Six-Card Omaha: Poker’s Wildest Variant on the Rise

Six-Card Omaha is taking the poker world by storm. Evidenced by the number of tracked cash-game seats on major real-money networks, which nearly doubled between January 2022 and January 2024. This supercharged version of PLO is attracting both recreational players and seasoned pros who crave bigger pots and deeper post-flop complexity. In this article, I'll explain what this exciting variant is all about and what you need to know before diving into the action.

What Is Six-Card Omaha?

Six-Card Omaha (often called "PLO-6") is the natural next step from Pot-Limit Omaha. It adds two extra hole cards to create way more possibilities while keeping the core hand-building rules that make Omaha unique. Regular Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) deals four hole cards to each player. PLO-6 deals six. The twist? Players must still use exactly two of their hole cards and exactly three community cards to make their five-card hand. This is identical to classic PLO hand-building rules.

Core Rules and Mechanics

The basics mirror standard PLO, but the extra hole cards create way more drawing and nut-hand possibilities:

Aspect	Regular PLO (4-Card)	Six-Card PLO (6-Card)
Hole Cards Dealt	4	6
Must Use from Hole	Exactly 2	Exactly 2
Must Use from Board	Exactly 3	Exactly 3
Total Hole-Card Combos	4 choose 2 = 6 possible combos	6 choose 2 = 15 possible combos
Drawing Possibilities	High, but more limited	Much greater (more wraps, flush draws, combo draws)
Frequency of Nut Hands	Moderate (nuts appear often)	Much higher (nut hands are common, second-best hands often lose)
Betting Structure	Pot-Limit on each street	Pot-Limit on each street
Hand Rankings	Standard High (no hi/lo)	Standard High (no hi/lo)

Why 6-PLO Is Growing in Popularity

Six-Card Omaha's popularity surge comes from its engaging balance of skill and action. On the iPoker network, PLO-6 tables made up 35% of all Omaha seats during Q4 2023, up from 22% the previous year. The game appeals to action junkies and strategy lovers alike because it offers:

Bigger pots thanks to stronger average hand strength.
Far more draws and redraws, driving post-flop action.
Higher skill ceiling. More information to process means bigger edges for hardworking players.
A sweet spot between gambling excitement and deep strategy.

Strategic Fundamentals

With six-hole cards instead of four, hand selection and post-flop play become much more complex. The additional cards create more potential for nut hands. This makes position and board-texture awareness even more important than in traditional PLO.

Hand Selection Guidelines

Premium starting hands in Six-Card Omaha usually feature multiple coordinated elements working together rather than isolated strength. The main difference from four-card PLO is that marginal hands become more dangerous. This happens because opponents have more ways to make strong holdings.

Multiple coordinated high cards - Broadway wraps with connecting possibilities.
Strong connectivity - Cards like T-J-Q-K with side cards that also interact.
Double-suitedness - At least one nut-flush suit, preferably two.
Nut potential - The ability to make the nuts in multiple ways through combo draws.

Bankroll Management

Variance runs much higher than in four-card PLO. Conservative bankroll management is vital for long-term success. The increased variance comes from more players seeing flops with strong draws and the higher frequency of nutted hands by showdown.

Below is a list of recommendations and guidelines for keeping a tight control of your bankroll in 6-PLO:

Keep at least 50 full buy-ins for your main stake (experienced pros often prefer 75-100).
Start at limits roughly 25% lower than your regular PLO stake until you're comfortable with the dynamics.
Prepare mentally for bigger swings in both directions compared to traditional poker variants.

Stake Level (Buy-in Size)	Conservative Bankroll (50 Buy-ins)	Pro-Level Cushion (75–100 Buy-ins)	Notes
$0.50 / $1 ($100 buy-in)	$5,000	$7,500 – $10,000	Good for beginners building comfort at lower variance exposure
$1 / $2 ($200 buy-in)	$10,000	$15,000 – $20,000	Entry-level stake for many players; swings still sharp
$2 / $5 ($500 buy-in)	$25,000	$37,500 – $50,000	Requires solid discipline; bankroll swings can be brutal
$5 / $10 ($1,000 buy-in)	$50,000	$75,000 – $100,000	High volatility—reserved for seasoned players with experience
$10 / $25 ($2,500 buy-in)	$125,000	$187,500 – $250,000	Professional-level roll management; deep cushion needed

Where to Play Six-Card Omaha

Six-Card Omaha isn't as widespread as Texas Hold'em or four-card PLO. Yet, it has found its home on several major platforms and club-based applications.

Online Platforms

Real-money poker options for Six-Card Omaha are still relatively limited but appear more often on select platforms. Availability varies by region and network setup:

Platform Type	Cash-Game Stakes	Special Notes
International Networks	Micro to mid-stakes (e.g., $0.25/$0.50 up to $10/$20)	Some networks experiment with “All-in or Fold” Six-Card Omaha, offering fast push/fold formats.
European-Facing Rooms	€0.05/€0.10 – €2/€4	Certain skins rotate PLO-6 tables seasonally, with regular ring games and occasional tournaments.
Casino Group Poker Skins	€0.10/€0.20 – €1/€2	A handful of casino-branded rooms include Six-Card Omaha in their poker lobbies, though availability can rotate.
Club-Based Apps	Micro to high stakes	Private club platforms (invite-only) frequently spread Six-Card Omaha, sometimes at very high stakes.

Getting Started Playing 6PLO

If you are intrigued and want to try Six-Card PLO, the following steps will help you do so effectively and safely.

Choose your platform: Pick a reputable room and verify PLO-6 availability in your area.
Start small: Begin at the smallest available stakes (typically €0.05/€0.10 or $0.05/$0.10).
Practice first: Test the waters in play-money or micro-stakes games to learn hand-selection ranges.
Track your progress: Use tracking software or hand-review tools to study sessions and find leaks.

Try the Extra Hole-Card Madness of PLO6

Six-Card Omaha represents the next step for Omaha fans. It delivers more action, deeper pots, and a steeper but ultimately rewarding learning curve. The game's rapid growth shows its appeal to players seeking both gambling excitement and strategic depth.

Success in PLO-6 requires disciplined bankroll management, solid poker strategy, and a commitment to studying complex post-flop situations. Master these elements, and you'll position yourself to profit from one of poker's most action-packed and potentially profitable formats.

Cliff Spiller is a casino and sports enthusiast with nineteen-plus years of experience as a writer and editor. He's blogged about US casino and sports betting news for several prominent gaming sites. Along the way, he's written for OddsShark, NJ.com, SportingNews.com, and LegalSportsReport. Cliff is a US editor for ClickOut Media and a writer for Catena Media.