Pot-Limit Omaha 5-card (PLO5) is an action-packed poker variant that gives each player five hole cards, increasing the number of combinations and complexity compared to traditional four-card PLO. With more possibilities comes more variance — but also greater opportunity for skilled players who understand how to build strong, winning hands.
To succeed in PLO5, you need more than just a basic grasp of hand strength. You must learn how to construct hands that can win multiway pots, avoid dominated draws, and extract maximum value when you hit.
Understand the Basics of PLO5 Hand Construction
In PLO5, just like in standard PLO, you must use exactly two cards from your hand and three cards from the board to make your best five-card poker hand. But with five hole cards, there are ten two-card combinations per hand instead of six.
This dramatically increases the number of draws, redraws, blockers, and traps in play. It also means that top pair or even two pair is rarely good. The best hands in PLO5 are often strong made hands with backup potential — like a straight with a flush draw or a set with a nut low blocker.
Target Hands with Nut Potential
PLO5 is a game of nut dominance. Because there are so many combinations in play, hands that make the nuts (or have redraws to beat the nuts) dominate weaker holdings.
Some key hand types to prioritize:
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Double-suited high cards (e.g., A♠K♠J♦T♦9)
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High-connected rundowns (e.g., 9♣8♦7♠6♣5♥)
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Premium pairs with connectivity (e.g., A♣A♦K♠Q♠J♣)
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Suited aces with backup (e.g., A♥J♥T♠9♠7♦)
Avoid hands with disconnected cards or weak pairs that offer little post-flop playability.
Think in Terms of Multiway Strength
Since most PLO5 pots go multiway, you can’t rely on weak draws or low two-pair hands to hold up. You should ask yourself:
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Can my hand make the nuts or near-nuts?
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Do I have redraws if I hit?
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Will my hand survive against multiple opponents?
Building hands that offer both value and versatility is key. Drawing to the second or third nut flush, for instance, is often a trap in this variant.
Understand the Power of Blockers
Blockers are especially powerful in PLO5 due to the sheer number of combinations. Holding cards that reduce the chance of your opponent having a certain nut hand can open bluffing opportunities or protect you from overcommitting.
For example, if the board shows a potential flush and you hold two cards of that suit, you can more confidently represent that flush — or fold correctly knowing you’re less likely to be beat.
Use blockers to:
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Bluff scare cards
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Control pot size
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Avoid dominated hands
Play Aggressively with Strong Draws
Because of the volatile nature of PLO5, equity shifts quickly. Strong draws — like wrap straight draws with flush potential — should often be played aggressively. Getting your chips in early with high-equity hands is usually better than letting opponents realize their equity cheaply.
However, not all draws are equal. A wrap with no nut outs or no flush potential loses a lot of its value in a game where players often overcall.
Learn to Fold Strong-Looking Hands
One of the hardest lessons in PLO5 is knowing when a good hand is not good enough. Top two pair, bottom sets, or weak flushes are often dominated by better holdings. Discipline is crucial — folding strong but vulnerable hands in multiway pots will save you long-term chips.
Don’t get attached to pretty-looking hands post-flop if the board and action suggest you’re behind.
FAQ
Why are flushes and straights so common in PLO5?
With five hole cards, each player has more chances to hit draws and connect with the board. As a result, hands like straights and flushes occur more frequently, and it’s common to see multiple players holding strong hands at showdown. This makes playing for the nuts — or with redraws to the nuts — essential.
Should I always play double-suited hands in PLO5?
Double-suited hands are generally strong because they give you more chances to hit nut flushes. However, they should also be connected or include high cards. Simply being double-suited with no coordination or value (e.g., 7♥5♥2♣3♣J♦) can put you in difficult post-flop spots.
What’s the best preflop hand in PLO5?
Theoretical “best” hands vary depending on the situation, but a commonly strong hand is A-A-K-K-Q double-suited. It gives you top pair strength, nut flush potential, and straight possibilities. In general, hands that combine high card value, connectivity, and suitedness perform best long term.