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Omaha Poker Types

Omaha is similar to Holdem except that each player is dealt four cards, instead of two.  There is a Dealer Button, a Flop, Turn and River exactly like in Texas Holdem, except that in Omaha the player MUST USE TWO, AND ONLY TWO, cards from their hand and THREE CARDS from the board (the community cards dealt in the middle of the table). 

Thus, if a player does not have at least two cards of the same suit in their hand, it will be impossible for them to make a flush, since they are ONLY ALLOWED to use three of the community cards on the table.

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There are different variations of Omaha, but the most popular would have to be Omaha Hi-Lo, sometimes called Omaha Eight or Better or just Omaha/8. Even though this variation of Omaha goes by several different names, it is actually only ONE of the Types of Omaha poker!

Another type of Omaha that is more popular in England, but gaining popularity in the States is Pot-Limit Omaha. In this variation of Omaha, which is played as a high-hand only game, players may bet or raise the size of the pot at any given point in the hand. As the pot increases in size throughout the hand, the size of the allowable bets and raises increases, as well. This is a highly skillful form of Omaha that is gaining worldwide recognition, although even today, it is played mainly in a tournament format in the States, especially at the major tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Yet ANOTHER form of Omaha is simply Omaha High, also referred to as just 'Omaha'. This would be a typical limit poker game, except, unlike Omaha Hi-Lo, the high hand wins the entire pot. Again, as a high-hand only variation of Omaha, Pot-Limit is the more popular type.

Finally, on some Internet Poker Tournament sites, another variation of Omaha Hi-Lo is Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. This is another variation of Omaha poker that is a combination of Omaha Hi-Lo in that the high and low hands split the pot, however it is played using the Pot-Limit betting and raising rules outlined above in the section on Pot-Limit Omaha.

So if you were confused or not really sure about Omaha Poker, don't feel bad. Omaha is sometimes referred to as one of the most misunderstood variations of poker and that's unfortunate because it is a fun, highly skillful game, where good players have a tremendous advantage over the weaker players.