A full house in poker consists of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank, making it a very strong hand that ranks above a flush but below four of a kind.
A full house is a strong poker hand made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. This combination is also known as a “boat” or simply “full” and is ranked higher than a flush but lower than four of a kind. Because a full house is a relatively rare and powerful hand, it often results in large pots when two or more players are involved.
How to Make a Full House
A full house consists of two components:
- Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank (e.g., three aces).
- A pair: Two cards of another rank (e.g., two kings).
For example, a full house hand might look like this:
- Hand: A A
- Board: A K K
In this case, you have three aces and two kings, forming an aces full of kings full house.
Ranking of Full Houses
Not all full houses are equal. The rank of a full house is determined first by the three of a kind, and then by the pair. For example:
- Aces full of kings ( A A A and K K ) beats kings full of aces ( K K K and A A ).
So, in comparing full houses:
- The hand with the higher set of three cards wins.
- If the three cards are the same for two players, the hand with the higher pair wins.
Full House Example in Play
Let’s say you’re playing a hand of Texas Hold’em, and the board comes:
- J J 5 2 8
You’re holding J 5 . You’ve just made jacks full of fives (three jacks and two fives), which is a full house. If another player has 8 8 , they have eights full of jacks. Since your three jacks beat their three eights, you win the pot with a higher full house than them.
Full House in Different Poker Formats
- Cash games: A full house is often a hand that can win a large pot. In cash games, you might face players who will call you down with weaker hands like flushes or straights, so maximize your value by betting or raising.
- Tournaments: In tournament play, a full house can be the hand that propels you forward. However, be cautious if your full house is vulnerable to quads or a higher full house, especially if you’re deep in a tournament where a bad beat can be costly.
A full house is a top-tier hand in poker, made of three of one card and two of another. Its strength lies in its rarity and power, often leading to huge pots when played correctly. While it’s usually an automatic bet or raise, it’s still essential to assess your opponent’s potential hand to avoid losing to four of a kind or a bigger full house.
