How to Play Real Money Omaha Poker in 2024
Omaha is a community-card poker game in the same vein as Texas Hold’em online. Each player is dealt four hole cards, and must make the best five-card hand possible using two cards from their hand, plus three of the five community cards. If you are wondering how to play Omaha poker online, you are in the right place!
Where to Play Omaha Poker Online
Here are the top US-facing casino sites our team of experts recommend players use for Omaha poker:
- 250+ Poker Rooms
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Omaha Poker Rules
Again, the player’s goal in Omaha poker online is to make the best possible five-card poker hand, using two of their four personal cards, as well as three of the five shared community cards.
Betting rounds work much in the same way in Omaha poker as they do in Texas Hold’em. This makes starting out at Omaha poker rules much easier than other poker games.
Here is a quick run-through of how to play a hand of Omaha poker start to finish.
The Blinds
Before any cards are dealt, two players must place blinds.
In Omaha poker, the big blind is equal to a small bet, with the small blind half of that amount (for example, $2 and $1, respectively).
Blinds are posted by the two players to the left of the button, which moves around the table clockwise after each hand. The player closest to the dealer will post the small blind, and the player to their left would place the big blind.
The Deal
Once all blinds are posted, the hand officially begins with cards being dealt.
Each player will receive four cards face down. These are called hole cards, and can be used only by the player to which they are dealt.
Pre-Flop Betting Round
As in other variations, betting action starts with the player to the left of the big blind. This is known as the ‘Under the Gun’ position. This player can call (match the big blind), raise one additional small bet, or elect to fold.
The action then moves around the table. To stay in the hand, each player must match the current raise, or call if there has not been one. If the pot is not raised by the time the big blind gets to act, this player can check or raise. There is a maximum of four raises on any betting round.
The Flop
The “flop” is the term used for the first three community cards available to each player. The dealer will deal the flop cards face up, and each player will have the opportunity to use these cards in their final hand.
After the flop is dealt, another betting round follows, using the same structure as the pre-flop betting round.
The Turn
Once each player has had an opportunity to bet post-flop, the dealer reveals the fourth community card, known as the “turn.”
Again, this card will be available to all players and is followed by a third round of betting.
The River
After the third round of betting, the dealer will reveal the fifth – and final – community card. This is known as “the river”.
Once the river is dealt, there will be a fifth and final round of betting.
The Showdown
At this point, all betting rounds are complete. All players have either folded or contributed an equal amount into the pot.
Assuming there is more than one remaining active player, the game moves to the showdown. In the showdown, the remaining players turn their hole cards face up and reveal their best possible five-card hand (again, two cards from your four hole cards plus three from the five community cards).
Omaha poker uses standard hand rankings to determine a winner who claims the pot. In an event of a tie, the pot is split evenly between the tying players.
Omaha Poker Hand Rankings
The best poker hands in five-card draw are very similar to Texas Hold’em and most poker games. Hands are ranked from best to worst in the chart below.
| Poker Hand Name | Cards | Example Hand |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 – same suit | 
|
| Straight Flush | Five sequential cards – same suit | 
|
| Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same value, one of each suit | 
|
| Full House | Three cards of the same value, and a pair of an additional value | 
|
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit – any order | 
|
| Straight | Five sequential cards – any suit | 
|
| Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same value – other two cards don’t matter | 
|
| Two Pair | Two cards of the same value and two cards of a different value – fifth card doesn’t matter | 
|
| One Pair | Two cards of the same value – other three cards don’t matter | 
|
| High Card | None of the above, defer to the highest-value card in the hand | 
|
Strong Pot-Limit Omaha Starting Hands
Given four hole cards rather than Texas Hold’em’s two, it’s much rarer for the winner of a hand of Omaha poker to sneak through with a high card, or something lower value.
As such, much of a player’s success will come from the starting card selection that they’re dealt. Below we’ve listed some of Omaha poker’s stronger starting hands – if you’re lucky to be dealt any of the below, we recommend playing that hand aggressively.
A-A-K-K or A-A-J-10 Double Suited to the aces
In a “double suited” hand, two cards belong to one suit, and the other two belong to a different suit. These are considered the best starting hands possible, and should always be played aggressively. It is the multiple ways to make the nuts which makes these hands stand out – as well as their high card strength.
A-K-J-Q (or similar suited Broadways)
Once again, you have a shot at the nut straight, and preferably two flushes. Against opponents prone to overplaying smaller straights, these hands can be excellent – they also remove key cards from the deck, making it harder for opponents to have aces or kings.
K-K-8-8 or Q-Q-9-10
These are examples of high pair hands with either an additional pair or some coordinated side cards. These can make nut hands, though keep in mind that it is hard to win a big pot with an unimproved over-pair in Omaha.
6-7-8-9 or 7-8-9-10
Known as rundown hands, you can make a lot of different straights. For example, on a board of 4-5-8, any 3, 6 or 7 gives you the nuts with 5-6-7-8. Suited combinations are valuable as a backup with this type of hand.
Online Omaha Poker Strategy
Fold On Weak Hands
This may seem obvious to some, but newer poker players have the tendency to take weak hands and try to “make them work”. While that strategy can sometimes work in games with lots of bluffing, like Texas Holdem, not so much in Omaha. If you have a weak hand, fold before you’re committed.
Manage Your Bankroll
Have a budget, and stick to it. We typically recommend playing at a table where your bankroll allows for 50 buy-ins. This will allow you to play for longer and make the fun last.
Play Premium Hands Aggressively
Omaha Poker can often be a game of many weak hands for every strong one you’re dealt. Much like online blackjack, it’s a game of pouncing on opportunities. When you do receive a strong hand, play it aggressively.
Omaha Poker Variations
Of course, Omaha poker online comes with a few different variations of how to play the game. Here are the most popular.
Pot Limit Omaha Poker
A player can bet whatever is in the pot (i.e. $50 bet into a $50 pot). This is the most common form of Omaha Poker online.
No Limit Omaha Poker
A player can choose to bet all of their chips at once if they want to.
Fixed Limit Omaha Poker
Betting limits are applied to each game of Omaha poker that you play, along with each round of betting.
Omaha Hi Lo
In Omaha Hi Lo, players can make both high and low hands, and the pot is split between those two hands.
Pre-Flop Strategies
Pre-Flop Strategies
Many players who are new to Omaha poker make the mistake of playing too many hands. According to Omaha poker rules, the very best starting hands have the potential to win both sides of the pot. Advice for players starting out is to play only hands containing aces until you get a good understanding of the strategy.
Premium Hands
If you have a pair of aces with low side cards like A-A-2-3, you have a very strong starting hand. If there are two suits (and so the ability to make two different flushes at showdown), this is as good a starting hand as you will find. Aces with one lower card and one higher one can also win big pots. Suits make a big difference; you don’t want to be drawing to a non-nut hand.
Low Card Hands
A-2-3-4 is also a strong starting hand (again, suited cards with the ace matter). These have the potential to make lows which can stand a bad turn or river which counterfeits your existing low. 2-3-4-5 can be played for a raise, though with many opponents playing hands with aces, it is more difficult to win both sides of the pot.
High Only Hands
Premiums include A-A-K-K and A-A-J-10 – as well as ‘rundown’ hands like 9-10-J-Q. If there are no low cards on the flop, you can play these hands strongly. They are useful in spots where two opponents have the nut low, and you can get half of the pot while they get a quarter each.
You will not always be lucky enough to get premiums. Hands in all forms of Omaha work best when they work together. Suited cards can make flushes, and connected cards can make straights. Avoid hands with middle-ranked cards. 4-6-8-10 (for example) is completely unplayable.
Omaha Poker Glossary
All In
When you push all your chips into the center of the table in hopes of either winning the pot or busting out.
Blinds
The small blind is the player positioned directly to the left of the dealer and must wager before receiving cards, while the big blind is the player positioned to the left of the small blind and must bet 2x the small blind before receiving cards.
Bluff
When you pretend to have really good cards but you actually don’t.
Call
When you match the highest bet currently on the table.
Check
When no wager is made and the action is on the next player to the left.
Chips
The tokens on the table that represent a certain value or dollar amount.
Fixed Limit
Before the game starts, players agree to fixed max bets per betting round.
Flop
The first three community cards, a round of betting occurs after this.
No Limit
Players can wager up to all of their remaining chips.
Nuts
An unbeatable hand; the best possible hand in a game. In most poker games, the ‘nuts’ would be a royal flush.
On Tilt
Emotionally betting in poker, which usually happens when you’re chasing losses. Avoid this at all costs.
Pot Limit
Players at the table can make a bet up to the total value of the current dollar amount in the pot.
Raise
When somebody to your right wagers a certain amount and you increase that amount by a certain amount.
River
The fifth and final community card, a round of betting occurs after this.
Slow Play a Hand
When you believe you have really good cards and try to lure the other poker players in to fattening up the pot.
Turn
The fourth community card, a round of betting occurs after this.
Under The Gun
The player positioned to the left of the big blind and first person to bet after everybody receives their cards.
Omaha Poker FAQs
How do I play Omaha Poker online in the USA?
Omaha Poker is very similar to Texas Hold’em with a couple of variations. Mainly, instead of two hole cards, each player is dealt four hole cards. Secondly, in Omaha, players must make the best possible hand using two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards.
Is playing Omaha Poker online legal in the USA?
Yes, online gambling in the United States is legal. Individuals are free to play online poker. No one has been prosecuted for playing online poker; there are, however, certain states that have restrictions. But even in these states, there is no record of anyone being charged with playing online poker.
Can I play Omaha Poker for free online in the USA?
Yes, most online casinos offer free Omaha poker games to players. You might be required to sign up for the poker site, but you won’t have to deposit any real money into your account.
How do you bet in Omaha Poker?
In Omaha Poker, during the first round of betting, the raise is typically the same amount as the big blind and remains there until the final round. During the final round of betting, the limit is closer to double the big blind.
What is the difference between Omaha and Texas Hold’em?
The main difference between Texas Hold’Em and Omaha poker is the number of hole cards dealt to each player. In Omaha poker, a player is dealt four hole cards, whereas Hold’em players only receive two cards. In Omaha Poker, a player is required to use two and only two of their hole cards in their final hand. In Texas Hold’em, players can use one card or both.
