Definition: Three of a Kind is a poker hand made up of three cards of the same rank, plus two unrelated cards known as kickers.
Three of a Kind ranks sixth in the standard poker hand rankings. The hand is always evaluated first by the rank of the three matching cards, followed by the highest kicker and then the second kicker if necessary.
The term “Three of a Kind” is straightforward, but players often distinguish between two common formations. A Set occurs when a player holds a pocket pair, such as 9♦9♣, and the third matching card appears on the board. Trips occur when the board already contains a pair, such as 10♥10♦5♠, and the player holds the third matching card in hand. From a ranking perspective, Sets and Trips are treated exactly the same.
Examples of Three-of-a-Kind hands include:
K♥ K♣ K♠ A♥ J♠
10♦ 10♥ 10♠ 3♥ 2♦
When comparing Three-of-a-Kind hands, the rank of the three matching cards is what matters most. The strongest possible Three of a Kind is three Aces, whether formed as a Set or as Trips.
In a standard 52-card deck, there are 54,912 possible Three-of-a-Kind combinations and 858 distinct ranked hands. If two players both hold Three of a Kind, the hand with the higher-ranked trips wins. If the trips are identical, the highest kicker determines the winner. Suits are irrelevant.
Three of a Kind sits directly below a Straight and above Two Pair in the poker hand hierarchy. A Straight, including the strongest ace-high “Broadway” straight, will always beat Three of a Kind. Conversely, Three of a Kind always beats Two Pair and One Pair.
Strategically, Three of a Kind is a strong mid-tier hand. It performs best when made as a Set, as this is harder for opponents to detect. However, players should be cautious on coordinated boards where Straights or Flushes are possible, as these hands will always outrank Three of a Kind.
Mini-summary: Three of a Kind is a solid mid-strength poker hand. It gains most of its value from high-ranked trips, strong kickers, and uncoordinated board textures.
Numeric focus: How often does Three of a Kind occur in Texas Hold’em? The overall probability of being dealt or making Three of a Kind is approximately 2.11%.
| Stage | Texas Hold’em | Pot Limit Omaha | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | 2.11% | 2.11% | Based on 5 cards randomly drawn from a full 52-card deck |
| Flop (pocket pair) | 11.8% | 12.59% | When holding a pocket pair |
| Flop (two pair) | – | 21.37% | Omaha only – paired board |
| Turn (pocket pair) | 4.26% | 4.44% | From the flop |
| Turn (two pair) | – | 8.89% | Omaha only |
| River (pocket pair) | 4.35% | 4.55% | By the river |
| River (two pair) | – | 9.09% | Omaha only |
Mini-summary: Three of a Kind is a reliable but vulnerable hand — strong on dry boards, more common in Omaha, and heavily dependent on kicker strength and board texture.
