KKPoker is expanding your Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) gaming options with the launch of PLO6.

Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) and its four-card and five-card formats are already famous for wild action and huge pots. Add extra hole cards, and you’ve got PLO6 — an even more complex, high-variance version of the game where strong hands show up more often, but also get cracked more often.

If you’re transitioning from PLO4 or PLO5 into six-card Omaha, the adjustments are critical. More cards mean more possible combinations, more frequent nuts, and more dangerous spots if you misread hand strength.

To help you make the leap, KKPoker ambassador Jon Kyte, who has over 10 years of experience in online and live poker, shares his exclusive insights on how to succeed in PLO6.

Jon has over $3.5M in recorded live poker tournament cashes, which include 2nd place in the 2024 WSOP Omaha 8 or Better/Stud 8 or Better Bracelet Event, and in 2025 he achieved 16th place in one of the toughest mixed poker format tournaments, the $50,000 Mixed Games: Poker Players Championship Bracelet Event.

Read on to learn Jon’s top tips for transitioning from PLO4/5 to PLO6.

Why PLO6 Plays So Differently

• Equity is compressed. Even the best hands rarely have huge equity edges. Expect to run closer in many all-ins.
• Nuts appear more often. With six cards in every hand, straights, flushes, and boats show up more frequently.
• Showdown values shift. Big pairs and bare straights may not be as valuable as they appear, while redraws and connectivity become increasingly essential.

In short: don’t assume “premium” in PLO4/5 is still premium in PLO6.

PLO6 Starting Hand Selection Tips

Premium Hands Appear More Often

With six hole cards, you’ll naturally be dealt big pocket pairs like AA and KK more frequently. But their relative strength is lower.

• AA double-suited is still a top-tier starting hand.
• KK looks premium, but in PLO6 it can be behind to highly connected multi-suited rundowns.

Pro tip: Don’t assume big pairs will hold up — their equity drops compared to PLO4/PLO5.

PLO5 Rundowns vs PLO6 Premiums

In PLO5, strong rundowns like T-9-8-7-6 dominate. In PLO6, however:

• High pairs and ace-high suits are more valuable.
• King-high and queen-high suits lose relative strength.

Connectivity alone is not enough — you need redraws.

Transitioning from PLO5 to PLO6 requires adjusting your starting hand priorities.

Playing the Nut Straight in PLO6

Why the Nut Straight Is a Trap Hand

In PLO4 or PLO5, flopping the nut straight is often strong enough to go all in. In PLO6, it can be less of a dream situation.

Example: Flop 8-7-4, you hold 6-5.

• In PLO4/5: Strong enough to get all your chips into the pot.
• In PLO6: You could be behind against hands containing: 6-9-T-J with backdoor flushes, top set with redraws, combo draws with better equity.

Sometimes your “nuts” leave you with less than 20% equity.

Pro tip: Only play nut straights aggressively if you also hold higher connected cards (9, T, J) for redraws.

Flush Strategy in PLO6

Flushes are more common in six-card Omaha, therefore, middle flushes lose big value.

A queen-high flush that feels safe in PLO5 can be crushed in PLO6.
Focus on ace-high flushes, and playing hands that contain double-suited holdings.

In PLO6, always aim for the nut flush — anything less can be a costly mistake.

Pro tip: When playing PLO4/5, flopping the nut flush draw is typically a great incentive to get all your chips in. However, in PLO6, you should see many players checking back more often if they don’t have a set or Pocket Aces with a backdoor nut flush. Therefore, having only the nut flush draw, especially in a multiway pot, isn’t normally enough to get it in on the flop when deepstacked.

Hidden Strength: Backdoor Equity

Backdoor draws are underrated weapons in PLO6.

Example: On a rainbow flop, your hand could still hold:

• Multiple backdoor flush draws (ace- and king-high)
• Straight backdoors with connectivity

This flexibility helps you continue in pots while avoiding domination.

Pro tip: Prioritize hands with multiple backdoor opportunities when building your preflop ranges.

Multiway Danger: Nuts Aren’t Always Safe

Example: You raise preflop, two players call, and the flop comes A-K-Q. You hold J-T for the nut straight.

• In heads-up pots: Strong value bet.
• In multiway pots: Be careful — opponents may freeroll you with redraws to flushes or boats.

How to play nut hands in PLO6: caution is key, especially multiway.

Cash Game Adjustments

Deep-stacked PLO6 cash games highlight the dangers of overplaying “pretty” hands.

Example:

• Player 1 has Aces
• Player 2 also has Aces
• Player 3 holds Q-J-T-9-8-7 triple-suited

The rundown can freeroll both AA hands, leaving you in terrible shape despite holding “premium” aces.

Pro tip: Patience is critical. In PLO6, many hands look good but only a few are truly premium.

Final Thoughts on PLO6 Strategy

Six-card Omaha is one of the most thrilling forms of poker, but also one of the most punishing. Jon’s advice can be summarized in three golden rules:

• Big pairs show up more often but don’t overvalue them.

• Nuts alone aren’t enough — redraws and connectivity win the day.

• Avoid being freerolled in deep-stacked games.

If you adjust your strategy and only commit with truly robust holdings, you’ll find yourself ahead of the competition in PLO6.

Frequently Asked Questions About PLO6

Is PLO6 harder than PLO5?

Yes — PLO6 can be viewed as harder than PLO5 because more cards create more combinations. That means players hit strong hands more often, equity edges are smaller, and variance increases. Strategic discipline is critical.

What are the best starting hands in PLO6?

The strongest PLO6 starting hands are double-suited Aces with connected side cards. High pairs plus ace-high suits rank above simple rundowns. Rundowns alone (like 9-8-7-6-5) are strong in PLO5 but lose value in six-card Omaha.

Can you win with the bare nuts in PLO6?

Not reliably. In PLO6, flopping the nut straight or flush without redraws often leaves you vulnerable. Strong opponents will freeroll you with redraws to higher straights, flushes, or full houses. Always look for nuts + redraws.

What’s the biggest mistake players make in PLO6?

The biggest mistake is overvaluing hands that look premium — like pocket Kings, middle flushes, or bare nut straights. Many players also fail to recognize when they’re being freerolled in multiway pots.

How should I adjust in deep-stack PLO6 cash game?

Play tighter and prioritize connected, nut-heavy holdings. Deep stacks magnify the danger of being freerolled. Be selective with big pairs, and avoid committing chips without redraw potential.