Pair

A 'Pair' in poker refers to a hand that contains two cards of the same rank.

What is a Pair in Poker?

In poker, a 'Pair' is a hand that contains two cards of the same rank. For example, if you have two 8s, you have a pair of 8s. Pairs are the second lowest hand in poker, ranking above high card and below two pair.

Understanding a Pair

A pair can be a strong hand, but it can also be beaten by any hand that contains two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, or a royal flush. The value of a pair is primarily determined by the rank of the pair, with a pair of Aces being the highest and a pair of twos being the lowest.

Playing a Pair

How a player should play a pair depends on a variety of factors, including their position, the action in front of them, the strength of their pair, and the texture of the board.

Example of a "Pair"

For instance, if a player is dealt an Ace and another Ace in Texas Hold'em poker, they have a pair of Aces.

• "He was dealt a pair of Kings, a strong starting hand in Texas Hold'em."
• "She made a pair of Queens on the flop, giving her the lead in the hand."
• "Despite only having a pair of twos, he decided to bet to try to bluff his opponent."

Pair in Poker FAQs