In poker, “One Pair” is a five-card hand consisting of two cards of the same rank, along with three other unmatched cards (known as kickers). It is one of the most common winning hands and is ranked above a High Card but below Two Pair. The strength of a one-pair hand is determined first by the rank of the pair itself (e.g., a pair of Aces is stronger than a pair of Kings), and then by the rank of the highest kicker if multiple players have the same pair.
Example
Imagine you are playing Texas Hold’em and your hole cards are A♠ K♦. The community board cards are dealt as A♥ 7♣ 2♦ 9♠ 5♣. Your best five-card hand would be A♠ A♥ K♦ 9♠ 7♣, giving you a “Pair of Aces” with King, Nine, and Seven as your kickers. Another scenario could be having pocket Jacks (J♣ J♠) as your hole cards. Even if no other Jacks appear on the board, you still have a “Pair of Jacks”.
Strategy Tip
One Pair is a fundamental hand in poker, and its strategic value varies greatly depending on its rank and the board texture. A “top pair” (a pair using the highest card on the board) with a strong kicker (e.g., A-K on an A-X-X board) is often a strong hand to bet for value, especially against opponents likely to call with weaker pairs or draws. However, smaller pairs, or even top pair with a weak kicker, can be vulnerable on boards with many straight or flush possibilities (a “wet board”). Always consider your position, the betting action, and your opponent’s tendencies. While a strong pair can warrant significant betting, a weak pair might be best played cautiously, especially out of position or facing heavy aggression.
FAQ
- Q1: What is a “kicker” and why is it important when you have one pair?
- A: A kicker is the highest unmatched card in your five-card hand that is not part of your pair. Kickers are crucial for breaking ties when two or more players have the exact same pair. For example, if two players both have a pair of Kings, the player with the higher kicker (e.g., K-K-A vs. K-K-Q) will win the pot.
- Q2: Is a “pocket pair” always better than a pair made with community cards?
- A: Not necessarily. A pocket pair (two matching cards dealt as your hole cards, like 8-8) gives you a pair immediately, which is a strong starting hand. However, if the community cards bring a higher pair (e.g., the board shows A-A-7-2-J and you have 8-8), your pocket pair is now a lower pair than the pair of Aces on the board. The strength of any pair depends on its rank relative to other cards on the board and in opponents’ hands.
- Q3: How does one pair rank against other poker hands?
- A: In standard poker hand rankings, One Pair is the second-lowest ranked hand, only beating a High Card. It is beaten by all other hands, including Two Pair, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.