Omaha High

Omaha High shares many of the same rules as Texas Hold’em poker. However, there are two important differences. Four “pocket” cards are dealt to each player and hands must consist of two “pocket” cards and three “community” cards.

Game Sequence

As in Texas Hold’em, each round begins with the placing of blinds. After this players are dealt four face down cards known as “pocket” cards.

The game then progresses in the same way as Texas Hold’em. This means that there are a total of four betting rounds. After the first betting round three “community” cards are dealt to the table. Following each subsequent betting round, a single “community” card is dealt to the table. In the first and second betting round a player can only raise by an amount equal to the lower table stake, in the third and fourth betting round a raise must be equal to the higher table stake.

As in Texas Hold’em, the fourth betting round is followed the “showdown”. It is in the “showdown” that the differences between Obama High and Texas Hold’em become apparent. In the showdown players construct the best hand they can using a combination of “pocket” and “community” cards. It is the highest five-card hand that wins the pot. In Obama High, three of the five “community” cards must be used in any hand; this means that a player may use only two of their four “pocket” cards. In other words, a hand in Omaha High is composed of three “community” cards and two “pocket” cards.

As in Texas Hold’em, after each round, the dealer button moves to the left and the next round begins.