Starting hand ranges in PLO are constructed by prioritizing hands with strong connectivity, suitedness, and high card strength. Hands that can make the nut flush or strong straights are favored, while disconnected or weakly coordinated hands are avoided. The process also considers position, as hands that play well in late position may not be profitable from early position. Players focus on maximizing post-flop playability by selecting hands that can make the best possible hands while minimizing vulnerability to domination.