Full House in Poker
A full house (also called a boat) combines three of a kind with a pair, ranking fourth in the poker hand hierarchy.
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Example Hand
Full House Probability & Odds
What Does a Full House Beat?
WBeats (6 hands)
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
LLoses to (3 hands)
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
Full House Strategy Tips
When the board pairs in Hold'em, always consider whether opponents could have a full house. A flush or straight can become second-best when the board pairs.
Full houses with trips from your pocket pair ("sets") are more profitable than those from board trips, because they are harder for opponents to detect.
Be cautious with small full houses. If you have 3-3 on a K-K-3 board, any opponent with K-x has a higher full house.
In Omaha, full houses are much more common. Do not overvalue a small full house in Omaha as opponents frequently hold a bigger one.
Common Mistakes with Full House
Assuming your full house is always good. On boards with paired high cards, opponents can easily hold a higher full house or quads.
Overcommitting with the bottom full house when the board has two pair. For example, holding 4-4 on an A-A-4-7-2 board looks strong but loses to any ace.
Missing that a full house beats a flush. Some newer players lose track of the rankings and fold a full house to aggressive flush betting.
How Full House Plays in Texas Hold'em
Flopping a Set and Filling Up
You hold 9♠9♥ and the flop comes 9♦ 5♣ 5♠. You have a full house (nines full of fives). This is an excellent spot to slow-play since the board looks dry and opponents may bluff or catch up.
Full House vs. Flush
The board reads A♥ K♥ 7♠ 7♥ 3♣. You hold 7♦ A♠ for a full house (sevens full of aces). An opponent with two hearts has a flush but your full house wins. Value bet heavily.
Counterfeited Full House
You hold 3♠ 3♥ on a K♠ K♥ 3♦ board for threes full of kings. The turn brings another king, making the board K-K-K-3. Now anyone with a pocket pair higher than threes has a better full house.
Full House Tiebreaker Rules
Full houses are ranked by the three-of-a-kind component first, then by the pair. Queens full of threes (Q-Q-Q-3-3) beats jacks full of aces (J-J-J-A-A) because queens outrank jacks. If the trips are equal, the higher pair wins. If both components are identical, the pot is split.
Full House FAQ
What beats a full house in poker?
A full house is beaten by three hands: four of a kind, a straight flush, and a royal flush. It is the fourth-strongest hand in poker.
Does a full house beat a flush?
Yes. A full house always beats a flush in standard poker. This is because a full house is statistically less likely to occur than a flush.
What is "aces full" in poker?
Aces full means a full house with three aces and any pair. For example, A-A-A-K-K is "aces full of kings." It is the highest possible full house.
How do you compare two full houses?
Compare the three-of-a-kind component first. If both players have the same trips, compare the pair. Queens full of twos beats jacks full of aces because queens rank higher than jacks in the trips portion.
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