The main objective in a game of Omaha poker is to make the highest possible hand consisting of five cards. Standard poker hand ranks apply in this game and the winner receives the full contents of the pot.
There are two ways players start off the pot in a game of Omaha poker online. Poker gambling can begin with blind bets, which two players post at the start exactly as they do in Texas Holdem. Alternatively, ante bets can be collected from all the players participating in a hand.
In pre-flop play, the dealer awards each player with four cards. The first betting opportunity takes place after all players have checked their cards, with each taking a turn to raise, call or fold.
At the flop, three community cards are dealt face up by the dealer and each player factors these cards into his own poker hand. A betting round follows on from the flop, after which a fourth card is dealt face up. This is called the turn or fourth street and precedes another betting round in the poker game.
The last chance players have to strengthen their poker hands is at the river, when the fifth and last card is drawn. Following this, final showdown takes place. Here all players who have not folded and are still in the game must reveal their cards to decide who has the strongest hand. The player with the highest hand made up of three community cards and two hole or pocket cards is the winner of the Omaha game. The poker rules on which cards must make up an Omaha hand make the game slightly more challenging than Texas Holdem, where any combination of cards is permitted.
A popular variation of Omaha is Omaha Hi/Low. This game requires a few specific poker tips to win as a player is tasked with making up two hands. In a game of Hi/Low, any card below an 8 is considered a low card and therefore part of a low hand. The object of the game is to make up the strongest high hand and the strongest low. Omaha Hi/Low is a split pot game and the contents are distributed equally between the player with the highest high hand and the player with the highest low hand.
If you're interested in trying a game of Omaha or Omaha Hi/Low poker, you can download poker software that will allow you to play for free while you master the poker strategy required. When you feel you've reached a sufficient level, you can find plenty of internet poker sites where Omaha is played competitively. Make sure you choose a table with low limits at first until you develop your confidence. And remember, it is more fun to play poker when you're not concerned about your bankroll. Always bring adequate funds to the table when you play.