PokerStars Introduces Action-Packed Six-Card Pot Limit Omaha

February 19th, 2020 | by Greg Shaun

PokerStars has upped its Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) game by adding a sixth card to the mix.

PokerStars has introduced a new version of Pot Limit Omaha featuring six cards. (Image: PokerStars)

The update went live last week and means PokerStars now offers Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) in three forms.

Standard four-card PLO remains the most popular variant on the site. Alongside this, PokerStars also offers a five-card option known as Big O and, now, a six-card offering.

Six-Cards for Every Level

The new format is live on PokerStars’ dot.com and dot.eu platforms at a variety of stakes. At the lowest level, players can try six-card PLO at of $0.05/$0.10 tables. At the top stakes, players can sit down with up to $10,000.

Like standard PLO, PokerStars six-card PLO requires players to use two of their hole cards. These two cards have to be combined with five community cards to make the best five-card hand.

In practice, the rules are no different between four, five and six-card PLO. The only major difference is the number of possible two-card combinations a player can make with their hole cards.

Its all about the action getting it in the middel everytime and growing the pott to give u more money. How much Gambling do you want? Real Poker or just gambling around to make more rake? PS is becoming a real Casino with a little part of Poker.
— BlueIce (@MiAtt3) February 18, 2020

In four-card games, there are six possible two-card starting combinations. In six-card PLO, there are 15 possible starting hand combinations.

Adding more hole cards will increase the variance in a game. For action-hunters, this dynamic will be appealing. However, there are some that feel the new games are a way of generating more rake.

PokerStars Splits Opinion with Six Cards

Over the last three years, PokerStars has introduced a variety of innovations. From Split Hold’em and 6+ Hold’em to virtual reality poker, the developers have worked hard to shake things up. However, certain innovations have been described as a rake trap.

Increasing the amount of luck in a game by introducing new variables makes players more willing to gamble. Given that pots are only raked after the flop, this has led some to say that the new formats are only there to make PokerStars more money.

However, six-card PLO is a variant that’s often played in casinos around the world. Moreover, it was also available on Full Tilt back in 2013. Therefore, it’s a tried and tested format.

In fact, PLO players are often fans of action and a natural way to generate more of it is to add extra hole cards. In this regard, PokerStars is simply catering to a certain type of player.

For all online poker operators, the key to success is balancing skill with luck and entertainment. As well as keeping serious players happy, poker companies need to attract new players with exciting games. Six-card PLO is an innovation that seems to strike a balance between these two goals.