Skip to content
Sign in
Sign in

Omaha family

Pot-Limit Omaha poker rules

4 Cards / Exactly 2 + 3

Hole cards
4
Board
1 community board
Betting
Pot-Limit
Players
2-7 players
Pot
High hand
Family
Omaha family

What is Pot-Limit Omaha?

Pot-Limit Omaha deals four private cards instead of two, and the showdown rule is strict: exactly two hole cards combined with exactly three community cards.

Betting is Pot-Limit: an opening bet is capped at the pot; facing a bet, you can call and raise by up to the pot after calling. The streets are the familiar preflop, flop, turn and river.

On SophiesPick, Omaha's two-plus-three rule is the foundation for many of the house variants, so learning PLO unlocks most of the library. 2-7 players.

Starting cards

4 private cards. 1 community board. Pot-Limit betting.

How to play

  1. Preflop betting.
  2. Deal the flop (3 community cards), then flop betting.
  3. Deal the turn (1 card), then turn betting.
  4. Deal the river (1 card), then river betting and showdown.

Showdown

Use EXACTLY 2 hole cards + EXACTLY 3 community cards from the evaluated board. You cannot play the board or use 1, 3, or 4 hole cards.

Hand rankings in Pot-Limit Omaha

High Hand

  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

Royal Flush is the highest possible Ace-high Straight Flush.

Common mistakes

  • Playing the board or using one hole card: Omaha requires exactly two hole cards plus exactly three board cards, no exceptions.
  • Using three or four hole cards for a flush or straight: only two can play.
  • Betting more than the pot: the Pot-Limit cap applies on every street.
  • Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better

    Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better keeps the same cards and showdown rule but splits each pot with a qualifying low hand.

See how Pot-Limit Omaha lines up against every other game in the poker variants comparison table.

Pot-Limit Omaha FAQ

How many hole cards do you use in Pot-Limit Omaha?

Exactly two of your four hole cards, combined with exactly three of the five community cards. You cannot play the board or use one, three or four hole cards.

What is the maximum bet in PLO?

An opening bet is capped at the pot. Facing a bet, you can call and raise by up to the pot after calling, subject to your remaining stack.

How many players can sit at a PLO table?

2 to 7 players on SophiesPick, in cash or single-table tournament format.