What is a Full House in Poker? | Full House Odds and Matchups Guide

A full house is the fourth best hand in Texas Hold’em, made up of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. Learn what a full house is, how often it occurs, its exact odds on each street, and how it ranks against other strong hands like quads and flushes.

What is a Full House?

Three of one rank plus two of another

A full house consists of three cards of the same rank and two cards of a different matching rank. It ranks just below four of a kind, making it the fourth best hand in Texas Hold’em. Examples include 8♠-8♥-8♦-K♣-K♦ or Q♦-Q♠-Q♥-7♣-7♠.

Full houses are strong hands that will usually win big pots. Only four of a kind, straight flush, or royal flush beat them. When you hit a full house, you’ll want to extract maximum value from your opponents.

Full House Odds

Any Two Random Hole Cards: 1 in 693 on the Flop | 1 in 357 by the River

Making a full house is a rare but rewarding outcome. From any two random hole cards, your chance of flopping one is about 1 in 693, and by the river it rises to around 1 in 357.

Full House Overall Odds

Starting with a pocket pair gives you about a 1 in 5.9 chance of a full house by the river. If you hold one hole card that matches a rank on the board, your odds are around 1 in 37.5. From any two random hole cards, it is about 1 in 357.

Full House Flop Odds

With a pocket pair, flopping a full house occurs about 1 in 136. If you hold one matching card, the flop full house chance is roughly 1 in 68. For any two random cards, it’s about 1 in 693.

Full House Turn Odds

By the turn (four community cards), the overall chance of a full house using any two hole cards is about 1 in 427. For pocket pair that flopped trips, the turn pairs the board about 1 in 23 to give a full house, combining to an overall 1 in 103. If you paired one hole card on the flop, the turn completes the house about 1 in 68.

Full House River Odds

By the river (five community cards), the overall full house chance from any two hole cards is about 1 in 357. For pocket pair that had trips by the turn, the river pairing the board boosts it to 1 in 5.9. If you paired one hole card by the turn, the river adds a pair about 1 in 37.5.

Full House Matchups

Matchup		Winner
Full House	Royal Flush	Royal Flush
Full House	Straight Flush	Straight Flush
Full House	Four of a Kind	Four of a Kind
Full House	Flush	Full House
Full House	Straight	Full House
Full House	Three of a Kind	Full House
Full House	Two Pair	Full House
Full House	One Pair	Full House
Full House	High Card	Full House

Does a Full House Beat a Royal Flush?

No. A royal flush always beats a full house. While full houses are strong, the royal flush is the highest possible hand (10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit) and will win every time.

Does a Full House Beat a Straight Flush?

No. A straight flush outranks a full house. Although a full house is powerful, a straight flush (five consecutive suited cards) is one tier higher and will always win.

Does a Full House Beat Four of a Kind?

No. A four of a kind always beats a full house, since four matching cards outrank three-of-a-kind plus a pair.

Does a Full House Beat a Flush?

Yes. A flush is five cards of the same suit, but a full house is stronger because you have three of a kind plus a pair.

Does a Full House Beat a Straight?

Yes. A straight loses to a full house, as three matching cards plus a pair outrank five cards in sequence.

Does a Full House Beat Three of a Kind?

Yes. A three of a kind (trips) does not compete with a full house’s extra pair.

Does a Full House Beat Two Pair?

Yes. Two pair is weaker, as it only has two distinct pairs versus three-of-a-kind plus a pair.

Does a Full House Beat One Pair?

Yes. A single pair cannot match the strength of a three-of-a-kind plus a pair.

Does a Full House Beat High Card?

Yes. A high card is the weakest possible showdown, and a full house wins every time.

How to Play a Full House

Value Bet Heavily, Watch for Quads and Straight Flushes

When you make a full house, you are almost certainly ahead of any hand except quads or better. Your goal is to build the pot. Bet for value on every street unless the board makes quads or straight flushes possible.

If the board is highly coordinated (for example 9-10-J-Q-K all of the same suit), be cautious of a possible straight flush or quads. In those spots, a smaller bet may extract value from two pair or trip hands that would otherwise fold to a large raise.

On dry boards, you can size bets more aggressively. Most opponents will think twice before calling big bets without a strong draw. Let them pay to see your full house, your hand strength is worth it.

Full House Overview | Is Full House a Good Hand?

A Full House Is One of Poker’s Strongest Hands

A full house ranks just below four of a kind, making it the fourth best hand in Hold’em. It beats nearly every other hand and shows up often enough to be a powerful weapon in your arsenal.

Because full houses combine trips and a pair, they can be disguised by the board to induce calls from weaker holdings. Watch for board textures that complete straights or quads, but in most cases, a full house should be played for maximum value.

So yes, a full house is an excellent hand. When you hit one, lean into value betting and enjoy one of poker’s most satisfying victories.