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Pocket Pair - Two pocket cards that are of the same rank.
In Texas Holdem or Stud, having two cards of the same
rank in the hole when starting the hand is
called having a pocket pair. Pocket pairs are often a strong holding because either they are a powerful made hand on their
own like AA or KK, or because their value is hidden in a deceptive way. For example, if in Stud a player has 33 in the hole
and an upcard of a Queen, but on fourth street catches another 3, the strong hand strength of three 3's is not apparent at all.
In Texas Holdem when a player holds a pocket pair, the player will flop three of a kind about 11%. If a player starts with a
low pair, flopping a set turns the hand into
a strong holding.
On the other hand, small pocket pairs are very vulnerable because flops will normally hold
overcards. If an opponent holds an
overpair or has paired an overcard on the flop, pocket under pairs are one of the weakest hands in poker because they are
the hardest to improve. Unless they make an odd straight or flush, under pairs only improve after the flop by hitting one of
two cards which is normally worse than a 20-1 draw depending on the type of game being played. A wired pair is similar
to a pocket pair, except in five card stud it refers to a door card that pairs the hole card.
Read about playing pocket pairs
in No Limit Hold'em.
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