The one rule that changes everything
Omaha deals each player four hole cards instead of two, with the same flop, turn and river as Hold'em. But at showdown you must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three board cards.
The board is . You hold . It looks as if the queen of hearts gives you a flush, but it does not: you would have to use four cards from the board. Your real hand is a pair of nines with ace, king and eight.
A one-heart hand can never make a flush in Omaha. Likewise, four of a suit on the board never gives you a flush unless you hold two of that suit yourself. This is the single most common mistake new Omaha players make.
Pot-limit betting
Omaha is almost always played pot-limit (PLO). The most you can raise is the size of the pot after you have called. That cap keeps the game from becoming an all-in lottery while still allowing stacks to go in by the turn.
Starting hands
Strong Omaha hands work together: all four cards connect, pair up, or share suits. Favour hands like , double-suited with high cards, and , a "rundown". Avoid hands with a "dangler", a card unrelated to the other three, and be wary of low flush draws, which lose to higher ones far more often than in Hold'em.
Variants
| Game | Twist |
|---|---|
| Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) | The standard high-only game. |
| Omaha Hi-Lo (Omaha 8 or better) | The pot is split between the best high hand and the best qualifying low of five unpaired cards eight or lower. |
| 5-Card PLO (PLO5) | Five hole cards; still use exactly two. Hugely popular in Europe and online. |
| 6-Card PLO | Six hole cards. Draw-heavy and wild. |
| Big O | Five-card Omaha Hi-Lo, a home and California favourite. |
Why the swings are bigger
With four cards each, hands run much closer in equity. A premium hand might be a 60–40 favourite where in Hold'em it would be 80–20. Expect larger swings, and keep a larger bankroll.
Frequently asked questions
How many cards do you use in Omaha?
Exactly two of your four hole cards and exactly three of the five community cards. No more, no fewer.
How do you calculate a pot-sized raise in PLO?
Add the current pot to the amount you need to call, then raise by that total. Facing a $10 bet into a $20 pot, you call $10 (pot is now $40) and raise $40, for a total bet of $50.
What is the best starting hand in Omaha?
Double-suited aces with connected cards, such as A-A-K-K double-suited. Even so, it wins only around two-thirds of the time against a random hand, far less than aces in Hold'em.