Omaha Poker Games

OMAHA POKER GAMES
HomePokerEdge.com has assembled an extensive collection of fun and challenging Omaha poker game variations designed to keep your dealer's choice home poker game lively and interesting. In addition to explaining how to play each game, we provide valuable playing tips and insight on how to win for many of these unique Omaha poker game varieties.

The HomePokerEdge.com staff has played most of these games and are confident you will find them realistic, challenging and fun to play. Give some a try at your next home poker game.
The descriptions and instructions provided assume you are already familiar with how to play Omaha poker games. Should you have questions or want to know more about any of these games, let us know via our Contact HPE page and we will be happy to respond.

Most of the games described may be played as high-low split. Playing high-low split poker games introduces many additional factors that must be considered. See our High-Low Poker Guide page for playing tips, hand odds or probabilities and much more information you will need to play high-low spilt poker games.

We are constantly on the lookout for new games. If you have your own favorite dealer's choice poker game variation you'd like to share, please send it to us.

The Dealer's choice poker games on this page are based on Omaha poker, but there are lots of other games, too:

Draw Poker Games
Hold 'em Poker Games
Stud Poker Games
Wild Card Poker Games
Other (non-poker) Games

SOME GENERAL THOUGHTS ABOUT OMAHA POKER GAMES
Omaha is often considered a game of the nuts meaning that it is frequently the case that you will need the very best possible hand to win. How coordinated the board cards are will determine the usual winning hand. This is especially true when a straight or flush is the best possible hand and for the low hand if playing a high-low version. When there is a pair or 2 on the board a full house (preferably one of the better ones) is the usual winner. (4 of a kind would be the absolute nuts, but is not that common.)

To make their hands each player uses exactly 2 hole cards and exactly 3 community board cards.   That is how all the games listed on this page are played except for a few in which we explain a slightly different format.

In "original" Omaha each player has 4 hole cards giving them 6 possible pairs of cards (couples) to play. There are 5 community board cards making ten 3 card combinations.   In versions that differ from this standard format the likely winning hands may be expected to drop with fewer cards to use and increase when there are more cards in play. We explain all this in more detail in our Playing Tips.

OMAHA DOUBLE CROSS
Played like Omaha using board cards arranged in a cross shape. Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards arranged in a cross shape with 5 vertical cards and 5 horizontal cards. Reveal the 4 outer cards (1, 4, 5, 8), then the single middle card (M) and lastly the 4 inner cards (2, 3, 6, 7) with a round of betting between. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 hole cards plus exactly 3 cards from either the vertical or horizontal row. The cards from the board that may be used are: The 5 vertical cards (12M34) or the 5 horizontal cards (56M78).
Playing Tips for Omaha Double Cross Poker: Includes detailed playing instructions, starting hand selection, strategy, card arrangement diagram and more.

1 2
5 6 M 7 8 3 4

DOUBLE DISCARD HOT OMAHA
Deal 6 cards face down to each player (maximum of 8 players for this game). After the initial round of betting each player must discard 1 card face down in the middle of the table. The discarded cards are shuffled or mixed together and 3 of them are dealt for the flop. Once the flop has been revealed and the second betting round completed, each player discards another single card face down. These cards are mixed together and from them is dealt the turn, then the river.
Playing Tips for Double Discard Hot Omaha Poker: Includes detailed playing instructions, strategy and more.

DOUBLE DISCARD DOUBLE HOT OMAHA
Deal 6 cards face down to each player (maximum of 8 players for this game). There will be 2 separate sets of board cards. After an initial round of betting each player must discard 1 card face down in the middle of the table. These discarded cards are shuffled or mixed together and they are used to create 2 separate flops Once the flops have been revealed and the second betting round completed, each player discards another single card face down. These discarded cards are shuffled or mixed together and from them is dealt the 2 turns and 2 rivers.
Playing Tips for Double Discard Double Hot Omaha Poker: With detailed playing instructions, strategy and more.

PLAYING THE ANGLES
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards arranged in a cross shape with 5 vertical cards and 5 horizontal cards. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus 3 cards from any 2 arms of the cross that form a 90 degree angle. Start as usual, with a round of betting after the deal. Then reveal the 4 outer cards (1, 4, 5, 7), then the 4 inner cards (2, 3, 6, 8) and lastly the single center card (C), with a round of betting after each reveal.
The cards from the board that may be used are: 12C34, 43C65, 56C87, 78C21.
The vertical (12C65) and horizontal (87C34) arms cannot be used.
Playing Tips for Playing the Angles Poker: Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection, hand odds, card arrangement diagram and more.

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2 7 8 C 3 4 6 5

KITE TAIL POKER
Kite Tail Poker is a variation of Omaha. Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards. 6 cards form the "kite". The remaining 3 cards make up the "tail". To help you visualize the arrangement of these cards a diagram is included with Playing Tips. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards along with 3 cards from one half of the "kite" cards plus the 3 "tail" cards. Begin by revealing the 6 cards that make up the "kite". Then reveal 2 cards from the "tail". Lastly, reveal the final "tail" card. A round of betting occurs after the deal and after reach reveal.
Playing Tips for Kite Tail Poker: Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagram, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

DOUBLE OMAHA
Played exactly like Omaha except there are two sets of board cards. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time. High hand on each board split the pot. May use "cards speak" or declaration (i.e. which set of board cards player wishes to use).

DOUBLE OMAHA HIGH-LOW
Played exactly like Omaha except there are two sets of board cards. Players may use either set of board cards to make their hand. The single highest and single lowest hands split the pot. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time.

OMAHA FIVE (HOT OMAHA)
Played like Omaha with this twist: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together. 5 of these discarded cards are drawn and used as the flop, turn and river. Play continues exactly like Omaha.
Playing tips for Omaha-Five Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection and more.

DOUBLE HOT OMAHA
Played like Double Omaha with this twist: Deal 6 cards face down to each player (maximum of 8 players for this game). Before any betting each player must discard 2 cards face down in the middle of the table. These discarded cards are shuffled or mixed together and they are used for the flops, turns and rivers to create 2 sets of board cards. Play continues exactly like Double Omaha. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time.
Playing tips for Double Hot Omaha Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection and more.

HOT & COLD OMAHA
Played like Omaha with this twist: Deal 5 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together. The 3 flop cards are drawn from these discarded cards. The turn and river cards are dealt from the remaining deck.
Playing tips for Hot & Cold Omaha Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection, and more.

DOUBLE HOT & COLD OMAHA
Played exactly like Hot & Cold Omaha except there are two sets of board cards. Start by dealing 5 cards down to each player. Before any other action each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together. Two 5 card sets of board cards are arranged as follows:
Set #1: The 3 flop cards are drawn from the discarded cards. The turn and river cards are dealt from the remaining deck.
Set #2: The 3 flop cards are dealt from the remaining deck. The turn and river cards are drawn from the discarded cards.
Players may use either set of board cards to make their hand. The single highest and single lowest hands split the pot. May be played high-low split or high-low eight or better. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time.
Playing tips for Double Hot & Cold Omaha Poker: Provides detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection and more.

HALF & HALF DOUBLE OMAHA
Omaha and Omaha 5 (Hot Omaha) are combined into a version of Double Omaha High-Low. Deal 5 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together and are used as the flop, turn and river to create one of the 2 sets of board cards. The second set of board cards is dealt from the remaining deck. Players may use either set of board cards to make their hand. The single highest and single lowest hands split the pot. Played high-low split or high-low eight or better. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time.

OMA-DRAW (OMAHA DRAW)
Played like Omaha but with the addition of an option to draw cards. After the flop (after post-flop betting round) each player may discard and draw up to 2 of their hole cards. An additional round of betting is added after the draw and before revealing the turn card. Maximum of 7 players to avoid the possibility of running out of cards. To accommodate 8 or more players limit the draw to 1 card per player.

SUPER OMAHA (Big O)
Play Super Omaha exactly like Omaha, except that each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Like Omaha, each player's hand is made from exactly 2 hole cards plus 3 cards from the board.

SHORT DECK OMAHA
Played exactly like Omaha but with a deck from which the 2's, 3's,4's and 5's have been removed. Concentrating the deck results in hand values that rise dramatically. Since the deck is reduced to only 36 cards limit to no more than 7 players.

2 AND 3 HIGH-LOW OMAHA
Played as high-low split only. How hands are made varies depending if a player declares high or low. Start by dealing each player 4 hole cards.
Arrange 2 rows of 5 cards each, one above the other.
Row A 1 2 3 4 5
Row B 6 7 8 9 10
Reveal board cards in typical order from each row of 5, Flop (1,2,3 & 6,7,8) Turn (4 & 9), River (5 & 10).
Players make their hand only in these ways:
For the high hand they must use 2 cards from their hand plus 3 cards from 1 of the 2 sets of board cards. (Any 3 cards from Row A or any 3 cards from Row B.)
For the low hand they must use 3 cards from their hand plus 1 of the 5 pairs of 2 vertical cards (1+6, 2+7, 3+8, 4+9, 5+10).

2 OR 3 OMAHA
Deal each player 4 hole cards.
Arrange 2 rows of 5 cards each, one above the other.
Row A         1       2      3     4     5
Row B 6       7      8     9 10
Reveal board cards in typical order from each row of 5, Flop (1,2,3 & 6,7,8) Turn (4 & 9), River (5 & 10).
Players make their hand in either of 2 ways:
2 cards from their hand plus 3 cards from 1 of the 2 sets of board cards. (Any 3 cards from Row A or any 3 cards from Row B.)
    3 cards from their hand plus 1 of the 5 pairs of 2 vertical cards (1+6, 2+7, 3+8, 4+9, 5+10).

BERMUDA TRIANGLE
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a triangle with 3 cards on each side. Players must make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards, plus the 3 cards that make up one side of the triangle. Initially reveal all at once the 3 cards that are in the middle of each side. Thereafter, reveal just one card at a time in any order you wish. A round of betting occurs between the revealing of the card(s).
Playing tips for Bermuda Triangle Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagram, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

COURCHEVEL
Courchevel poker is a variation of Omaha with 5 hole cards. Deal each player 5 hole cards. Players must use exactly 2 hole cards plus 3 cards from the board to make their hand. Courchevel poker is played like Omaha except that 1 card of the flop is revealed prior to the first betting round. After the 1st betting round the remaining 2 cards of the flop are revealed. The turn and river are revealed as normal for Omaha.

EIFFEL TOWER POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 7 cards arranged in 4 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the second level has 2 cards and the 3rd and 4th level have a single card each. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from 3 of the 4 levels. Reveal each level starting with the bottom 3, then second 2, then the single 3rd row and finally the top card, with a round of betting between. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.
Playing tips for Eiffel Tower Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

FRAME UP POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards consist of 8 cards arranged in the shape of a frame (or square) consisting of 3 cards on each side. Players must make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards, plus the 3 cards that make up any one side of the frame. Initially reveal all at once 4 cards that are in the middle of each side. Thereafter, reveal just one card at a time in this order: top left, bottom right, bottom left, top right. A round of betting occurs between the revealing of the cards.
Playing tips for Frame-Up Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

GLADIATOR
Gladiator poker is played as a high-low split variation of Omaha Eight or Better. Deal 4 hole cards to each player and place 5 cards face down on the board to be used as the flop, turn and river. Reveal the 3 card flop as usual. The variations occur upon revealing the turn and river cards. Immediately after the turn card is revealed (before any betting for that round) each active player will decide if the turn card "lives" or "dies". Each active player votes by means of revealing chips, similar to high-low declaration. No chip means "life"; 1 chip means "death". If a majority of players vote "death" the turn card is removed and replaced with a new card off the deck. If there is a tied vote or majority "life" vote the original turn card is kept. Any player voting for "death" must place 1 minimum bet into the pot. "Life" votes are free. After this "life" or "death" vote the usual round of betting occurs. The same process is utilized when the river card is revealed.

HOURGLASS POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 8 cards arranged in 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle level 2 cards and at the top level is 3 cards. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level plus 1 card of 3 from the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom 3, then middle 2 and, finally, the top 3 cards, with a round of betting between.
Playing tips for Hourglass Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

MAYAN PYRAMID (BIG PYRAMID) POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 9 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 4 cards, the middle level 3 cards and at the top level has 2 cards. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (ie. 1 card of 4 from the bottom level, 1 of 3 cards from the middle level plus 1 of the 2 cards at the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom 4, then middle 3 and, finally, the top 2, with a round of betting between.
Playing tips for Mayan Pyramid Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

OMAHA-8 ENCORE
Played exactly like Omaha Hi-Low 8 or Better, but with this one twist. If no qualifying low hand is possible after revealing the river card there is an additional round of betting followed by dealing a second river card. The board would then consist of 6 cards of which each player must use exactly 3. If there is still no possible qualifying low hand the game is played for high only.
Optional "mercy" rule: If after the flop, turn and river have been dealt there are less than 2 different cards of 8 or less no qualifying low would be possible even if dealing a 2nd river card. When this is the case a 2nd river card not dealt. edit.

OMAHA HATE
Omaha Hate is a version of Omaha High-Low Eight or Better. Deal and play exactly as you would for that game. After the fourth betting round (river) each player makes a high, low or both declaration and is now bound to that decision. Following that deal a sixth card to the board and another round of betting. There are now 6 board cards for which each player must use exactly 3 plus exactly 2 of their hole cards to make their hand. Remember that each player is bound to the declaration they made before the 6th card was revealed. Love it or hate it; that 6th card may change a winning hand into a loser, or vice versa.

PYRAMID POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle level 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level plus the sole card at the top level.) Reveal each level starting with the bottom 3, then middle 2 and, finally, the top card, with a round of betting between. If played high-low split it is preferable to avoid 8 or better versions as a qualifying low is completely dependent on the single top card.
Playing tips for Pyramid Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

PYRAMID 1-2-3 POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 6 cards arranged in the shape of a pyramid of 3 horizontal levels or rows. The bottom level has 3 cards, the middle level 2 cards and at the top is a single card. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus just 1 card from each of the levels (ie. 1 card of 3 from the bottom level, 1 of 2 cards from the middle level plus the sole card at the top level.)
Reveal cards in the following order. 1st: 1 card from the bottom level. 2nd: 1 card from the bottom level and 1 card from the middle level (ie. 2 cards total). 3rd: 1 card from bottom level, 1 card from middle level and the single top card (ie. a total of 3 cards). There is a round of betting between. If played high-low split avoid 8 or better versions as a qualifying low is completely dependent on the single top card.
Playing tips for Pyramid 1-2-3 Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

RED RIVER
Red River is played exactly like Omaha Hold'em with this exception: If the river card is a heart or diamond (red card) an additional river card (6th board card) will be dealt. If that card is red, another river card (7th board card) is dealt. This continues until a black (club or spade) card is dealt. A round of betting occurs between each additional card. Red River is usually played as Omaha, but it can also be played as Texas Hold'em, Pineapple, Oklahoma or similar variations.

RED RIVER LIMITED
A variation of Red River. It would not be surprising if several red river cards are dealt in succession resulting in a board of 8, 9, 10 or more cards. If that possibility bothers you, consider playing as Red River Limited which sets a limit on the number of additional cards. The limit can be anything you choose. Consider something along the lines of 2 to 5 additional cards - for a total of 7 to 10 board cards in all.

SIDE CAR OMAHA
Sidecar Omaha is Omaha with the option of using 1 of 2 river cards. Deal 4 hole cards to each player. Reveal the flop and turn as usual. The river consists of 2 cards but players may use only 1 of these two river cards. As required in Omaha, players must use 2 of their hole cards plus 3 of the board cards to make their hand. If played high-low a player going both ways may include 1 river card for their high hand and the other for their low hand if they wish.

TIC-TAC-TOE POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. Place 9 cards face down on the board arranged as 3 rows of 3 cards each. Reveal 3 random cards per betting round. Players must use exactly 2 hole cards plus either: All 3 cards from 1 of the 3 horizontal rows, or 1 of the 3 vertical rows, or 1 of the 2 diagonal rows.
Playing tips for Tic-Tac-Toe Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

TRI-STAR OMAHA POKER
Deal each player 4 hole cards. The board cards are placed face down and consist of 7 cards arranged with a single center card and 3 "hands" of 2 cards each radiating out from the center at the 12 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock positions. To help you visualize the arrangement of these cards a diagram is included with Playing Tips. Start as usual, with a round of betting after the deal. Then reveal the 3 outermost cards, then the 3 innermost cards and lastly the single center card, with rounds of betting after each reveal. Players make their hand by using exactly 2 of their hole cards plus 3 cards from any 2 arms.
Playing Tips for Tri-Star Omaha Poker: Includes card arrangement diagram, detailed playing instructions and strategy, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

TURNPIKE POKER
Each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Four sets of 3 cards per set are placed face down on the table. One entire set is revealed after each round of betting. Use exactly 2 hole cards plus one entire 3 card set to make the best hand.
Playing tips for Turnpike Poker. Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds, additional game variations and more.

OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma is a version of Omaha, except players are dealt just 3 hole cards. Other than that one change Oklahoma is played in exactly the same manner and with exactly the same rules as Omaha. As is the requirement in Omaha, players must always use 2 hole cards and 3 board cards to make their hand.

The basic play and rules for all versions of Oklahoma are the same as Omaha with the exception that at the showdown each player will only have 3 hole cards in their hand to choose from, rather than 4. Like Omaha, all Oklahoma variants require that players use exactly 2 hole cards and exactly 3 board cards to make their hand.

DOUBLE OKLAHOMA (OK-OK)
Played exactly like Oklahoma except there are two sets of board cards. Deal the flop, turn and river in each set at the same time. High hand on each board split the pot. May use "cards speak" or declaration (i.e. which set of board cards player wishes to use).

DOUBLE HIGH-LOW OKLAHOMA
Played exactly like Oklahoma, but using two sets of board cards. Players may use either set of board cards to make their hand. The single highest and single lowest hands split the pot. Deal the flop, turn and river of each set at the same time.

HOT OKIE
Deal 4 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together. The flop, turn and river are dealt from these "hot" discarded cards. Play continues exactly like Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA SOONER OR LATER
Played like Oklahoma with this twist: Deal 4 cards down to each player. Before any betting each player must discard one hole card face down in the middle of the table. These cards are shuffled or mixed together. The 3 flop cards are drawn from these "hot" discarded cards. The turn and river cards are dealt from the remaining "cold" deck. May be played high, high-low split or high-low eight or better.

OKLAHOMA 2ND CHANCE
Oklahoma Second Chance is a version of Omaha, except players are initially dealt 3 hole cards instead of 4. However, after the entire 5 board cards are revealed, each player has the option of obtaining, for a pre-determined fee, a fourth card. The fee is suggested to be somewhere around 2 to 5 times the biggest bet. As in Omaha, players must use exactly 2 of their hole cards plus 3 board cards to make their hand.

THIRTY-TWO POKER
Thirty-Two differs from Omaha in that players make hands by using exactly 3 hole cards plus 2 community board cards. It essentially like Omaha in reverse. Think of your hole cards as being like the board cards in Omaha and the board cards as being like your hole cards in Omaha.
There are 4 variations of Thirty-Two. Each is detailed below. In all versions each player is dealt 5 hole cards. Players always must use exactly 3 of their hole cards plus 2 of the board cards to make their hand. Each variation arranges and uses the board cards a bit differently. Board cards are always revealed one at a time. There is a round of betting after dealing the hole cards and after each board card is revealed.
Playing tips for Thirty-Two Poker (all versions). Includes detailed playing instructions and strategy, card arrangement diagrams, starting hand selection, hand odds and more.

THIRTY-TWO L
There are 3 board cards arranged in an "L" shape. Card A is placed on top. Card C directly below A. Card B is placed to the right of Card C. Cards are turned up one at a time in A, B, C order. Players may use either pair of adjoining cards. That is pair AC or pair BC. Pair AB may not be used.

THIRTY-TWO Z
There are 4 board cards arranged in roughly a "Z" shape. Card A is placed on top. Card D is placed to the right of A. Card C is placed directly below D. Card B is placed to the right of C. Cards are turned up one at a time in A, B, C, D order. Players may use any one of the 3 pairs of adjoining cards. That is pair AD, pair DC, pair CB. Pairs AB, AC or DB may not be used.

THIRTY-TWO SQUARED
There are 4 board cards arranged in a square of box shape. Cards A & D are next to one another. Card C is placed below A. Card B is placed below card D. Cards are turned up one at a time in A, B, C, D order. Players may use any one of the 4 pairs of adjoining cards. That is pair AD, AC, CB or DB. The 2 diagonal pairs (AB and CD) may not be used.

THIRTY-TWO STRAIGHT
There are 4 board cards placed face down is a straight line. Cards are revealed one at a time in any order. Players may use any two cards from the board.

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