Poker is a game that requires skill, strategy, and understanding of hand rankings. In this article, we will delve into the world of poker hand rankings, specifically exploring the differences between three of a kind and two pair hands.
The Importance of Hand Rankings
Before diving into the differences between these two hands, it's essential to understand how poker hand rankings work. The value of each hand is determined by how likely you are to receive it in any poker variant. The more common the hand, the less value it has.
Poker Hand Ranking List: From Weakest to Strongest
Here's a ranking list of different hands in a game of poker and your odds of landing them, ordered from weakest to strongest:
- Pair: +136
- Two pair: +2,003
- Three of a kind: +4,632
- Straight: +25,380
- Flush: +50,880
- Full house: +69,316
- Four of a kind: +416,400
- Straight flush: +7,219,233
- Royal flush: +64,973,900
Does Three of a Kind Beat Two Pair?
The above list shows that three of a kind beats two pair. The main reason is that it's mathematically more difficult to make three of a kind than it is to make two pair. While two pair requires more cards to make a winning combination, it's actually just more than twice as hard to get three of the same value card in a hand.
The Math Behind Drawing Two Pairs
A standard 52-card deck of playing cards will give you 858 distinct ways to make two pair. And, when you consider the four suits in different combinations, you can draw a single two-pair hand (like two pair of 10s and 6s) in 144 different ways. So, if you multiply the 858 distinct poker hands by the 144 different ways to make up a single two-pair hand, you get 123,552 possible ways to make two pair.
The Math Behind Drawing Three of a Kind
There are also 858 distinct ways to make three of a kind when playing with a standard deck of cards. However, there are only 64 possible ways to make a specific three of a kind hand (like a QQQ68 combination). So, when you multiply the possible suit combinations by the number of distinct three of a kind hands that are possible, you get 54,912 possible ways to make this hand.
Ultimately, it's still harder to make three of a kind than two pair, which is why it's considered a stronger hand. Understanding the odds and math behind these hands can help elevate your poker game. If you're ready to put your improved poker knowledge and skills to the test, head over to BetMGM and join in on all the online poker action!