Does 2 Pairs Beat a Flush in Poker?
No, two pair does not beat a flush in standard poker hand matchups. As we‘ll explore, a flush is statistically harder to make and ranks above two pair in poker hand hierarchies across all games.
Official Poker Hand Rankings
Let‘s first review the universally accepted rankings for poker hands from strongest to weakest:
- Royal Flush
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush – 5 cards of the same suit
- Straight – 5 cards in sequence
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
So in competitive play across poker variants like Texas Hold‘em, Omaha, 7 Card Stud, Razz and more – a made flush categorically outranks two pair. Understanding why comes down to looking at statistical probabilities and matchup percentages…
Why Flushes Beat Two Pair More Often
It holds true in poker that the rarer a hand, the more power it carries. Simply put: flushes are significantly harder to make than two pair hands.
Odds of Making Each Hand
| Hand | Odds | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Flush | 1 in 509 hands | 0.1965% |
| Two Pair | 1 in 21 hands | 4.75% |
The odds of flopping a flush in Texas Hold‘em are a measly 0.84% compared to a 17% chance of flopping a pair that could develop into two pair. That means you‘re 20x more likely to connect with a two pair type hand!
…But it also means that when you do finally hit that beautiful flush, it‘s extra powerful. Let‘s get into some examples why…
Flush Draw Beats Overpair Example
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Rare Cases When Two Pair Could Win
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Lessons from Poker‘s Greatest Flush-Over-Pairs Hands
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Conclusion – Flushes Almost Always Beat Two Pair
While less intuitive than holding two nice pairs, a flush statistically dominates two pair by a healthy margin thanks to the sheer improbability of drawing 5 perfectly suited cards. Next time you‘re hoping to see your pocket Kings turn into a boat, remember that even the mightiest overpair can fall prey to the stealthy flush draw.
