Omaha (5 Card & 6 Card )

Omaha 5 and Omaha 6 is a derivative of the regular Omaha game. The rules of the game remain the same for both variants. The only difference between the two is that in Omaha 5 the players are dealt 5 cards each to all the starting hands. Each player on the table is dealt with five private cards face down instead of four. Whereas in Omaha 6, the players are dealt 6 cards each face down instead of 4 or 5 cards.

The players are allowed to make use of only two-hole cards from the five and six-hole cards respectively and any three community cards to form the best hand possible.

As the name suggests, the players are dealt with more cards which makes it easier to form a better hand. But at the same time, the players should also note that every other player gets the same opportunity of forming better hands and therefore, the players should not be carried away with the cards they form in the first two rounds.

The possibility of hitting a straight flush, trial, full house, or quads is much higher in this variant. However, many novice players forget that they can only make use of 2 cards from the extra hole cards that have been dealt with. Therefore, it is always important to calculate the possibilities of winning a hand in Omaha 5 and Omaha 6.

The betting begins with the player just to the left of the big blind and will continue in the clockwise direction. The players are always given the option to either fold, call or raise. While in the game, if any of the players chose to raise, then the players who wish to continue in the game must either call the same as the raised amount or/can raise further.

There are two types of Omaha 5, namely:

The same applies to Omaha 6:

The minimum bet in Pot-Limit 5 card Omaha and Pot-Limit 6 card Omaha will be the same as that of the Big Blind and the players can raise to the size of the pot only. It is played with Pot Limit rules, which means that the maximum bet amount permitted depends on the size of the pot. Unlike in No-Limit Hold’em, the players will not always have the possibility to bet all the chips in the pot.

Whereas, in No-Limit 5 card Omaha and No-Limit 6 Card Omaha, there is no ‘cap’ in betting and the players can bet as much as they want even up to the size of their whole chips on the table.

Unlike the regular Texas Hold’em and Omaha, only one burn card is made, which is used before dealing with the three flops which open the three boards. The rules of the game are as follows:

• At the start of the play, the SB and BB are posted. The first betting round then begins after the dealer deals out 5 cards each in Omaha 5, and 6 cards each in Omaha 6, face down to all the players.
• Before the second betting round begins, deal out 3 flop cards as in one per board face up which will be laid down on the table face up for all the players to see.
• After the players are done with the second betting round, the dealer again deals out turn cards as in one per board face-up on the table, which is followed by the third betting round.
• The final betting round then begins after the dealer has dealt River card as in one per board.
• The last step is the showdown.

In Omaha 5 and Omaha 6, there are more probabilities of hitting a strong hand. Suited Aces or Kings losses their value much more in Omaha 5 and Omaha 6 because of the high number of cards that are dealt with by all the players.

In case, if all the player folds, the last player to remain will win all the pot without having to show his/her cards. But if there are two or more players at the end of the final betting round, the remaining players will show their cards, and the player with the strongest hands will win the pot. In case of a draw, the pot will be divided into equal halves.

Related topics

How to Play Omaha Poker | Omaha Rules | Omaha Poker Strategy