Does Three of a Kind Beat a Flush?

Does Three of a Kind Beat a Flush?

Knowing how the standard poker hand rankings work is one of the most important fundamentals in poker. Nobody learns the hand rankings in just one session, however.

New players and experienced grinders alike get excited when they pick up a hand like three of a kind or a flush. Which one of these strong hands wins when they go head-to-head in a game of poker?

Read on to find out.

Does Three of a Kind Beat a Flush in Poker?

While both are very good hands, a flush beats three of a kind in poker.A flush is mathematically harder to get in a poker game, making it a stronger and more rare hand than three of a kind.

A flush is made when you hold five cards of all the same suit. If you randomly draw five cards out of a standard 52-card deck, you have an 0.1965% chance of making a flush. That percentage equates to about 509-to-1 odds against making a flush.

In a random draw of five cards, you have a 2.1128% chance of making three of a kind. Three of a kind is made when you draw three of the same ranking card, along with two other unpaired cards. Your odds against drawing three of a kind are about 46-to-1.

In Texas Hold’em, you’re tasked with making the strongest possible five-card hand out of seven total cards. The odds of making a flush in Texas Hold’em are around 32-to-1, while the odds of making three of a kind are about 20-to-1.

What Beats a Flush in Poker?

Full houses, four of a kind, straight flushes, and royal flushes are the only poker hands that beat a flush. 

When two or more players make a flush, the hand with the strongest high card wins.

Note: Are you here just to learn how to play poker...or do you want to know how to win too? Get this free guide with 10 quick poker strategy tips if you want to come out on top.

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Note: Are you here just to learn how to play poker...or do you want to know how to win too? Get this free guide with 10 quick poker strategy tips if you want to come out on top.

free poker guide

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About the Author
Patrick Harvey

Patrick Harvey

Graduate student trying to make money in poker so that I don't end up having to drive Knish's truck.

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