The One Pair Hand in Poker

One Pair enters the list of poker hand rankings in eighth place. It is made up just two cards of equal denomination – such as J-J or 10-10.

The word “One Pair” should have you thinking straight away about a single pair in the same denomination or rank. Simply put, it's one pair of equally ranked cards.

For example, if you hold 10♥10♣, then you would have One Pair of Tens. However, there are other types of One Pair.

Say you hold K♥Q♠ and the flop is K♣J♦3♥, you would also have One Pair.

Why?

Because you would have paired your K♥ with the K♣ on the board for one pair of Kings.

You can also have a One Pair by “playing the board” in Hold’em. Say the flop comes down A♣3♦3♥. You would again have One Pair. However, this time it would be a pair of Threes.

When comparing one One Pair hand to the next, it’s the hand rank or denomination that’s important. Therefore, the best One Pair hand is Aces, the second Kings, the third Queens and so on.

Kickers are a distinguishing factor when players have the same one pair.

We’ll discuss this in the next section.

How Does a One Pair Hand Rank?

In a 52-card deck, there are 1,098,240 possible One Pair hand combinations and 2,860 distinct ranks of One Pair hands. Each One Pair is ranked first by its pair, then by its highest-ranked kicker and so forth.

Here are a few more examples of One Pair hands:

A♠A♣ Q♥10♦8♠

K♠K♦A♣J♥10♥

A♠A♦Q♣J♥10♥

A♠A♣ Q♥J♦9♠

K♦K♣10♥9♣5♥

Can you tell which Pair ranks highest?

Keep in mind that the suits are irrelevant and that the kickers should be used to separate hands with the same pair.

How Does a One Pair Hand Match Up?

A One Pair is the eighth best possible hand in the poker hand ranking system. Two pair ranks directly above it, with the best Two Pair being Aces and Kings.

There is only one hand that rank below a One Pair. The hand that ranks directly under it is called High Card. The best High Card hand is high-card Ace.

One Pair Poker Probabilities

Now, we’ll look at the pre-flop, flop, turn and river probabilities of making a One Pair hand in both Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha.

1. What is a One Pair in poker?

In poker, a One Pair is a hand that contains two cards of the same rank, as well as three other unrelated cards. 

2. How does One Pair rank among other poker hands?

In poker, a One Pair is one of the most common hands. It is stronger than a High Card but ranks lower than Two Pair and all other poker hands. 

3. How do you play a One Pair hand?

How to play a One Pair will depend on the strength of the hand - if it’s a very high pair, you might consider betting or raising, however if you have a lower pair it’s advised to play more cautiously.

4. What happens if two players have One Pair?

When two players both have One Pair, the higher-ranking pair wins. If the pairs are the equal, the other three cards (also known as the Kickers) are compared in descending order.

5. How likely am I to get One Pair in Texas Hold'em?

A One Pair is the most common winning hand in poker.  In Texas Hold'em the odds of making a One Pair by the river is roughly 42.3%.

6. Is One Pair a strong hand?

If a One Pair is made of two high cards like Kings or Aces, then it can be a strong hand. But, it I still one of the lowest ranking hands and is easily beaten by Two Pair and all other higher-ranking hands, so you should play it with caution.

7. What should I watch out for when playing One Pair?

Overcards, which are higher cards on the board, may give your opponents a stronger pair and should be considered when playing One Pair. You should also look out for potential straights, or flushes that could out rank your hand.

8. Can One Pair beat a Two Pair?

No, it’s not possible as a Two Pair ranks higher than One Pair in poker.

9. What is the best One Pair hand?

The strongest One Pair is a pair of Aces, along with the strongest possible kicker cards. For example, A♠ A♣ K♠ Q♦ J♥.

10. How should I play One Pair on the flop?

If you make a One Pair on the flop and it’s a high pair, or if it’s the highest card on the board, then it is usually recommended to bet or raise. However, it is important to assess the situation and your opponent’s actions before deciding how to play.