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Long explanation
Posting the blinds and Dealing the cards: Like Hold'em
Omaha is a community card game played by 2 or usually a maximum of 10 players.
The hand begins when the button is moved to the new dealer. Then the
small blind is posted by the player to the dealers immediate left. The
small blind is usually equal to half the small bet. Then the next player
post the big blind which is equal to a small bet. (These forced bet
provides the initial pot for the players.) Often any new players will
also be required to also post a blind equal to the big blind. Once the
blinds are posted the hands are dealt, Starting with the small blind
around to the left until each player has 2 cards, often referred to
as pockets.
The first betting round: After the initial hands are
dealt the first round of betting begins. For the first round only the
player to the left of the big blind will act first. He has the option
to; fold (drop out of the hand,) call the big blind. or raise an amount
equal to the big blind. After he acts each subsequent player, to the
left, has the action. They also must select an option. Any who wish
to remain in the hand must call all previous bets, and raises or raise
themselves. The action moves around the table to the small blind who
must fold, or complete his blind to a full bet, and call any additional
raises or raise himself. The last player to act on the first round is
the big blind. If there have been no other raises, the big blind has
the option to raise since his blind bet was forced. The betting continues
around the table until all players remaining in the game have called
all bets, and raises. In most poker rooms there is a maximum of 1 bet
and 3 raises, a player will always be required to put in at least one
small bet, but may be required to put in as many as 4 bets to see the
flop.
The flop: When the pot is correct the dealer will
deal the flop. The flop consists of 3 cards placed face up in the middle
of the table. These 3 cards will be used by all remaining players with
their pocket cards to make a traditional poker hand.
The second betting round: Once the flop is down the second round of
betting begins. The first active player to the left of the dealer has
first action. He may check, or bet. (There is no reason to fold since
there is no bet to call.) The action continues to pass to the left until
a player bets, then each subsequent player must; fold, call the bet,
or raise. The action continues around the table back to any players
that may have already checked, and the must fold, or call the bet and
any additional raises. (If everyone checks, there is no action and the
turn, the next card, will be dealt.) Once all of the active players
have either folded or called the bet and any raises, the second betting
round is over.
The turn: After the second round of betting the dealer
will deal one additional card onto the board giving each player a total
of 6 cards. The 4 community cards in the middle of the table and his
own 2 card hand. Now with 6 of seven cards the active players should
have a pretty good idea of what poker hand they might make with 1 last
card.
The third betting round: The betting continues as
before with the first active player to the dealer's left, and continues
until all active players have folded or called all bets and raises.
The river: After the third betting round the dealer
will deal the last card, the river, to the board. There are now five cards
turned up in the middle of the hand. The players must use two and only
two cards from their four card hand and three cards from the board to
make the best five card poker hand. I'm repeating this: You
must play two cards from your hand a three cards from the board.
The final betting round: Again the betting starts
to the left of the dealer and continues around until all bets and raises
are called.
The showdown: The players remaining in the
hand turn up the cards and everyone tries to figure out who has won
what. It can be quite complicated. Ties for low occur quite
often in this game and even ties for high are quite common.
So the pot is often split three, four, or even five ways.
Here is the sample hand:
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