5 Card Omaha Poker
Ready for more action at the table? 5 Card Omaha Poker takes the excitement of Omaha up a gear. Each player receives five private cards, known as hole cards, and shares five community cards dealt face-up on the board.
The aim is to make the best possible five-card poker hand. You must use exactly two of your hole cards and exactly three community cards to make your hand. No more, no less.
With an extra hole card in the mix, there are more combinations to consider and plenty of potential for big hands. If you're looking for an online poker game with even more possibilities, 5 Card Omaha is worth a look.
New to the game? Check out our poker hand rankings before you take your seat.
Types of 5 Card Omaha Poker
There are two main betting formats to choose from:
Pot Limit 5 Card Omaha: You can bet or raise up to the current size of the pot. It's the most popular format of 5 Card Omaha.
No Limit 5 Card Omaha: You can bet any amount, up to the total number of chips you have in front of you.
The hand rankings and gameplay are the same in both formats. The difference is how much you can bet.
How to Play 5 Card Omaha
In Pot Limit 5 Card Omaha, games are usually described by their blind levels. For example, a $1/$2 game has a $1 small blind and a $2 big blind.
Here's how a hand plays out, from the first deal to the showdown.
1. Pre-Flop
Each player receives five hole cards. The player immediately to the left of the big blind acts first, with the action moving clockwise around the table.
You can fold, call the big blind or raise. For example, in a $1/$2 game, it costs $2 to call, while the minimum opening raise is to $4.
Betting continues until all remaining players have matched the bets or folded.
2. The Flop
The dealer places three community cards face-up on the board. This is the flop.
It's time to assess your hand and decide how to play it. The first active player to the left of the dealer button acts first, followed by another round of betting.
3. The Turn
The fourth community card, known as the turn, is dealt face-up.
With another card on the board, the possibilities change. A further betting round follows, starting with the first active player to the left of the button.
4. The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt. This is the river, your last chance to improve your hand using the available cards.
The final round of betting begins with the first active player to the left of the button.
5. The Showdown
If two or more players remain after the final betting round, it's time to reveal the cards. The last player to bet or raise shows their hand first. If nobody bets on the river, the first remaining player to the left of the button shows first.
The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot. Remember, you must use exactly two hole cards and exactly three community cards. If players have equally ranked hands, they split the pot.
Once the pot is awarded, the button moves one seat clockwise and the next hand begins.
5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo
Want another twist? 5 Card Omaha Hi/Lo, also known as 5 Card Omaha 8-or-better, adds a different way to win. The pot can be split between the best high hand and a qualifying low hand, giving players another route to a share of the pot.
Play 5 Card Omaha for Free and for Real Cash at PokerStars on Betfair
The best way to get to grips with the rules is to practise. Join a free poker game to learn the ropes, explore different starting hands and get comfortable with the betting rounds without putting money at stake.
Ready to discover more? Explore our full range of poker games and find your next game at PokerStars on Betfair.