| THE BUY-IN
You must buy-in a minimum amount of chips when sitting down at
your chosen table. The minimum limit is equal to ten times the
lower bet limit of the game. For example, on a $3/$6 table the
minimum buy-in is $30, on a $10/$20 table the minimum buy-in is
$100.
THE GAME
Omaha High is a nine cards poker game. Omaha uses a disc called a dealer button to indicate where
the cards are to be dealt. Prior to the deal, the two players
to the left of the button place live bets called the small and
big blinds. It is called a blind because players must pay this
amount before seeing their cards. It's called live because it
counts as part of any further bets in the first betting round.
The play begins with four cards dealt facedown to each player.
Action starts with a betting round beginning with the player to
the left of the blind bets and continuing clockwise around the
table. Players may bet, check, raise or fold in turn. The big
blind has the privilege of last action and may check or raise
the bet.
Three community cards called "The Flop" are then dealt
up in the center of the table and another betting round takes
place beginning with the player to the left of the dealer button.
Another card is dealt face up (called "The Turn") followed
by a round of betting.
The fifth and last card called "The River" is dealt
face up and a final round of betting takes place. Players remaining
in the hand will then show their cards and the winning poker hand
will be awarded the pot. Players must form their best five-card
poker hand from only two of their four pocket cards and any three
of five community cards.
SIT DOWN
From 6 to 10 players plus a dealer are seated around a table.
DEALER BUTTON
In front of one of the players is a round disc or button. This
disc determines the order of betting (posting the blinds) and
moves to the left one player at a time, after each hand.
POST BLINDS
Before the cards are dealt at the beginning of each hand, the
two players directly to the left of the dealer button must post
"blinds". To post a blind is to place a bet before getting
cards.
The player to the immediate left of the dealer button posts the
"small blind," equal to half of the minimum bet (Example:
$5 for a $10/$20 game). The player to the left of the small blind
posts the "big blind," equal to the amount of the minimum
bet (Example: $10 for a $10/$20 game).
POCKET CARDS
Once the blinds have been posted, the first round of cards is
dealt. These consist of four cards face down to each player and
are called the "pocket cards". Each player can see his
or her own pocket cards.
Then the first round of betting takes place, beginning with the
player immediately to the left of the big blind and continuing
in a clockwise direction around the table.
BETTING
Bet amounts are fixed by the table stakes. For example, in a
$3/$6 table, bets are $3 in the first two rounds and $6 in the
last two. The bet amount can climb a maximum of 3 times in each
round of betting. In other words, there can be one bet and three
raises in each round.
THE FLOP CARDS
Next, three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table.
These cards are called the "Flop". All three cards are
"community" cards and can be used by all the players
at the table to make up their best possible hand.
After the flop is dealt, a second round of betting takes place,
again beginning with the player immediately to the left of the
dealer button. All subsequent rounds of betting begin with the
player to left of the dealer button.
THE TURN CARD
Following the flop, a fourth "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. This card is called the "Turn"
card and can also be used by all players. It is followed by a
third round of betting.
THE RIVER CARD
Finally, a fifth and final "community" card is dealt
face up in the middle of the table. It is called the "River"
card and is followed by a fourth and final round of betting.
SHOWDOWN
Once all betting is complete, players determine the best five-card
hand that they can make from two of their four pocket cards and
three of the five community cards. Four of these cards will be
in their own possession and dealt as down cards, and five will
be face up as community cards to be shared by all players. Therefore,
if a player is dealt four kings down, only two of the kings count
toward the final hand. The remaining three cards must come from
the community cards. The player with the best five-card poker
hand wins the pot. Should multiple hands tie, the pot is split
with any odd amount going to the player immediately to the left
of the dealer. As in Texas Hold'em a button is used to indicate
the dealer's position. The "button" is moved clockwise
around the table so that every player can benefit from the advantage
of being last to act once per round. Like Hold'em, position is
an important advantage with the player on the button being in
the best position possible.
START AGAIN
After a hand is completed and the pot taken by the winner, the
dealer button is moved one player to the left and the next hand
begins.
|
