888poker's PLO Weekend starts today, and the headline offer is a big one: 100% rakeback on PLO5 and PLO6 cash games from November 13-15, 2026. According to PokerNews, the promotion also adds new PLO5 and PLO6 tournaments alongside 888's existing PLO4 schedule, plus dedicated PLO4, PLO5 and PLO6 freerolls.
Full rakeback, even for a weekend, is rare. For Omaha players, it effectively means playing PLO5 and PLO6 cash games rake-free for three days. Here's how it works and how to make the most of it.
PLO Weekend: The Key Details
- Dates: November 13-15, 2026
- Rakeback: 100% on PLO5 and PLO6 cash games
- Minimum to qualify: $1 in rake
- Payment: Cash, within 72 hours after the promotion ends
- Tournaments: New PLO5 and PLO6 events added to the existing PLO4 tournaments
- Freerolls: Dedicated PLO4, PLO5 and PLO6 freerolls
- Tables: PokerNews mentions dedicated tables for the promotion
One clarification: the PokerNews headline refers to "100% rakeback," but the promotion details limit it to PLO5 and PLO6 cash games. The article doesn't mention full rakeback on standard four-card PLO cash games, so don't assume PLO4 qualifies. PokerNews also doesn't list caps or extra conditions beyond the $1 minimum and the 72-hour payout window, but always check the promotion terms in the 888 client before playing.
Why 100% Rakeback Is a Big Deal
Rake is the single biggest cost for a winning cash game player, and Omaha is especially expensive. Pots in pot-limit Omaha are usually bigger and more multiway than in hold'em, which means rake is collected more often and more often hits the cap.
Returning 100% of rake turns the economics upside down for a weekend:
- Break-even players become winners. If you normally win about as much as you pay in rake, a rake-free weekend means everything you win at the table stays in your pocket.
- Small winners win more. Your effective win rate goes up by exactly the amount of rake you'd normally pay.
- Losing players lose less. Even if you lose at the tables, getting your rake back reduces the damage.
If you're unfamiliar with how rakeback works in general, our guide on what rakeback is explains the basics, and our rakeback deals page compares ongoing programs at the sites we review.
Why 888 Is Pushing Big-Bet Omaha Variants
The promotion is aimed at 888's newer Omaha variants. According to PokerNews, 888 offers PLO in four-, five- and six-card versions. PLO4 is the established game. PLO5 and PLO6 are newer, faster-growing formats that many recreational players find more fun because everyone sees more big hands.
A rakeback promotion is a classic way to build liquidity in a newer game. Players try the format because the cost is zero, tables fill up, and the operator hopes some of that traffic sticks once the promotion ends. Adding PLO5 and PLO6 tournaments alongside the cash promotion points the same way.
It also fits 888's recent product moves. In April 2026, 888 introduced Run It Twice across all its markets, a feature especially popular in high-variance big-bet games like Omaha. And in October 2026, 888 became the first operator to launch regulated online poker in Alberta, as we covered in our report on 888poker's Alberta launch.
PLO5 and PLO6: How They Differ From PLO4
If you're mostly a four-card Omaha player, here's what changes when you add cards.
More Cards, Stronger Average Hands
With five or six hole cards, every player has many more two-card combinations to use. Remember that in all Omaha games, you must use exactly two hole cards and three board cards.
- PLO4: 6 two-card combinations per hand
- PLO5: 10 combinations
- PLO6: 15 combinations
More combinations means stronger average hands at showdown. Straights, flushes and full houses are much more common, and a hand that's strong in PLO4, like a single pair or a non-nut flush, loses value fast in PLO6.
Equities Run Closer
Pre-flop, PLO5 and PLO6 hands are closer in equity than four-card hands. It's very common for one hand to be only a slight favorite all-in pre-flop. That means more variance and more reliance on post-flop skill. You can test this yourself with our poker odds calculator.
Draws Are Huge
With so many cards, players often hold massive wrap straight draws plus flush draws. It's common to be behind on the flop yet be the equity favorite. Understanding your equity in these spots is essential.
Strategy Tips for a Rake-Free PLO Weekend
- Play the nuts, and draw to the nuts. In PLO5 and PLO6, second-best hands get paid off less often and lose big pots. Prioritize nut flush draws and the top end of straights.
- Don't overvalue pairs. Big pairs like aces drop in value as cards are added. Coordinated, connected hands with suited aces play better.
- Respect multiway pots. Bigger hands are needed to win multiway. Tighten your calling ranges when three or more players see the flop.
- Volume matters this weekend. With 100% rakeback, every hand you play costs nothing in rake. If you're a winning player, this is the weekend to add tables or extend sessions.
- Manage variance. PLO5 and PLO6 swings are big. Stay within your normal stakes, even with free rake. Our bankroll management guide recommends deeper bankrolls for Omaha than hold'em.
For a full introduction to the game, see our Omaha guide, and if you're coming from hold'em, our hold'em vs Omaha comparison explains the main adjustments.
What This Means for Players
For Omaha fans on 888poker, this weekend is close to free money for winning players and cheap practice for everyone else. Track your rake carefully so you can check that the rakeback lands within 72 hours of the promotion closing.
If you're curious about PLO5 or PLO6 but haven't tried them, this is the cheapest time to learn. Use the freerolls to get a feel for the game with no risk, then try the cash tables at your normal stakes. The key adjustment is simple: hands that look strong in four-card Omaha are often marginal with five or six cards.
For players who can't access 888, several of the sites we review also spread Omaha. Our Omaha guide and cash games page are good places to compare options.