How is this hand made?
Two Pair is made from two pairs of different ranks. The most common setup in Hold'em: you hold A-K and the board has an A and a K. This is called "Two Pair, Aces and Kings" or "Aces up" for short.
Two Pair — Two Pair
Two Pair is a basic-good hand: two pairs of different ranks plus a kicker. Beats a pair and high card but loses to three of a kind and above.
- Rank 8 of 10
- Example: A♠ A♥ 8♦ 8♣ 5♠
- Probability: 1 in 21
- Frequency: 4.7539% of all hands
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Rank
#8
Probability
1 in 21
Frequency
4.7539%
Odds
20:1
Example
A♠ A♥ 8♦ 8♣ 5♠
Strategy — how to play it
Two Pair is a dangerous hand: strong enough to play, vulnerable to three of a kind and above. Play it aggressively on the flop and turn — if an opponent keeps raising on the river, think twice before going all-in. Value bet, not hero call.
What beats what?
Hands that beat Two Pair:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
Hands beaten by Two Pair:
- Pair
- High Card
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you rank two "Two Pair" hands?
Compare the higher pair first, then the lower pair. Two pair A-A + 2-2 beats K-K + Q-Q. If both pairs match, the kicker (5th card) decides.
What is "Top Two"?
Two pair made from the two highest cards on the board. Example: you hold A-K, flop is A-K-5. A very strong hand — play aggressively.
What are the odds of two pair in Hold'em?
With 7 cards, roughly 1 in 5 (23%). One of the most common hands at showdown.