PLO Poker: Pot Limit Omaha Rules and Strategy

Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) supercharges poker by doubling your hole cards from two to four, creating bigger pots and more thrilling moments than Texas Hold’em. At CoinPoker, we’ll show you how to master this dynamic game that’s taking over poker rooms worldwide.

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A player holds four cards in a poker game called pot-limit Omaha (or the first part of the Irish Poker game)

Last Updated: 11 September 2025

What is Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)?

Pot Limit Omaha poker takes everything you love about Texas Hold’em and doubles the excitement – literally. Instead of two hole cards, you get four, creating more possible combinations and bigger pots. But there’s a catch: you must use exactly two of your hole cards with three community cards to make your hand. This unique structure has made PLO the game of choice for players seeking more action and strategic depth.

The “Pot Limit” part keeps strategy at the forefront. Unlike Hold’em where you can bet all your chips anytime, PLO caps your bets at the current pot size. Most games run 6-9 players, giving you plenty of action while keeping things manageable.

Most PLO tables seat 6-9 players, giving you plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action while keeping the game manageable. You’ll also find heads-up games (just you and one opponent) in our poker lobby.

PLO vs Classic Texas Hold’em: What’s the Difference?

PLO and Texas Hold’em have some key differences:

Betting Limits: Think of Hold’em as a game with no speed limit, while PLO has a governor on the engine. You can only bet what’s in the pot, making every chip count.
Hand Strength: Four cards mean stronger hands. It’s like upgrading from a bicycle to a motorcycle – everything moves faster, and you’ll see more big hands like straights and flushes than in Hold’em.
Making Combinations: Here’s where PLO gets tricky. You must use exactly two cards from your hand and three from the board. No more, no less. It’s like having four ingredients but only being able to use two in your recipe.
Read the Board: Some boards are “wet” with lots of possible draws. Others are “dry” with fewer possibilities. On wet boards, expect plenty of action since players often have multiple draws. On dry boards, you can focus more on betting your made hands for value.

How to Play PLO Poker

Betting Round 1: Preflop

The dealer gives each player four cards face-down. The two players to the left of the dealer post the small and big blinds. Starting with the player left of the big blind, each player can fold, call the big blind, or raise up to the pot size. Since you have four cards, you'll see more players staying in the hand than in Hold'em.

Betting Round 2: Flop

Three community cards are dealt face-up in the middle of the table. The first active player left of the dealer button starts the betting. Players can check if no one bets, or make a bet up to the pot size. When someone bets, others must fold, call, or raise. Remember – you'll need to use exactly two of your four cards with these community cards.

Betting Round 3: Turn

The dealer places a fourth community card face-up on the table. Just like on the flop, betting starts with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. Players can check if no one has bet, or they can make a bet up to the size of the pot. When faced with a bet, other players must fold, call, or raise. Many players take extra time on this street to calculate pot-sized bets.

Betting Round 4: River

The dealer places the fifth and final community card face-up on the table. The last betting round follows the same pattern as before - starting left of the dealer button, players can check or bet up to the pot size, and others must fold, call, or raise. This is your final chance to act before hands are revealed, so consider your options carefully.

How to Win

Show a Stronger PLO Combination

When multiple players stay until the end of the hand, everyone shows their cards and the best five-card hand wins. Remember the golden rule: you must use exactly two cards from your hand and three from the table. With four hole cards, PLO players make bigger hands than in Hold'em – you'll see more flushes, full houses, and straight draws than ever before. This means hand reading and planning your moves becomes a key part of winning at PLO.

Bet and Force Opponents to Fold

Sometimes you can win without having the best hand by making strategic bets that convince others to fold. PLO's pot-limit structure means you need to think carefully about your bet sizes – you can't just move all-in like in Hold'em. Every bet tells a story to your opponents, so consider what they might be holding and how the board looks. The right bet at the right time can make even strong hands fold, while a poorly sized bet might win you nothing at all.