One Pair Poker

Introduction

A Pair is the second lowest-ranking in poker hand. In a five-card hand, a One Pair comprises of two cards of the same ranking, as well as three other unpaired cards.

This blog will help you understand One Pair Poker, its ranking, and what strategies you can make use of for a One Pair hand in poker. 

What is One Pair in Poker?

When you have a One Pair, it means you have two cards of the same rank, like two Jacks or two 7s.

Holding a Pair is better than having just one High Card, but it's not as strong as having a Two Pair pairs or Three of a Kind. It's the 8th best hand in poker, so there are seven hands stronger than one pair. 

How does One Pair rank?

One Pair in poker refers to having two cards of the same rank, accompanied by three other cards of different ranks. This hand ranks just above High Card but below Two Pair in the hierarchy of poker hands. 

Essentially, it means you have a pair of matching cards, such as two Jacks or two Sevens, among your five cards. While One Pair isn't the strongest hand, it's still valuable during gameplay as it can often win against a High Card or lower-ranking hands. 

However, it's essential to note that there are stronger combinations like Two Pair, Three of a Kind, and so on, which can beat One Pair in a game of poker. Therefore, while having a pair is a decent hand, players aim for stronger combinations to increase their chances of winning. 

In each round, there are higher chances for any player to make a one-pair Poker hand. After the high card, one pair is the least winning hand in Poker. That’s why the probability of getting a one-pair hand is much higher than the other hand rankings in Poker.

Poker professionals always suggest, trying to make one pair of high-rank cards. This can be more understandable by an example- 

Example:- Suppose in the game, the first player gets: a King of Spades, A King of Diamonds, a 9 of Hearts, a Jack of Clubs, and a 6 of Hearts. The second player gets an Ace of Clubs, an Ace of Hearts, a Queen of Clubs, a 7 of Spades, and a 4 of Diamonds. 

So here, the second player, who holds two aces, will be declared the winner. As the rank of his card is higher than the first one. 

What are the strategies for One Pair in poker?

• Protect your Pair: If you have a Pair, especially a strong one like Aces, protect it by betting or raising. This can scare off opponents with weaker hands and increase your chances of winning.
• Watch your position: Your position at the table matters. If you're in an early position, consider being more cautious with your one pair. In later positions, you can be more aggressive.
• Observe opponents: Pay attention to your opponents' behaviour. If they seem hesitant or passive, it might indicate they have a weaker hand. In such cases, you can bet confidently with your one pair.
• Be mindful of board cards: Keep an eye on the community cards. If the board shows potential for stronger hands like Straights or Flushes, proceed with caution and consider folding if necessary.
• Stay calm: Don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Even with just one Pair, stay calm and make rational decisions based on the situation at hand.

What beats One Pair in poker?

• Two Pairs: Imagine you have two pairs of matching cards, like two Jacks and two Sevens. That's stronger than just one pair.
• Three of a Kind: Three of a kind is having three cards of the same rank, like three Queens. That beats having just one pair.
• Straight: This is when you have five cards in a row, like 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, all of different suits. It's stronger than having one pair.
• Flush: If you have five cards of the same suit, like all hearts or all spades, that's called a flush and beats one pair.
• Full House: This is when you have three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, like three Kings and two Aces. It's even stronger than having two pairs.
• Four of a Kind: Imagine having four cards of the same rank, like four 9s. That's stronger than having just one pair.
• Straight Flush: This is when you have five cards in a row, all of the same suit, like 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of hearts. It's very rare and beats almost everything, including one pair.
• Royal Flush: This is the strongest poker hand. It's like a straight flush, but it's the highest possible cards: 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, all of the same suit. Nothing beats a royal flush!

What are the probabilities of One Pair?

The probabilities of getting One Pair in a 5-card poker hand vary depending on the stage of the game. Here are the probabilities at different stages:

• Pre-flop: 42.2569% (when 5 random cards are drawn from the 52-card deck).
• Flop: 28.6% (from your pocket cards).
• Turn: 12.77% (after the first three community cards are revealed).

What happens when two players have a Pair?

Imagine you and your friend are playing a game of poker. Both of you show your cards, and you both have a Pair, which means you each have two cards of the same number, like two Kings or two 7s.

Sometimes, both players have the same pair, like both of you having two 5s. So, who wins then? This is where the kicker comes into play.

The kicker is a deciding card. If both players have the same pair, the one with the highest kicker card wins. For example, if you both have two 7s, but your kicker card is a Queen and your friend's kicker is a 10, then you win because a Queen is higher than a 10.

So, even if you and your friend have the same pair, the one with the better kicker card wins the game.

Poker on Adda52

Now that you understand what a Pair is in poker, it's time to test your knowledge by playing on a Poker app. Platforms like Adda52 offer numerous cash games where you can compete for real money prizes. Additionally, the Adda52 Poker app provides a diverse range of poker variants and enticing offers to keep you immersed in the game. 

Among these options, Texas Hold'em Poker stands out as the most popular variant, drawing in numerous players due to its unique set of rules and exciting gameplay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Pair a strong hand in Poker?

One pair holds the ninth rank in Poker hand rankings. Hence it can only beat the High Card, which ranks below it.

What beats one Pair?

In poker, a Pair is beaten by higher hands like Two Pairs, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, and Royal Flush.

Which One Pair is strongest?

The strongest One Pair in poker is a pair of Aces.

Conclusion

Now you know all about one pair in poker! It's like having a pair of matching socks but with cards instead. Having one pair is good, but there are even stronger hands like two pairs and three of a kind. 

Remember, if you and a friend both have one pair, the one with the higher kicker card wins. So, practice your poker skills and have fun playing on apps like Adda52. Just like in any game, staying calm and making smart decisions is key, so keep learning and improving your game!