Omaha Poker is a popular online poker game commonly played as an alternative to Texas Hold'em. Omaha is played in most all major poker circuit events, including the World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, European Poker Tour and, well, just about any major poker event you can name.

Omaha Poker is a variation of Texas Hold'em, played in much the same way, with a few distinct differences. In Omaha Holdem players receive 4 hole cards at the start of each hand, instead of the standard 2 recieved by players playing Texas Hold'em. These 4 cards are combined with the 5 Community Cards dealt to the center of the table throughout the game to create the best possible 5-card poker hand.

The way players form their best 5-card hand in Omaha Poker is also quite different from Texas Hold'em. In Texas Hold'em, player may use any combination of the 2 hole cards and 5 community cards. On the other hand, Omaha poker is just a bit more tricky, players must use exactly 2 hole cards, combined with 3 community cards, to develop the best possible hand.

That's not optional, to make a hand in Omaha, you must utilize, 2 of four hole cards, and three of five community cards, as you can see, odds calculation just got a bit more tricky. While it may seem more beneficial to have 4 hole cards to work with, the restrictions on hand development actually present a greater challenge. For example, if you have the following hole cards and community cards....

Hole Cards: 5h-10d-Jd-Ad

Community Cards: 3d-4d-6c-7c-Kh

...You would not have an Ace-High Flush in Diamonds, nor would you have a 3-4-5-6-7 Straight. In Omaha Poker, you must use exactly two hole cards, therefore the best possible hand is only Ace-High.

Let's go over the basic game play of Omaha Poker for a better idea of how the game is played. Before the hand begins, the Small Blind and Big Blind bets are placed. The Small blind, equal to the low-end stakes, is placed by the player directly left of the Dealer Button. The Big Blind, equal to the high-end stakes, is placed by the player directly left of the Small Blind bettor, two seats left of the Dealer Button. Each player now receives 4 facedown hole cards, followed by the first round of betting. Note that if no Raises are placed, the Small and Big Blind bettors do not need to place any further bets in the first betting round, though they will have the option of Raising.

The Flop: 3 community cards are dealt face up to the center of the table. Second round of betting commences.

The Turn: A 4th community card is dealt face up on the table. Third round of betting...

The River: A 5th and final community card is revealed. Final round of betting...

The Showdown: All players who remain in the game (have not folded) use exactly 2 Hole Cards and 3 Community Cards to create the best possible 5-card poker hand. Hands are revealed - the highest ranking poker hand wins the entire pot.

Omaha Poker Hand Ranks (highest to lowest)
Royal Flush
Straight Flush
4 of a Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
3 of a Kind
2 Pair
Pair
High Card