Omaha Poker starts by each player being given four down (hole) cards followed by a round of betting. Once the initial round of betting has been completed, three community cards** are placed in the middle of the table. These cards are called “the flop”. Another round of betting occurs, followed by another community card (the turn). This is followed by another round of betting. Lastly, a final community card is revealed (the river) and a final round of betting concludes the game. Any players still left in the hand turn over their cards and attempt to make their best possible five-card poker hand. Each player must use two down cards along with three cards from the community board.

Omaha Poker Gameplay Review

1. The dealer deals each participant 4 down cards.

2. 1st round of betting.

3. The dealer burns** a card and deals the flop.

4. Second round of wagering

5. Another card is burned and a fourth community card “the turn” is dealt.

6. Third round of betting.

7. A final card is burned and the final community card or “river” is given.

8. The final round of betting.

9. All remaining players participate in a showdown. Each player makes his or her best five-card poker hand. The person who initiated the final round of wagering shows his/her cards first.

Omaha five-card hands must contain two of the player’s hole cards along with three of the community board cards.

General Omaha Poker Rules

1. In the event that the first hole card dealt is revealed to all players, the dealer must reshuffle and deal again.

2. If any other hole card is revealed during the initial deal, that card is taken by the dealer and replaced with an unseen card. The revealed card then becomes the burn card for the flop.

3. Each player is responsible for protecting their hole cards by either placing a marker on top of them or making it clear that they are still in play. In the event that a player’s hole cards are not marked and are taken by the dealer, the participant is out of the hand.

4. If there is any error in the dealing of the flop, it must be reshuffled and re-dealt.

5. Whenever a dealer turns a board card before a wagering round is finished, it must be removed from play for that round.

6. When a participant reveals his hole cards, he must not permit them to touch any of the board cards. If they become mixed with the board cards (even if it is possible to distinguish and remove them), the player’s hand is forfeited.

**Definitions.

Community Cards: The cards that are shared by all the players in a hand.
Burn Card: The taking off and setting aside of the top card of the deck before dealing the next community card.

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