🎴 Omaha poker: the rules and how it differs from Texas Hold’em
Omaha is like Texas Hold’em with one key difference: each player gets four face-down cards and must use exactly two of them with three community cards. We will explain the differences, the “exactly two” rule with an example, and the common variants.
The main differences from Hold’em
- Four hole cards per player, instead of two.
- The hand must be made from exactly two hole cards and three community cards. No more, no less.
- The betting rounds are the same: preflop, flop, turn and river.
- Because there are more combinations, winning hands tend to be stronger than in Hold’em.
The “exactly two” rule, and its trap
This is the most common mistake for players coming from Hold’em. Say the board shows four hearts and you hold only one ace of hearts. In Hold’em you would have a flush, but in Omaha you do not, because you must use exactly two of your hole cards, and here you have only one heart. You need two cards of the same suit in your hand to make a flush. Worth remembering before you bet.
The common variants
Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) is the popular form: you can bet up to the size of the pot. There is also Omaha Hi-Lo, where the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands. Beginners are better off starting with plain PLO and getting comfortable with the “exactly two” rule first.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between Omaha and Texas Hold’em?
In Omaha you get four hole cards and must use exactly two; in Hold’em you get two and any combination of the seven is allowed.
How many hole cards do you get in Omaha?
Four, but you use exactly two of them in the end.
I have one suited card and the board has four, do I have a flush in Omaha?
No. You need two cards of the same suit in your hole cards, because you must use exactly two of them.
Is Omaha harder than Hold’em?
It takes a bit more practice because of the four cards and the two-card rule, but the same hand rankings and betting rounds apply, so Hold’em players adapt quickly.
This guide teaches the rules only. Adds Up is not a gambling product and moves no real money.