Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO)
A thrilling action game where players receive four hole cards instead of two.
info Overview
Pot-Limit Omaha is similar to Texas Hold'em but with a crucial difference: each player receives four hole cards instead of two, and you MUST use exactly two of your hole cards combined with exactly three community cards to make your final hand. This creates much larger pots and more action than Hold'em.
school Difficulty Level: Intermediate
PLO is rated as Intermediate because while it builds on Hold'em concepts, it introduces significant complexity. With four hole cards instead of two, there are many more possible hand combinations to evaluate. The "exactly two from hand" rule confuses many beginners, and hand equities run much closer together, requiring more sophisticated decision-making. It's recommended to be comfortable with Hold'em before tackling PLO.
casino How to Play
The Deal
Each player receives four private cards face down. Remember: you must use exactly two of these four cards in your final hand.
Pre-Flop Betting
Betting begins with the player to the left of the big blind. Players can call, pot-raise (raise up to the total amount in the pot), or fold.
The Flop
Three community cards are dealt face up. Another betting round follows with pot-limit betting.
The Turn
A fourth community card is dealt. Betting continues with the pot-limit structure.
The River
The fifth and final community card is dealt. Final betting round occurs.
The Showdown
Players reveal their hands. Winner must use exactly two hole cards and three community cards to make their best five-card hand.
military_tech Hand Rankings
Standard poker hand rankings apply, but remember you MUST use exactly 2 hole cards and 3 community cards:
lightbulb Strategy Tips
- Hand Coordination: Look for hands where all four cards work together. Hands like A♠ A♥ K♠ K♥ (double-suited aces with kings) are premium.
- Draw to the Nuts: With more cards and more possibilities, you should generally be drawing to the best possible hand (the nuts), not marginal holdings.
- Pot Control: Because pots get very large, managing pot size is crucial. Don't build huge pots with marginal hands.
- Equity Runs Close: Most PLO hands have closer equity preflop than in Hold'em. Don't overvalue even premium starting hands.
- Position is Key: Position is even more important in PLO because pots get large quickly and you need information to make correct decisions.
warning Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing hands with poor coordination (random four cards)
- Overvaluing single pairs, even aces
- Drawing to non-nut hands
- Not understanding the "exactly 2 from hand" rule
- Playing too many hands because you have four cards
- Underestimating opponent's hands (if board shows flush, someone likely has it)
- Not adjusting from Hold'em strategy
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