Pocket Pair

1. Hole cards of the same rank. For example, a pocket consisting of A-A or 3-3 is a pocket pair. The made hand gives players the edge statistically pre-flop against opponents holding two different hole cards in rank.

Learn the Lingo

If you are going to recount a big hand to a friend, you don't want it to be boring, do you? Spice it up with nicknames for pocket pairs! Everybody has their favorites, and now with this list of popular nicknames, you can, too!

A-A - Bullets, Pocket Rockets, American Airlines
K-K - Cowboys, King King, Ace Magnets
Q-Q - Ladies, Bitches, Siegfried & Roy, Hilton Sisters, Canadian Aces
J-J - Fishhooks, Hooks
T-T - Dimes, Bo Derek, TNT
9-9 - Popeyes, Gretzky, Phil Hellmuth
8-8 - Snowmen, Dog Balls, Racetracks
7-7 - Hockey Sticks, Candy Canes, Sunset Strip
6-6 - Route 66, Cherries
5-5 - Speed Limit, Presto, Nickels
4-4 - Sailboats, Magnum, Dirty Harry
3-3 - Crabs, Treys
2-2 - Ducks, Deuces

Math Time!

The chances of being dealt a pocket pair in Texas hold'em are 5.90%. If you hold a pocket pair, the probability of flopping exactly a set is 10.80%. The chances of flopping quads are .20%.

Related Terms

Pocket, Overpair, Made Hand, Crack