Two Pair is a five-card poker hand consisting of two cards of one matching rank, two cards of another matching rank, and one unrelated card (known as a kicker). For instance, a hand like King-King-Queen-Queen-7 (KKQQ7) or Jack-Jack-Ten-Ten-Ace (JJTTA) would be considered Two Pair. The rank of the hand is determined first by the higher pair, then by the lower pair, and finally by the kicker if both pairs are identical between competing hands.
Example
Imagine you are playing Texas Hold’em and your hole cards are A♣ K♦. The community board cards are A♠ K♥ 7♣ 2♦ 9♥. Your best five-card hand would be A♣ A♠ K♦ K♥ 9♥, which is Two Pair (Aces and Kings) with a 9 kicker.
Strategy Tip
Two Pair is generally a strong hand, especially if you have made it with high cards (e.g., Aces and Kings). On a “dry” board (one that doesn’t offer many straight or flush possibilities), Two Pair can often be a value betting hand, meaning you should bet to get chips from weaker hands. However, on “wet” or coordinated boards, it can be vulnerable to straights, flushes, or higher Two Pair hands. Always consider the board texture and your opponents’ likely holdings before committing a large portion of your stack with Two Pair. The kicker is crucial when comparing Two Pair hands of the same rank, so be mindful of its strength.
FAQ
- Q1: How does Two Pair rank against other poker hands?
- A1: Two Pair ranks above One Pair and High Card, but below Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, and Straight Flush. It’s a moderately strong hand in most poker variants.
- Q2: What happens if two players both have Two Pair?
- A2: The player with the highest-ranking pair wins. If both players have the same highest pair, the player with the higher second pair wins. If both players have the same two pairs, the player with the higher kicker card wins the pot.
- Q3: Is Two Pair always a strong hand?
- A3: While generally strong, the power of Two Pair is relative. On a board with many straight or flush possibilities, it can be easily beaten. For example, Two Pair (Aces and Deuces) on a board with three cards of the same suit or four cards to a straight would be much less valuable than the same hand on a very disconnected board.