PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha)
For most players, Texas Hold'em is the gateway into the wider world of poker. These days, one of the most popular variants out there is Omaha, and Pot-Limit Omaha in particular, known by the shorthand PLO.
The moment you look down at your hole cards, you'll spot the biggest difference between Texas Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha: you're dealt four hole cards instead of two. The other fundamental difference is that you must use exactly two of your hole cards, combined with three community cards, to make your hand.
The hand rankings are the same ones laid out in our guide to how to play Texas Hold'em: the royal flush is still the strongest hand of all. The betting rounds in Texas Hold'em and PLO are identical, too, exactly as we cover in that guide.
While the value of starting hands is similar, the many possible combinations between four cards change the game in a big way. Because you're dealt four hole cards, PLO offers far more decision points and the chance to build stronger hands that can scoop most of the pots.
Download WPT Global
Pot-limit betting rules
The betting rounds are the same. First comes the pre-flop betting round, followed by the additional rounds on the flop, the turn and the river. The difference in PLO is that, on any round where it's your turn to act, you can bet at most the total amount currently in the pot. In a hand of Pot-Limit Omaha, you can bet cheaply early with few chips, but once the pot is close to being decided, the bets get expensive fast.
In PLO you need stronger hands than in Hold'em
Right at the start of the hand, still pre-flop, the strength of starting hands in PLO tends to run much closer between players. That's why far more people enter the pot with playable hands than in Texas Hold'em. Even so, don't assume any four cards are good enough to win: after you see your starting hand, you still have to decide carefully whether it's worth playing on.
Compared to Texas Hold'em, PLO leans much more heavily on draws. Still, if you didn't connect with anything good on the flop, it's time to fold. You also need to understand that, because each player holds four hole cards, the number of possible hands is much larger. It's only worth calling a bet on the river when you have a real shot at completing a very strong hand.
Beginner's guide: strategy differences between Texas Hold'em and PLO
PLO is usually the first variant players try after Texas Hold'em, so understanding a few more differences between the two games is essential. The first time you sit down for PLO, these differences can catch you off guard. Hold'em players tend to overvalue pairs and two pair in PLO (especially when their hole cards make a pair), along with weak straights and flush draws.
If you decide to commit big on a draw, most of the time you'll want to be drawing to the nuts (the best possible hand). Because of how many cards are in play, there are simply too many other hands possible, and given the pot-limit structure, that can get very expensive. That's one more reason to take a beat when you see your starting hand and weigh its strength before deciding to continue.
While you're learning to play PLO, you'll always make mistakes early on and you'll have to pay for those first lessons. Over time, as you get a feel for the variant, you'll start playing a wider range of starting hands.
Examples of good and bad starting hands in Pot-Limit Omaha
So, in Pot-Limit Omaha, which starting hands are worth playing?
Double-suited hands are the best to play pre-flop. The ideal scenario is holding something like 
, but even a hand like 
has potential.
Just like in Texas Hold'em, a starting hand has more value to play on when it's suited and/or connected. Of course, if your hole cards make two pair, like 
, the hand is strong as well.
On the other hand, you'll want to avoid playing starting hands that contain a loose card (a dangler).
A dangler is a card that doesn't connect with any other card in your starting hand. If you decide to enter the pot with something like 
, you really only have three useful cards and you're at a big disadvantage against opponents who are playing all four.
Play PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) online
PLO stands for Pot-Limit Omaha, one of the most popular poker variants in the world. In Pot-Limit Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards instead of the two you get in Texas Hold'em. However, the player must use exactly two of those hole cards, combined with three community cards, to make the best five-card hand.
At WPT Global you can play PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) and other poker variants for real money. Learn the rules and hand rankings of PLO and enjoy the wide variety of tournaments on offer.
WPT Global's Pot-Limit Omaha guide gives players the chance to dive into one of the most dynamic variants in poker. In this game, with top-tier poker promotions and exclusive offers, every player needs to develop an advanced-level strategy.
PLO rules and hand rankings
Learn how to play Omaha (PLO). Use this beginner's guide to learn the rules of PLO, the basic strategy and the best way to play Omaha online.
With advanced poker software, players enjoy a smooth experience, plus online poker bonuses and rakeback offers. For anyone looking to level up their game, WPT Global delivers valuable insights and opportunities to play poker online efficiently. Visit our site and get to know Pot-Limit Omaha inside and out.