Updated on 22 Feb 26 by
Barry Carter
Poker Expert

Fusion returns to PokerStars

It's the first experimental format to come back to PokerStars after being removed, and Six Card PLO could be next.





Fusion
PokerStars Fusion

The last couple of years have seen a variety of novelty formats come and go at PokerStars. It has been a company policy to test new variants of poker for a limited time then, with the exception of 6+ Hold'em, remove them. 

You may have noticed this week the first of those limited time formats come back. PokerStars Fusion was introduced in late 2018 then removed in early 2019. Today it is back in the PokerStars client. 

It is a Pot Limit hybrid of Hold'em and Omaha. Players are dealt two hole cards preflop, then the players who are still in the hand will be dealt a third hole card on the flop, then on the turn they get a fourth hole card, completing the transition from Pot Limit Hold'em to Pot Limit Omaha. As in PLO, you have to make a five card poker hand using exactly two hole cards and three board cards.

It is not known whether this is because Fusion performed well during its 64 day run or if this is just the next phase of the PokerStars experimental formats, and all of them will get a second outing at some point. 

If you enjoyed Fusion the first time it came out you may like what appears to be around the corner for PokerStars. pokerfuse (who are always right about this) have suggested that Six Card PLO will be the next new format to hit the PokerStars lobby. They also think it will be a permanent addition, alongside Five Card PLO and Courchevel. Six Card PLO has never been available at PokerStars but it was at Full Tilt, prior to being acquired by PokerStars.  

Are you happy to see Fusion return? Let us know in the comments:


Poker Expert

Barry Carter is the editor of PokerStrategy.com and the co-author of The Mental Game of Poker 1 & 2, Poker Satellite Strategy, PKO Poker Strategy, Endgame Poker Strategy, GTO Poker Simplified, Mystery Bounty Poker Strategy and Beyond GTO. In 2025, he won the Global Poker Awards for Best Book and Twitter Personality of the Year.