Omaha

To read a history of poker in general, click here: Poker History

Omaha Hold’em is similar to Texas Hold’em in structure.

First, the player left of the dealer must place a small blind. The next player in the game in a clockwise direction must place a big blind. Then each player beginning with the small blind, is dealt four cards face down.

These four cards are your hole cards and two of them (2 cards must be used) added to the five community cards that will be dealt are used to make your best poker hand.

Upon receiving their hole cards a betting round takes place beginning with the player immediately left of the big blind. This player and every player in turn afterwards must raise, call or fold until all raises have been called all around the table.

Once the first betting round is completed, the top card on the deck is burned (eliminated from the deck, face down on the table) and the flop is dealt. Three cards are dealt face up to the table. Another betting round takes place beginning with the first player still in the game left of the dealer or button.

A second card is burned and the turn is dealt. The turn is the fourth card dealt face up to the table. After the turn, another betting round takes place. Upon its completion, assuming there are at least two players left in the game, another card is burned and the fifth and final community card is dealt to the table.

This fifth card to the table is called the river. After it is dealt, the final betting round takes place and assuming the bets are called, the players show their hands. Using two of their hole cards and three of the community cards, the players form their best 5-card poker hand.