How to win
Make the strongest five-card high hand or win by folds. Use exactly two of five hole cards and exactly three community cards.
Deal and forced bets
Blinds and the five-card board follow Omaha. The difference is that every player starts with five private cards.
From deal to showdown
Five-Card Omaha rules step by step
- 01
Post the blinds
The two players left of the button post the small blind and big blind.
- 02
Deal five hole cards
Each player receives five private cards, creating ten possible two-card combinations.
- 03
Play the preflop round
Players may fold, call, or raise up to the pot-limit maximum shown by the table.
- 04
Deal and bet the flop
Three shared cards are dealt after a burn card, followed by a betting round.
- 05
Deal and bet the turn
A fourth shared card is dealt after a burn card, followed by another betting round.
- 06
Deal and bet the river
A fifth shared card is dealt after a burn card, followed by the last betting round.
- 07
Use exactly two plus three
At showdown, the final hand must use exactly two of the five hole cards and exactly three board cards.
Showdown reference
Five-Card Omaha hand rankings: strongest to weakest
-
RANK 1
Royal Flush
A-K-Q-J-10 in one suit: the highest possible straight flush.
-
RANK 2
Straight Flush
Five consecutive ranks in one suit. Compare the highest card.
-
RANK 3
Four of a Kind
Four cards of one rank, plus one kicker.
-
RANK 4
Full House
Three cards of one rank plus two cards of another rank.
-
RANK 5
Flush
Five cards in one suit that are not consecutive.
-
RANK 6
Straight
Five consecutive ranks in mixed suits.
-
RANK 7
Three of a Kind
Three cards of one rank plus two unmatched cards.
-
RANK 8
Two Pair
Two cards of one rank, two of another, plus one kicker.
-
RANK 9
One Pair
Two cards of one rank plus three unmatched cards.
-
RANK 10
High Card
No made hand above; compare the highest cards in order.
Practical decisions
Five-Card Omaha strategy and best tips
General starting points for casual play—not a promise of results.
Demand card coordination
A fifth card creates more combinations, but weak side cards can still leave the hand drawing to second best.
Prioritize nut potential
With more hole-card combinations in play, higher straights and flushes are especially important.
Look for redraws behind made hands
Strong hands with backup flush, straight, or full-house draws can survive changing boards better than bare made hands.
Discard blockers mentally
Your five private cards remove known ranks and suits from the deck. Use that information when judging which strong hands are possible.
Plan for large later pots
Pot-limit raises compound quickly. Decide whether your hand can continue on several board runouts before building the pot.
Common 5-Card PLO mistakes
- Using three hole cards at showdown.
- Overvaluing extra cards that do not connect with each other.
- Drawing to a low flush or vulnerable straight.
- Ignoring stronger redraws held by opponents.
Host Five-Card Omaha on Poker Friends
- Open the table setup. Use the create-table button below. Five-Card Omaha is selected for you.
- Choose your table settings. Enter a nickname and table name, review the virtual-chip settings and player limit, and set a password if you want one. Then select Start Table.
- Invite your friends. Share the resulting table link or six-character game code. If you set a password, share it with your invited players too.
All chips are virtual and have no cash value. No deposit or download is required.
Keep learning
Related poker guides
Texas Hold'em
Two private cards, five community cards, and four betting rounds.
Read the complete guide →Pot-Limit Omaha
Four private cards, but exactly two must play at showdown.
Read the complete guide →Short Deck Hold'em
Hold'em with a 36-card deck, antes, and adjusted hand rankings.
Read the complete guide →Play Five-Card Omaha for free
Create a play-money table with Five-Card Omaha already selected, then invite your friends. No rake, deposit, payment, or credit card is required.