When you’re in the midst of a hand, you may find it helpful to look at the “nuts” first. A “nuts” hand is when you have five cards of the same rank, the same suit, or different suits. When a player doesn’t have these hands, they must fold their cards face down and lose the entire bet. Often, players choose to fold their cards only when they have a hand that is weak, and it is usually better to avoid this option altogether.

The dealer deals seven cards to each player. When the round has ended, only players with unfolded hands remain in the game. The next round begins with the ante and blinds. This round is called the ante round, and each player takes a turn making the blind bet before the next round. In Omaha, the player to the left of the big blind acts first. This is the “small blind,” the player who begins the betting round.

The game is believed to have originated in the eighteenth century in France. The term poque, or “poker,” was a slang word used by card hustlers and pickpockets who cheated unsuspecting opponents. A number of variations were played with the game before the game became popular. In 1837, the game spread to the United States, where the original deck contained only twenty cards. Soon after, a 52-card deck was used.