Omaha hold'em Facts for Kids

Omaha Hold 'Em is a fun poker card game. It's a lot like Texas Hold 'Em, but with a few exciting differences! In Omaha, each player starts with four private cards instead of two. The goal is still to make the best five-card poker hand using some of your cards and some shared cards on the table. Whoever has the best hand at the end wins all the chips or money in the middle!

What is Omaha Hold 'Em?
- How Do You Play Omaha?
- Different Ways to Play: Omaha Hi-Lo
Images for kids
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What is Omaha Hold 'Em?

Omaha Hold 'Em is a popular version of poker. Like other poker games, it involves rounds of betting where players can choose to put more money into the pot. The game uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards. It's known for having more action because players start with more cards, which can lead to stronger hands.

How Do You Play Omaha?

Playing Omaha involves several steps, from getting your cards to showing your hand. Here's a simple guide to how a game usually goes:

Starting Your Hand

First, each player is dealt four cards face down. These are your "hole cards," and only you can see them. After everyone has their four cards, the first round of betting begins. Players can choose to bet, call (match a bet), raise (increase the bet), or fold (give up their hand).

Community Cards and Betting

After the first betting round, three cards are placed face up in the middle of the table. These are called the "flop" cards, and everyone can use them. Another round of betting happens. Then, a fourth card, called the "turn," is placed face up. After this, there's another betting round. Finally, a fifth and last card, called the "river," is placed face up. This is followed by the final round of betting.

Making Your Best Hand

This is the most important rule in Omaha! To make your final five-card hand, you must use exactly two of your four private cards and exactly three of the five community cards. You can't use more or fewer than two of your own cards. Once all the betting is done, players who are still in the game show their hands. The player with the best five-card poker hand wins the pot!

Different Ways to Play: Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha can also be played as Omaha Hi-Lo, sometimes called "Omaha Split-8 or Better." In this game, the pot is split into two halves. One half goes to the player with the best high hand (the strongest poker hand). The other half goes to the player with the best low hand.

For a hand to qualify as a low hand, all five cards must be 8 or lower. Also, pairs and straights don't count against a low hand. The best possible low hand is A-2-3-4-5. If no player has a qualifying low hand, the player with the best high hand wins the entire pot.

Images for kids

A showdown in Omaha hi-low split. The player on the left wins the low-hand half with the best low hand (A-2-3-4-5). The player on the right wins the high-hand half with a full house (5-5-5-J-J).
This is a very strong starting hand in Omaha hi-low split.
This is considered one of the weakest starting hands in Omaha.