Poker is one of the most exciting casino games out there, and it is filled with various rules that you need to master. But once you have overcome the complicated nature of online poker, you will be able to play a poker game freely and lay down some great hands.
With poker games, some winning poker hands will be more valuable than others where five cards have been laid down. One poker hand that is worth familiarising yourself with, is three of a kind. In this in-depth guide, we will explain what a three of a kind is before delving into hand rankings and strategies. At the end, we will answer some FAQs.
WHAT IS A THREE OF A KIND IN POKER?
A three of a kind is when you have three cards of the same rank or denomination, for example, two cards containing 7s, as well as a further 7 on the table. However, unlike other five cards, these hands can also be formed with different suits.
In most forms of poker, gaining a three of a kind is quite easy unlike other high card hands. It is also ranked higher in terms of poker hands than a two pair in texas holdem.
HOW DOES THE THREE OF A KIND HAND RANK?
So, how strong a hand is a three of a kind? Our full poker hand rankings will put you in the picture about the three of a kind rank and what this kind beats when holding five community cards.
- Royal flush (consisting of five consecutive cards)
- Straight flush (also known as broadway straight)
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight (including seven high straight)
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- A pair
- High card
HIGHEST THREE OF A KIND COMBINATIONS IN POKER
So, getting a three of a kind is easier to pick up than other hands of different ranks. Below, we have listed some of the best combinations, including the highest card and we have outlined some of the stronger hands on the board.
- Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, Queen of Spades, Ace of Spades, Jack of Spades
- King of Hearts, King of Clubs, King of Spades, Ace of Hearts, Jack of Spades
- 10 of Diamonds, 10 of Hearts, 10 of Spades, 3 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds
HOW TO GET A THREE OF A KIND IN POKER?
To confuse matters slightly further, you can turn a pair of community cards into a three of a kind, which can also be referred to as a ‘set’ or ‘trips’. Despite that, if you want to land three of a kind more often, then the following tips should be helpful for high low split poker style games:
- Begin with a pocket pair – This is the most comfortable way of playing trips. You can then make your ‘set’ on the flop with cards of the same suit. You should feel confident betting with such hands and winning more of what is in the pot.
- Play aggressively – If you have a stronger ‘set’, then it is unlikely you will get beaten or be outdone by your opponent. By playing aggressively with your four cards, you can win back more of what is in the pot.
- Master the bluff – Poker is an art as much as it is a science and if you can bluff your opponent, then this could bode well for you in the long term. It will also give you more confidence of landing a five card poker hand when visiting the local casino.
- Keep an eye out for promos – Some online casinos will run specific offers for poker where you can collect a bonus code, so keep checking a site for news and updates.
THREE OF A KIND POKER PROBABILITY
We have curated a table which shows the probabilities of pulling off a three of a kind playing Hold’em and Omaha with two pairs and cards made up of four suits.
TEXAS HOLD’EM PROBABILITIES AND TEXAS HOLD’EM STAGES FOR THREE OF A KIND
- Pre-flop – 2.1128% (based on 5 cards randomly drawn from a 52-card deck)
- Flop – 11.8% (when holding a pocket pair)
- Turn – 4.26% (when holding a pocket pair)
- River – 4.35% (when holding a pocket pair)
OMAHA PROBABILITIES AND STAGES FOR THREE OF A KIND
- Pre-flop – 2.1128% (based on 5 cards randomly drawn from a 52-card deck)
- Flop – 12.59% (when holding a pocket pair on the same hand)
- Turn – 4.44% (when holding a pocket pair)
- River – 4.55% (when holding a pocket pair of the same suit)
⭐ WHAT BEATS A THREE OF THE KIND IN POKER?
The three of a kind is easy to get as a poker hand. But this five card hand is trumped in the poker hand rankings by the straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush.
⭐ DO TWO PAIR BEAT THREE OF A KIND IN POKER?
No, a three of a kind of the same rank is a stronger hand than a two pair.
⭐ DOES A FLUSH BEAT THREE OF A KIND IN POKER?
Our poker hand rankings show that a flush is better than a three of a kind.
⭐ DOES A STRAIGHT BEAT THREE OF A KIND IN POKER?
Yes, it will beat a three of a kind in the poker hand rankings.
⭐ IS THREE OF A KIND GOOD IN POKER?
Yes, a three of a kind is a good hand, however, our poker hand rankings show there are other stronger combinations to make with hole cards.