Two Unique Pair

Playing Two Pair With One on the Board

Your Cards			The Board:

In cases like this you evaluate the strength of your hand much the same way as if you had one pair on an unpaired board.

• If you have top pair with a good kicker you have a strong hand.
• If you have an underpair then your hand is weak.

This is because the board pair is "community property" and can be ignored...

Except that you have to worry about three of a kind!

That is, in this example any three has you beat!

How to Play When there is a Board Pair--Full Table

The answer is...play very carefully! The facts are that most players will slowplay trips so it is very difficult to determine if your two pair is best.

A High Board Pair

Unless you have top pair with a strong kicker, check-fold.

But if you have top pair with a strong kicker, for example:

Your Cards			The Board:

Then you need to play tough poker. Take control of the hand with bets.

But beware of a passive player raising you, or check-raising you. This means they have trips and have you beat! You may wish to call them down if you think they have the potential to bluff or raise a weak two pair, but fold if you think they are a tight/weak player who only raises the nuts or near-nuts.

A Low Board Pair

Unless you have top pair with a reasonable kicker, check-fold.

Your Cards			The Board:

This is a much happier situation for you because it is unlikely anyone is playing a three. So play your hand strongly.

But watch out for the blinds, you would like to see them fold at your flop bet because they are the most likely suspects to hold a low card. The longer they stay in the more danger you are in--because slow-playing trips is quite likely.

Be prepared to call down a raise or check-raise.

How to Play When There is a Board Pair--Short-Handed Table

When you only see the flop with one or two opponents, you should assume you hand is good if you have two pair, on a paired board.

For example: This is a very good flop for you.

Your Cards			The Board:

Even at the turn and river, any two pair is a good hand.

For example: You are still in good shape.

Your Cards			The Board: