The only fundamental difference between Omaha and Texas Hold'em is that each player receives not two but four cards. Unlike Hold'em, where a player can either use their pocket cards or not or use only one card to make the best combination, the rules of Omaha force a player to use 2 out of 4 hole cards when making a combination. For example, there is a Royal Flush on the board. In Texas Hold'em, this would be the highest hand; the player would not use hole cards. When playing Omaha, you must, when making a combination, use three cards lying on the table and two hole cards. So, if you have AAJJ, for example, you'll end up with two combinations - a set of Aces and a set of Jacks; since the set of Aces is a higher combination, it will be your strongest combination on this hand, despite such a great board. Many beginners forget about this feature of Omaha poker rules.
Omaha can be played both with a fixed limit and in a pot-limit variant.
A fixed-limit game means that no more than four raises can be made in each betting round. The amount of the increase depends on what type of game you choose to play. If Omaha ₽2/4 is declared, it means that in the first two betting rounds, the first raise is ₽2, and in the third and fourth - ₽4. With this type of Omaha, the blinds will be ₽1/2. This is specific to limit games only; in no-limit or pot-limit poker, the blinds would be ₽2 and ₽4, respectively.
In Pot-Limit Omaha, the minimum bet is equal to the size of the big blind - while players can make any bets up to the size of the pot. The increase must be at least as large as the previous bet or the increase made in the current round of betting.
The maximum amount by which you can raise the bet cannot exceed the current size of the pot. The size of the pot is the sum of the previously formed pot, all bets made in the current betting round, as well as the bet that the active player must call before raising.
Omaha - Game Rules
When playing Omaha poker, at the beginning of the hand, two players, sitting clockwise after the dealer, place two mandatory bets without seeing their cards. These bets are called the small and big blind. After that, each player is dealt one card at a time until each player receives four cards. Now each player in turn (starting from the one after the big blind) can call, raise or fold.
Omaha Poker - Game Rules, Beginning
The first round of betting in Omaha is called pre-flop. After all the players have equalized the bets, the dealer deals three community cards face up on the table; this is called the flop (flop). The first application is made by the player who placed the small blind; if they are no longer participating in the hand, then the right of the first move passes to the player sitting next, clockwise. All the same application options are available here as in the previous round, but a new one has been added - check. This move can be made if no one in this round has bet before you. It means that you are ready to participate in the game but do not want to increase the pot size.
When all players equalize the bets, the third stage of the game of Omaha begins, and the dealer opens the fourth card - the turn (turn). In Omaha, the betting rules at this level are identical to those on the flop.
The last round of betting begins after opening the fifth card on the board - the river. If more than one player remains in the game at the end of trading at the fifth level, then a showdown of all players remaining in the game occurs. First, the cards are opened by the player who made the last raise, or, if no one raised in the last round, the first player after the dealer.
Omaha Poker - Game Rules, End
Omaha poker rules include two pocket cards out of four and three community cards out of five in a combination. The player with the best combination wins the pot. Poker combinations in Omaha are standard; the weakest is the High Card, and the strongest is the Royal Flush.