Plinko, a new privacy-preserving information retrieval (PIR) protocol, offers a significant advancement in data query efficiency and security. By allowing users to access database information without disclosing the index of the requested item, Plinko reduces communication and computational costs from O(N) to O(√N). This efficiency is achieved through a preprocessing phase that eliminates trust assumptions and a reversible PRF mechanism that bolsters security. The protocol also supports data updates and includes backup prompts to prevent reuse attacks, setting it apart from traditional PIR methods. Compared to alternatives like TreePIR, Plinko shows promise for applications in blockchain, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and large language model (LLM) systems, offering a robust solution for secure and efficient data retrieval.