealt four hole cards face-down. The betting begins around the table, starting with the playing directly clockwise from the big blind.

After the initial round of betting, three cards are dealt face-up on the board. This is known as the “flop.” These three community cards are accessible to all active players. Another round of betting ensues with the player directly clockwise from the button. During this round, all bets and raises are established in small increments (for example, $5 in a $5/$10 game).

Upon completion of the betting round, another card is dealt face-up on the board. This card is called the “turn.” This is the fourth community card in the game of Omaha. Once again, betting takes place starting with the active player to the left of the button. During this round, the betting doubles from the smaller bet to the larger bet. For example, in a $5/$10 game the betting throughout the turn is conducted in $10 increments.

After the turn round, the last community card is dealt face-up on the board. This fifth and final card is known as the “river” in Omaha. Betting starts once more with the active player directly clockwise from the button.

Once the final round of betting is complete, the last player to bet or raise shows his cards to determine the winner. If no bet was made during the final round, then the player sitting clockwise from the button must reveal his cards first. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In the game of Omaha players must only use two of their four hole cards together with three cards from the community cards on the board. If players share the same winning hand then the pot is split equally amongst the players.

Once the winner of the hand collects his pot, a new game of Omaha may commence. The button moves clockwise to the next player at the table.

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If you would like to read more about other poker games like Texas Holdem and Seven Card Stud, comprehensive guides to the rules of both these games can be found in our Poker Rules section.