Four of a kind Poker

Introduction

In poker, four cards of the same rank form a Four of a Kind hand. Along with the four cards of the same rank, you also have one extra card, which is called the kicker. Four of a Kind is one of the strongest, and rarest hands in poker, and so when you have it, you're in a strong position to win the game.

What does a Four of a Kind hand mean?

A Four of a Kind hand is also known as a Quad and is made up of four cards of the same rank along with a kicker. Some instances of a Four of a Kind hand are A♠, A♥, A♣, A♦️, 5♣ and J♣, J♠, J♦️, J♥, 9♥. It is the second-best poker hand you can get in a standard poker game. 

If two players hold a Four of a Kind  hand, then the rank of the cards is compared to find out which player will win. The best Four of a Kind hand is four Aces, and the worst one is four deuces or four 2s. The kicker generally has no part in winning standard poker games. 

However, in non-standard games that involve more than one deck, there is a chance that both players can have a Four of a Kind hand of the same rank. In such cases, the rank of the kicker is compared to decide the winner.

Four of a Kind hands are also more common in games played with wild decks since wildcards can be used as a part of the combination. Since they are so unlikely, they are also much harder to anticipate and can result in big wins in poker games. 

How does a Four of a Kind hand match up against other poker hands?

A Four of a Kind hand is a potent combination in poker, ranking just below a Straight Flush. Here's how it compares to other hands:

• Royal Flush: Combination of 10 to A card in the same suit, ex., 10♣ J♣ Q♣ K♣ A♣ (highest straight flush)
• Straight Flush: Five cards of the same suit in a given sequence, ex., A♣ 2♣ 3♣ 4♣ 5♣
• Four of a Kind: All four cards are of the same rank in different suits, ex., A♣ A♦️ A♥ A♠
• Full House: Three cards of the same rank with a pair, ex., 4♣ 4♠ 4♦️ 8♣ 8♥
• Flush: Any 5 cards of the same suit, but none in a sequence, ex., K♣ 10♣ 7♣ 6♣ 4♣
• Straight: 5 cards not in the same suit, but in a sequence, ex., 7♣ 6♠ 5♠ 4♥ 3♥
• Three of a Kind: Three cards of the same rank, ex., 4♣ 4♠ 4♦️
• Two Pair: Two different pairs, not necessarily of the same sequence, ex., 5♠ 5♣ 3♥ 3♣
• One Pair: Two cards of the same rank, ex., 5♠ 5♣ 
• High Card: When you have none of the above hands, then it is a high card. You can only play the highest-ranking card on its own.

What is the probability of a Four of a Kind poker hand?

There are 52 cards in a standard deck of cards. Thus, there are 624 probabilities of getting Four of a Kind in a poker game with 156 distinct hands. Due to the nature of the combination, the probability is very low. The overall probability of a Four of a Kind hand in a 5-card poker variant like Omaha is 0.02401% with odds of appearing being 4165:1.

In 7-card poker variants like Texas Holdem, the probability of Four of a Kind poker hand is slightly higher since the player uses the best 5-card combination from 7 cards. Here, the probability of Four of a Kind is 0.168% with 594:1 odds of appearing.

4-of-a-kind poker probabilities

• Pre-flop Probability - 0.02%
• Flop Probability - 0.25%

The probability of getting a Four of a Kind hand pre-flop is 0.02% when 5 random cards are drawn from a standard 52-card deck. On the flop, if you already have a pair, the probability increases to 0.25%. However, probabilities for the turn and river cannot be determined without specific information about the player's hole cards and community cards.

Odds of Four of a Kind

Understanding the odds of achieving Four of a Kind is crucial for strategic decision-making. Implied odds play a significant role in assessing the potential extra winnings from such a strong hand.

Let's take an example:

You're playing Texas Hold'em, and you hold pocket fours (4♠️ 4♣️). The flop comes 4♦️ 7♠️ K♦️. You now have Three of a Kind (trip fours) with a strong chance of hitting Four of a Kind if another 4 appears on the turn or river.

Here's how implied odds come into play:

• Assess the Current Pot: Let's say there's $100 in the pot.
• Consider Future Opponent Bets: If you believe your opponent will continue betting, you must evaluate the potential extra winnings if you hit your four-of-a-kind.
• Calculate Implied Odds: If you estimate that your opponent will bet an additional $50 on the turn and $100 on the river, the total potential extra winnings would be $150.
• Compare with the Cost to Call: If the cost to call is less than the potential extra winnings, it may be profitable to continue playing despite the current pot odds.

In this scenario, the implied odds of hitting a four-of-a-kind justify continuing with your hand, considering the potential extra winnings compared to the current cost to call.

Four of a Kind vs. Four of a Kind

When two or more players have Four of a Kind hands in a poker game, the winner is determined by the rank of their Four of a Kind combination and, if necessary, the rank of the kicker card. 

Here's an example:

• Player 1 holds 8♠️ 8♣️ 8♦️ 8♥️ and Player 2 holds 9♠️ 9♣️ 9♦️ 9♥️, both forming Four of a Kind combinations. In this case, Player 2's four nines (9♠️ 9♣️ 9♦️ 9♥️) outrank Player 1's four eights (8♠️ 8♣️ 8♦️ 8♥️).
• If multiple players have the same Four of a Kind rank, the kicker cards are compared to determine the winner. However, in this scenario, both players have the same rank of Four of a Kind, so there's no need to evaluate the kicker.

Is it possible to win money while playing poker?

Yes. Poker is one of the most versatile card games among other online and offline card games. With poker, you have a chance of winning, no matter what cards you have. Therefore, it is a very popular game among professional gamers.

There are many safe and reliable online poker platforms like Adda52.com where you can play poker and win money. Such platforms also provide offers such as freeroll tournaments, play tickets, etc., that are not available in offline play. This is why many players prefer online poker to offline poker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Four of a Kind hand?

The best Four of a Kind hand is four Aces (A♠️ A♥️ A♦️ A♣️). It holds the highest value among all four-of-a-kind hands, beating any other four-of-a-kind combination.

Who takes the pot if both the players have Four of a Kind?

If both players have Four of a Kind, the player with the highest-ranking Four of a Kind hand wins the pot.

How many Four of a Kind hands are possible?

There are 624 possible four-of-a-kind hands in a deck of 52 cards, as each rank can form 4 combinations, resulting in 13 ranks multiplied by 48 remaining cards.

Which hand can beat Four of a Kind?

A four-of-a-kind hand can be beaten by a straight flush or a royal flush, which are stronger hand combinations in poker.

What are the odds of making four of a kind?

The odds of forming a Four of a Kind hand in poker vary depending on the stage of the game. Pre-flop, the probability is 0.02%, and post-flop, it's around 0.25%.

Conclusion

Four of a Kind is a formidable hand in poker, ranking just below a Straight Flush. It's rare but immensely powerful, often leading to significant wins. Understanding its strategic implications, along with implied odds, enhances decision-making in gameplay.