Does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair? : The ultimate guide

Are you a poker player? Do you want to win every game you play but someone better than you always defeats you? If yes, then this guide is for you. Poker is a renowned game that people play around the world. It has numerous variations and players can play whichever variant they want to play. Starters want to begin winning big right from their first game and that is why they frequently ask questions like does 3 of kind beat 2 pair? or does 3 of a kind beat a straight etc? However, for beginners, it is important that they know everything there is regarding this game. Knowing the tricks of this game can greatly help them to play and win.

In this article, we will find out about poker hand rankings and if 3 of a kind can beat 2 pair. So, it is time to get things started.

Poker Hand Rankings

Before getting to know the answer to, does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair, it is necessary that we understand poker hand rankings. In a game of poker, when we are talking about hand rankings, we refer to the various hands a punter can play. For every poker player, knowing about poker hands is extremely crucial. They are important because, on the basis of this, punters determine their gaming strategy which is detrimental for a win. Without an effective game strategy, poker players not only lose the game but also the money that they invest in the game. These hands are greatly critical in some of the popular variants of poker including Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em etc. In these games, players choose from a number of poker hands such as 3 of a kind or 4 of a kind to beat their opponents, or in some games, the dealer who might decide to go with another poker hand such as 2 pair or royal flush to face the opponent.

Starting from the strongest possible poker hand, the Royal Flush tops the list. Getting this flush is very rare. Nevertheless, it can beat any poker hand. It is worth noting that the chances of getting this flush are highly unlikely. It comprises of 5 cards in total, all in the same suit and includes a King, Queen, 10, Ace, and a Jack.  After the Royal Flush, there comes another strong poker hand, the Straight Flush, followed by 4 of a kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, 3 of a kind which can beat many, then 2 Pair, One Pair, and the weakest of all, the High Card. Now that we know about poker hand rankings, it is now time to discuss in detail what is 3 of a kind and 2 pair and does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair or not?

Knowing about poker hand rankings is important as it greatly increases the chances of winning

3 of a kind

Can we say that 3 of a kind can beat 2 pair? If yes, how? Before we answer this, let’s learn a bit more about 3 of a kind. Three of a kind is a poker hand that consists of 5 cards in total. 3 out of these 5 cards are in the same suit. Whereas, the other 2 cards may or may not belong to the same suit. For example  3♦ 3♠ 3♣ Q♠ 7♥. It can be seen that there are cards that are in the same suit. While the remaining two cards are different. Not only the suits are different, but the ranks too. Because of its unique name, this poker hand can be recognized easily.

As soon as a person hears ” 3 of a kind”, they automatically start thinking about a combination of 3 cards of the same unit. As a matter of fact, when we are to find out the number of possible combinations of 3 of a kind poker hand in a standard deck of 52 cards, then do not get shocked because there can be a total of 54,912 unique combinations. Besides, as far as the ranks are concerned, a total of 858 different ranks of three of a kind can be formed. 

2 Pair

2 pair is another kind of poker hand that ranks below three of a kind. It has 5 cards in total. Of these 5 cards, two cards are of similar rank, two similar cards of a different rank, and one other card of another different rank. For example K♥ K♣ 6♣ 6♠ 8♥. The chances of getting a 2 pair are more than the chances of forming 3 of a kind.

Does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair?

A simple answer to the question, does 3 of a kind beat 2 pair? is yes. There are a number of reasons behind that The first and foremost, poker hands ranking. It is worth noting that in terms of poker hands ranking, 2 pair lies below 3 of a kind. It is because to get 3 of a kind is more difficult compared to 2 pair, hence making it stronger. Mathematically speaking, it is a lot difficult to draw out 5 cards randomly from a standard set of 52 cards and form 3 of kind. On the contrary, the chances of forming 2 pair are more.

For better understanding, let’s now find out what’s the percentage of drawing 5 random cards out of a standard 52 card deck and forming a 2 pair and 3 of a kind respectively. For instance, in Texas Hold’em (a famous variant of poker), for a punter to draw out 5 random cards and form 3 of a kind, the chances are 4.8%. On the other hand, there are around 24% chances for a player to draw 5 random cards out of a 52 card deck and form 3 of a kind. Now it is clear that 3 of a kind is a rare poker hand to form and hence stronger than 2 pair, ultimately having the power to beat 2 pair.

Conclusion

Poker is an entertaining game that many people enjoy playing around the world. This game can make players earn big and make them successful. It is significant for punters to know every detail of this information to become a pro. In this article, we discussed how 3 of a kind is stronger than 2 pair and on what basis can it defeat it. With this piece of information, beginners can add to their existing knowledge regarding poker and play with more wisdom for it is important for players to opt for a strategy that is effective enough to make them win, which cannot be possible without having complete knowledge.