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Omaha, also known as Omaha Hold 'em, is one of the best Texas Hold 'em variations around. It can be played at countless online casinos for real cash, or for fun, and has become an integral part of poker tournaments as the "O" game in H.O.R.S.E.

How to play

A game of Omaha begins by joining a casino room dedicated solely to Omaha Hold 'em. All of the top online casinos will offer Omaha, but the best place to play would be specific poker casinos that allow you to play against other real players for cash payouts. If it is your first time playing Omaha, try to find a room that uses play money rather than real cash, just until you get your confidence up. Once you start playing for money, base your decision of room choice on the buy-in and buy-back costs.

Once you are playing at an Omaha table, each player will receive four pocket cards; only you may see your own cards until the end of the round. A round of betting will then take place. Like Texas Hold 'em, the dealer chip moves from player to player in a clockwise direction after each round, as do the small and big blind bets. You must call the amount of the big blind in order to see the flop.

After the betting is complete, the first three community cards will be dealt facing up.

The flop will help you decide whether you have a good enough hand to continue playing, or whether you should fold.

A second round of betting will take place in which players may check, raise, call, or fold. After each player has finished their second wager, the next community will be dealt.

The turn is the fourth card to be dealt to the centre of the table. Once again, a round of betting will take place afterwards, and if there are still players competing, the fifth and final card will be dealt.

The river is the last community card in a game of Omaha Hold 'em, and will be your last chance to make the best possible hand for the Showdown. A final round of betting is played after the turn card is dealt, and then the Showdown begins.

Similar to Texas Hold 'em, you must make the best possible five-card hand from your four pocket cards, and the five community cards. However, unlike its counterpart, Omaha only allows you to use three community cards, and forces you to use two of your own. Therefore, if the community cards are made up of a club and four diamond cards, and you hold one diamond in your hand, you cannot call a flush. This is because you must use two cards from your own hand to make up the finished hand.

The player with the best hand will take the pot, and, if a tie occurs, a split-pot will be implemented.

The game will continue depending on the style of play. For example, in a tournament setting of Elimination Poker, the last player left at the end of the game will be declared the winner. However, if the game is being played with the option to buy-back in, then play can continue for as long as people decide to play.

Omaha can be played as either the standard "eights or better" version, or as high-low split. Omaha Hi-Lo is played in much the same way as Omaha Hold 'em; however, instead of the highest hand winning the pot, the pot is split for both a high hand winner (eights or better) and low hand winner (eights or lower). If players manage to take out both the high and low hands, they "scoop the pot".

Omaha is a great game to play at online casinos, and even better when played in a tournament setting. If you are looking for more information on how to win at Omaha, then check out our strategy page.