Quick answer
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Odds of a one pair
- Texas Hold’em (7 cards)
- 43.8%
- 1 in 2.3
- 5-card poker
- 42.3%
- 1 in 2.4
- Possible 5-card hands
- 1,098,240
- of 2,598,960
Exact counts from every combination, calculated with the MyClubGG poker engine. Hold’em figures assume you see the river.
How a one pair works
Most pots in small games are won by one pair or two pair. The size of the pair and the kicker both matter.
Top pair means pairing the highest board card; an overpair is a pocket pair above every board card.
Ties: Higher pair wins; if equal, compare the kickers from highest to lowest.
Also called: pair.
What it beats and what beats it
Beats
High card
Loses to
Royal flush, Straight flush, Four of a kind, Full house, Flush, Straight, Three of a kind, Two pair
Tips for playing it
- Top pair with a good kicker is usually a value hand; top pair with a weak kicker is often a pot-control hand.
- An unpaired hand flops at least a pair with one of its hole cards about 32.4% of the time.
One pair FAQ
How often do you make a pair in Hold’em?
About 43.8% of seven-card hands finish as exactly one pair, the most common result.
Does a pair beat ace-high?
Yes. Any pair beats any high-card hand.
What is a kicker?
The unpaired side card that breaks ties between hands of the same rank.