What is Four of a Kind? | 4 of a Kind Odds and Matchups Guide

A four of a kind (quads) is the third best hand in Texas Hold’em, made up of four cards of the same rank plus any side card. Learn what quads are, how often they occur, their exact odds on each street, and how they rank against other hands like full houses and straight flushes.

What is a Four of a Kind?

Four Cards of the Same Rank Plus Any Side Card

A four of a kind, or “quads,” is a five-card hand containing four cards of identical rank plus any other card. It ranks just below the straight flush, making it the third best hand in Texas Hold’em. Examples include 9♠-9♥-9♣-9♦-K♣ or A♦-A♠-A♥-A♣-7♦.

Quads are powerful hands that almost always win the pot. Only a straight flush or royal flush can beat them, and those occur far less often. If you hit quads, you’ll usually want to extract as much value as possible.

Four of a Kind Odds

1 in 5,995 on the Flop | 1 in 595 by the River

Making a four of a kind in Texas Hold’em is very rare. With any two random hole cards, your chance of flopping quads on the flop is about 1 in 5,995, and by the river your chance of ending with quads among your seven cards is about 1 in 595.

Four of a Kind Overall Odds

Starting with a pocket pair gives you about a 1 in 122 chance of quads by the river. If you hold one card of the rank, your odds are roughly 1 in 1,958. From any two random hole cards, the chance is about 1 in 595.

Four of a Kind Flop Odds

With a pocket pair, you flop quads when the flop brings the two remaining matching cards—about 1 in 408. Holding one matching card, you need the flop to show the other three—about 1 in 19,600. For any random hand, it is around 1 in 1 in 5,995.

Four of a Kind Turn Odds

By the turn (four board cards), the total chance of quads using any two hole cards is about 1 in 1,388. This includes flopping quads plus cases where you flop trips and complete quads on the turn.

Four of a Kind River Odds

By the river (five board cards), the total chance of quads from any two hole cards is about 1 in 595. That matches the overall quads odds you’ll see in a full seven-card hand.

Four of a Kind Matchups

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

Does Four of a Kind Beat a Royal Flush?

No. A royal flush is one of the only 2 hands that beats quads. Four of a kind cannot overcome 10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit.

Does Four of a Kind Beat a Straight Flush?

No. A straight flush outranks four of a kind every time. Only a royal flush is higher.

Does Four of a Kind Beat a Full House?

Yes. Four of a kind always beats a full house, since four matching cards outrank three of a kind plus a pair.

Does Four of a Kind Beat a Flush?

Yes. A flush is five cards of the same suit, but quads are stronger because you have four of the same rank.

Does Four of a Kind Beat a Straight?

Yes. A straight is five cards in sequence, but quads beat it because you have four matching ranks.

Does Four of a Kind Beat Three of a Kind?

Yes. Three of a kind (trips) cannot compete with four cards of the same rank.

Does Four of a Kind Beat Two Pair?

Yes. Two pair is far weaker than four of a kind.

Does Four of a Kind Beat One Pair?

Yes. A single pair is among the weakest made hands in Hold’em.

Does Four of a Kind Beat High Card?

Yes. A high card is the weakest showdown hand, so quads win outright.

How to Play Four of a Kind

Value Bet Aggressively, Watch for Full Houses

When you hit quads, you are almost certainly ahead. Your goal is to build the pot without scaring off calls. Bet for value on every street unless the board texture makes full houses likely.

If the board pairs, full houses become possible. In those spots, consider a smaller bet to keep opponents in the hand. On dry boards, you can size up your bets to maximize value.

Avoid slow-playing quads too often. While letting opponents bluff into you can work, most players will fold to big raises. In general, lead out for value and let them call with weaker hands.

Four of a Kind Overview | Is Quads a Good Hand?

Quads Are One of the Most Dominant Hands in Poker

A four of a kind ranks just below straight flushes, making it the third best hand in Hold’em. It beats nearly every other hand and is so rare that when it shows up, you will almost always win a big pot.

Despite its strength, quads can be disguised. Opponents may not suspect four of a kind when the board looks coordinated. Watch for paired boards that enable full houses, but in most cases, quads are a massive advantage.

So yes, quads are a great hand. When you hit four of a kind, extract as much value as possible and enjoy one of poker’s most thrilling moments.