Definition and Meaning
Among poker’s most powerful combinations, a Four of a Kind is always welcomed by many players. Also known as Quads, this poker hand contains four cards of equal rank along with one unrelated kicker card.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the third-best hand combination in the game.
Definition in short: A Four of a Kind in poker is a hand with four cards of the same rank and one unrelated card.
Four of a Kind Examples
An illustration of four Aces forming Quads can be seen below, including multiple examples of a Four of a Kind combination:
- A♣ A♦ A♠ A♥ 2♦
- 2♦ 2♥ 2♣ 2♠ A♠
- 7♥ 7♠ 7♣ 7♦ J♥
- Q♦ Q♥ Q♠ Q♣ 3♣
- 5♠ 5♦ 5♥ 5♣ 10♠
In total, there are 13 different combinations of four cards of the same rank. However, in general, a poker hand is made out of 5 cards. This means that we need to account for the 5th card, the kicker.
In that case, there are exactly 624 unique configurations of a complete Four of a Kind hand.
A Word on Kickers
If two players both make Four of a Kind using the community cards, the winner is determined by who has the highest-ranked kicker.
For example:
The board is Q-Q-Q-Q-8
- Player 1 holds A-J
- Player 2 holds K-10
Player 1 wins with their Ace kicker.
However, if both players make Quads using hole cards plus community cards, kickers are irrelevant. The highest set of four wins.
If Player 1 has pocket Qs and the board is Q-Q-8-8-K, they beat Player 2, who has pocket 8s, since four Queens beat four 8s.
Probabilities
Texas Hold’em (and other 7-card formats)
In Texas Hold’em, where players can use the best five cards out of seven, the odds of getting Quads are as follows.
| ODDS | PROBABILITY |
|---|---|
| 1 in 595 | 0.168% |
5-Card Variants
Forming a Four-of-a-Kind in the initial deal of 5-card games, such as Five Card Draw and Video Poker, is much harder. The probability is 0.0240%. This means that on average, you will be dealt one every 4,165 hands.
| ODDS | PROBABILITY |
|---|---|
| 1 in 4,165 | 0.0240% |
An interesting fact is that in Double Double Bonus Video Poker, specific Four of a Kind combinations offer enhanced payouts, even exceeding the payouts for a Straight Flush.
All in all, forming Quads is very rare. Players might only hit a handful of them within thousands of hands at the table. The odds increase slightly if you are holding a pocket pair as your starting hand.
Quads Strategy – How to Play it
Below we laid out some strategy tips for playing Four of a Kind in poker:
- Be cautious pre-flop: Four of a Kind is very rare, so don’t get married to a hand hoping to make Quads. Play premium pairs and suited connectors that have potential.
- Bet aggressively when you make your Quads: You want to build a big pot when you hit this monster hand. However, don’t overbet – you don’t want to scare people out.
- Pay attention to Straight and Flush possibilities on the board: A higher Straight Flush can still beat Quads. Make sure the board doesn’t allow that before getting all your chips in.
- Consider slow playing if you flop Quads: Check-raising the flop can build a bigger pot when you have this hand. Just don’t slow play too much as you want action.
- Value bet thinner on the river: You likely have the best hand, so get value from worse holdings like two pair or sets. But a large river bet may scare them off when the board pairs or flushes.
- Play Quads fast if the board pairs: Another player could have a Full House in that case. Bet strong to charge draws and isolate opponents quickly.
The key is balancing aggression with caution against Straight and Flush draws. Maximize value from your huge hand, but don’t lose your whole stack if an opponent hits a miraculous Straight Flush.
Video Compilation
After learning the basics and probability, let’s have a look at real-life examples in the video below:
When you feel like playing after seeing this (what poker fan wouldn’t?), make sure to play responsibly at all times. Don’t play with what you can’t afford to lose and adhere to strict bankroll management.
FAQs
Is Four of a Kind a good hand in poker?
Yes, it is a good hand. To be exact, it is the third-best hand in most traditional poker games. However, in Four Card Poker, it is actually the best hand and comes with significant payout potential.
What is the best Four of a Kind?
The Four of a Kind is the one consisting of four Aces and with a King as the kicker. For example, A A A A K
What beats a Four of a Kind?
The only hands that can beat it in standard poker are a Straight Flush (this includes the Royal Flush) and a higher-ranked Four of a Kind.
What is beaten by Four of a Kind?
In most variants, a Four of a Kind beats:
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
What happens if 2 people have Quads?
If two players have Four of a Kind in the same hand, the one with the higher set of four matching cards wins – for example, four 10s beats four 9s. However, if both players share the same Quads from the community cards, the higher kicker wins.
