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Omaha is an exciting poker game derived from Texas Hold’em. It is especially popular in UK card rooms, where cash games tend to be predominantly Omaha or Omaha Hi-Lo due to the larger pots and more hands that players can get involved in. Each player is dealt four cards ("hole cards") which belong only to that player. Five community cards are dealt face-up on the "board". All players must use three of the five community cards together with two of their hole cards to make the best five-card poker hand.
In Omaha, a disc also known as "the button", serves to indicate which player is the nominal dealer for the current game. Before the game begins, the player immediately clockwise from the button posts the "small blind", typically half a small bet (for example, $1 in a $2/$4 game). The player immediately clockwise from the small blind posts the "big blind", which is always a full small bet ($2 in a $2/$4 game). Now, each player receives his or her four hole cards. Betting action proceeds around the table, starting with the player immediately clockwise from the big blind.
Now, the "flop" is dealt face-up on the board. The flop is the first three community cards available to all active players. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. All bets and raises occur in small bets (increments of $2 in a $2/$4 Limit game).
When betting action is completed for the flop round, the "turn" is dealt face-up on the board. The turn is the fourth community card in an Omaha game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button. On this round, betting doubles from the small bet to the big bet. In a $2/$4 Limit game, betting on the turn is done in $4 increments.
When betting action is completed for the turn round, the "river" is dealt face-up on the board. The river is the fifth and final community card in an Omaha game. Betting begins with the active player immediately clockwise from the button.
If there is more than one remaining player when the final betting round is complete, the last bettor or raiser shows his or her cards. If there was no bet on the final round, the player immediately clockwise from the button shows his or her cards. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot. In Omaha, players must use two and only two of their four hole cards in combination with three cards from the board. In the event of identical hands, the pot will be equally divided between the players with the best hands.
After the pot is awarded, a new game of Omaha is ready to begin. The button now moves clockwise to the next player.
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