Crypto Poker PLO Game: Pot Limit Omaha Rules and Strategy

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Crypto Poker PLO Game: Pot Limit Omaha Rules and Strategy

 
Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) supercharges poker and crypto poker games 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 is taking over poker rooms worldwide.

What is Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)?

Pot Limit Omaha poker takes everything you love about Texas Hold’em and doubles the excitement – literally. You get four instead of two-hole cards, 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. In the poker lobby, you’ll also find heads-up games (just you and one opponent).

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 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 many possible draws. Others are “dry” with fewer possibilities. Expect plenty of action on wet boards 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 dealer's left 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 to the pot size. Since you have four cards, more players stay 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. 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. Other players must fold, call, or raise when faced with a bet. 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 from the 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 please 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 precisely 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 must 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.

PLO Poker Hand Rankings

1. Royal Flush (A♦ K♦ Q♦ J♦ T♦)
The best hand possible, a royal flush consists of A, K, Q, J, and 10, all of the same suit.

2. Straight Flush (T♥ 9♥ 8♥ 7♥ 6♥)
Also very rare is a straight flush, which consists of any straight with the same suit.

3. Four-of-a-Kind (J♦ J♣ J♠ J♥ K♦)
Four of a kind, or 'quads,' consist of four cards of equal value and a side card.

4. Full House (A♥ A♣ A♦ 9♠ 9♣)
A house has three cards of one value and two cards of another.

5. Flush (A♠ J♠ 8♠ 4♠ 3♠)
A flush is a hand with all the cards of the same suit.

6. Straight (9♥ 8♠ 7♣ 6♦ 5♣)
A straight has five consecutive cards of value that are not all in the same suit.

7. Three-of-a-Kind (7♠ 7♦ 7♣ K♦ Q♣)
Also known as 'trips,' three of a kind consist of three cards of the same value and two side cards of different values.

8. Two-Pair (9♣ 9♦ 6♣ 6♠ Q♥)
Two pairs consist of two cards of equal value, another two cards of equal value, and one extra card.

9. One-Pair (A♦ A♥ K♠ 9♦ 4♥)
One pair consists of two cards of the same value and three extra cards.

10. High Card (A♠ J♦ 8♣ 6♠ 2♥)
A high card is when you have five cards that do not interact with each other to make any of the above hands.

PLO Poker Strategy: Basic Tips for Success

Here’s what to focus on when starting your PLO journey:

• Play Hands That Work Together: In Hold’em, a pair of aces is gold. But PLO is different – you want cards that connect in multiple ways. Double-suited hands like A♥K♥Q♦J♦ give you lots of winning possibilities. Avoid trap hands like four big cards that look nice but don’t help each other.
  
• Use Your Drawing Power: With four cards, you’ll often have a made hand plus strong draws. Let’s say you flop a set – in PLO, you might also have straight and flush draws to go with it. These combo draws are powerful because they give you many ways to win the pot.
  
• Understand Your Blockers: The cards in your hand might prevent opponents from making sure hands—this is valuable information when deciding whether to bet or fold.
  
• Be Patient: PLO creates more action and bigger pots than Hold’em, but that doesn’t mean you should play every hand. Wait for good spots.
  

Is PLO harder to learn than Hold’em?

The basic rules are simple, but it will take time to get used to using exactly two of your four cards.

What makes a good starting hand in PLO?

Look for cards that connect and share suits, like A♥K♥Q♦J♦. Avoid disconnected, unsuited hands.

What’s the best way to start playing PLO?

Start at the lowest stake tables to learn the game mechanics. Once you’re comfortable, you can gradually move to bigger games as your skills improve.