How to Play Omaha Poker | Complete Beginner’s Guide
Omaha is fast, strategic, and full of action. Each player receives four private cards and must use exactly 2 hole cards with 3 board cards to make a 5-card hand. This page teaches the rules, betting, hand strength, and beginner strategy — in clean and easy English.
Omaha Basics
- Standard 52-card deck · 2–10 players (often 6-max).
- Each player gets 4 hole cards face down.
- Five community cards are dealt face up (flop, turn, river).
- At showdown you must use 2 hole + 3 board cards.
- Most games are Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) — maximum bet equals the size of the pot.
Hole vs Board (Visual)
Example hole cards
Community board
Betting Structure (PLO)
In Pot Limit, your maximum raise is the current pot size after your call. Example: pot is $10, an opponent bets $10. If you call, the pot becomes $30; you may raise up to $30 more (total to $40).
| Round | Action |
|---|---|
| Preflop | Each player gets four hole cards. Betting starts left of the big blind. Options: fold, call, or raise. |
| Flop | Three community cards face up. New betting round. |
| Turn | Fourth community card. New betting round. |
| River | Fifth community card. Final betting round then showdown. |
How to Play — Step by Step
- Post blinds & deal: Small and big blind go in. Each player receives 4 hole cards.
- Preflop: Act in turn: fold, call, or raise (up to pot size in PLO).
- Flop: See three community cards. Re-evaluate your draws and value. Bet or check.
- Turn: One more card. Pressure increases; strong draws and made hands push value.
- River: Final card and final betting. If called, show your best 5-card hand using 2 hole + 3 board.
What Hands to Start With
- Connected & coordinated: A-K-Q-J double-suited, K-Q-J-T ds, T-9-8-7 ds.
- Suit quality: Double-suited is best; single-suited is fine; rainbow is weakest.
- Aces in Omaha: A-A-x-x is strong when supported (connected/suited), weak when random.
Common Mistakes
- Overvaluing one pair or weak two pair.
- Playing too many unconnected hands.
- Forgetting the 2 + 3 rule at showdown.
- Chasing dominated draws; in Omaha there’s often a better draw out there.
Quick Tips
- Position is power: Act last, win more.
- Think blockers: Your cards reduce what opponents can have.
- Respect the nuts: Big pots usually mean nut hands or nut draws.
Hand Rankings (Best → Worst)
Same as in Texas Hold’em. In Omaha you’ll see more straights, flushes, and full houses.
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Keep Learning
Want the quickest way to start, compare with Hold’em, or learn the foundations of poker?
Omaha FAQ
Is Omaha the same as Texas Hold’em?
No. In Omaha you receive four hole cards and must use exactly two of them with three board cards.
What does PLO mean?
Pot Limit Omaha. The maximum bet or raise is the current size of the pot after your call.
Are aces always the best?
Aces are strong, but you need coordination (connectivity/suits). Random A-A-x-x without backups often underperforms.
What wins more — draws or made hands?
Both can win big. Omaha is about pressure: strong made hands and strong nut-draws frequently clash.