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- How to make a hand in poker
- General information about poker pairs
- Pair rankings in poker
- Details of making two pairs in poker
- Probabilities of making a pair in poker
- Frequently asked questions about poker pairs
- What is a pocket pair in poker?
- Which two pairs are stronger in poker?
- What’s bigger, a set or two pairs in poker?
What are we talking about here? Pairs in poker are the basic combinations that can win you the pot. These are two cards of the same rank, for example, two kings, two queens, two deuces. Two pair is the next strongest combination.
What to consider? The strongest possible pair is a pair of aces. If two players both have pairs of the same value, then the kicker decides the winner. Since the pair is one of the most commonly made combination, a newbie should learn how to play it.
How to make a hand in poker
There are several types of poker. The game types differ from each other by some rules on making hands. This makes playing poker more interesting.
Next, we will consider the features of making combinations in all types of the game.
- Texas Hold’em. It is one of the most popular types of poker. Players receive two hole cards, and five more cards appear on the table during the hand. The latter are considered common to all participants in the hand. Each player is trying to make the best combo of 2 hole cards and 5 common cards. A player can win without even using his hole cards.
- Omaha. Another popular type of poker resembles Texas Hold’em in its rules. The difference is that you get 4 hole cards instead of 2. Moreover, you make the hand using only 2 of those 4 hole cards and 3 of 5 common cards. This makes the dynamic of the game quite high and the probability of making a strong hand is also higher.
- Seven-Card Stud. In this rather old version of poker, players are dealt seven cards. The first two are closed and only the player can see them, the next four are open on the table for everyone to see, and the last one is again closed. The player has to make 5-card hand out of those 7. The rules of making a hand are different from those in Hold’em and Omaha. This makes Stud a game, which newbies might be interested in.
General information about poker pairs
The simplest and most frequently used combination is a pair. This is what you make the most. However, despite pair being the weakest made hand, it often is enough to take down the pot. At the same time, the risk of losing is often minimal.
If you know the ranges and the probability of making a pair in certain spots, you can often identify that your single pair is the strongest combo in the hand. I mean, at least you can assess the possibility of making a stronger hand for your opponents. Given the minimal risk of losing with a pocket pair, it is worth studying this combination in more detail.
A pair of aces in poker is the highest value pair. However, two pairs is a stronger combo, for example, twos and fives. They can be of any other value. The combination is also called “doper”.
If players have pairs of the same value, then the winner is the one with the stronger side-card (kicker). Kicker also determines the winner for some other hands as well, when the combos are identical. For example, when two players have the same two pair combos, the fifth card will be the decider (could be a common one, in which case players split, or a hole one).
We should note specifically that there is no “3 pairs” combination in poker. If you have three pairs, effectively you have two best pairs of those three. The maximum number of cards in poker combinations does not exceed five, so it is impossible to collect three pairs even theoretically.
Pair rankings in poker
For every combination in poker, the higher the rank of your combo (or kicker) the stronger it is. And for two pairs it works the same way. Not hard to determine whose doper is stronger. When comparing two pairs, the determining pair is the higher one.
So Kings and Sevens beat Queens and Jacks. If higher pairs are equal, then the lower pair determines the winner. Finally, if both pairs are equal, then it comes down to kicker.
Obviously, the highest pair in poker is two Aces. Therefore, it is one of the most promising poker combinations, which can get even stronger on the following streets.
When you make a pair, you can also use 3 other cards at showdown. This is helpful when two or more players make hands of same value (for example, each has two nines). In this case, the winner is the one with the strongest kicker.
Example. At showdown, the opponents each had two Kings. When two players have pairs of the same value, we need to go over the other 3 cards. Let’s say the opponents’ next cards are two Aces. The comparison continues, and it turns out that one has a Jack, and the second has a Queen. The holder of the highest value kicker takes the pot. In this case, it is the guy with a Queen.
Players should taking into account the principle of determining the best hand when making strategy. This is necessary primarily for the correct assessment of hole cards with the expected possibility of strengthening them. For example, when choosing starting hands to enter the game, a poker player must take into account the value of both cards, and not just one. The second one in this case can become a kicker, which will determine the outcome of the entire game and ensure a win. Particular attention should be paid to the proximity, for example, of an Ace with any card from Jack and higher. This hand gives very good prospects for winning.
Here are other situations where the kicker is crucial:
- If no player has a winning hand at showdown, the highest hole card determines the winner. For example, two opponents reached the showdown. One of them has a Ten and a Seven in his hands, and the other has a Ten and a Six. At this moment there are Four, Three, Jack, Queen and King on the table. No one has a made hand, so it’s about the kicker. One player has a hand of KQJT6 the other one has KQJT7. So the second one wins.
- Two players make a two pairs of Nines and Sevens. Two Sevens are on the board as common cards, one player has K9 and other one has Q8. Again, in this case the guy with higher kicker wins.
So, kickers play a decisive role in case of equal combinations, as well as in the absence of any combinations whatsoever, when it is necessary to choose the winner of the hand.
Details of making two pairs in poker
The next strongest combination after a pair is two pair (doper). Of course, it also beats no pair hands.
To make a doper, you have to make two pairs of different ranks. The combination occurs quite often and requires our attention. This is especially important for beginners to know.
There are several ways to make a combination of two pairs in poker. The way you make it gives more or less information about your hand to your opponents.
- Each pair is a combination of one hole card and one common card. For example, the player has AJ in his hands, and A J 4 9 3 appears on the board.
- One pair is a combination of hole and common cards, one is out there on the board. For example, the player’s hand is TT, and the board is 4 4 8 A 2.
- Both pairs are on the board. For example, a player has any two cards and the board is 6 6 9 9 Q.
- One pair is on the board, one is a pocket pair.
The most problematic for our opponents is the first option. However, the probability of making a combination in this way remains quite low. This increases the chance of strengthening two pairs, for example, to a full house, if suitable cards appear on the table. Thus, this combination offers good prospects for gaining an advantage over your opponents.
The least valuable are two pairs made entirely from common cards. Here the main hope remains on a strong kicker and the absence of a full house from other players.
Probabilities of making a pair in poker
The probability of any combination in poker is calculated already. It makes sense to look at the most useful statistics that apply to a pair.
- Number of options for a pair with 5 cards, taking suits into account: 1,098,240.
- Number of five-card hand options for each pair: 2860.
- The total number of variations of a pocket pair, suits not considered: 13.
- Probability of getting a combination of unpaired starting hand on the flop: 32.4 %.
- Number of options in seven-card poker: 100 in 128 hands.
- Number of options in five-card poker: 100 in 136 hands.
- Probability of beating a player with a higher value unpaired starting hand (all-in): 55 %.
- Probability of winning against a player with an unpaired starting hand, where one of the cards has a lower value (playing all-in): 69 %.
So, in poker you make pair more often than any other combos. It is important for beginning poker players to learn how to play this combination. Here it is necessary to take into account the value of the cards and the betting round (street) on which the pair was made.
Frequently asked questions about poker pairs
What is a pocket pair in poker?
A pocket is a pair is a pair that player make with only hole cards. This starting hand is the strongest because you already have a made hand and it is not hard to improve.
Which two pairs are stronger in poker?
The next strongest hand after pair is the two pair (or doper) hand. But if we take into account the kicker, then it moves to third place according to this criterion. Two pairs is just two pairs of different rank. Examples: AA and QC, 88 and 55.
Two strong pairs in poker (especially in Texas Hold’em) is the reason to put money into the pot. This hand can also improve to a full house.
What’s bigger, a set or two pairs in poker?
The combination of two pairs can include a fifth card to make a 5-card hand (kicker). It helps to resolve the outcome of controversial situations. According to the generally accepted ranking of poker hands, two pairs are stronger than one pair, but weaker than a set.
Any poker game requires players to have patience and practical, constantly developing skills. Poker players must have strategic thinking and be able to predict which pair is higher and whether it is truly a winning hand.
