What is a Four-of-a-Kind in Poker?

Four-of-a-kind in poker, also known as quads, is one of the best hands a player can have. This combination consists of four cards of the same value and one additional card, known as a kicker, which may not be a sequential card. Due to its rarity and strength, a four-of-a-kind can significantly affect the outcome of a game session, which makes it a very desirable combination for players.

In a standard 52-card deck, the quads is the third combination, second only to the Straight Flush and the Royal Flush. For example, having four Aces (A ♠ A ♥ A ♦ A ♣) with a fifth card of any rank and suit forms a four-of-a-kind.
When you have this poker hand, it is extremely important to develop an effective strategy to maximize your winnings and outplay your opponents. Understanding how to recognize quads and play it is necessary for any serious poker player. Knowing the odds, the rating, and the best strategies that can be used with such a combination can give you a significant advantage at the poker table. Keep reading to learn more about one of the highest hands!

What Does a Four-of-a-Kind Look Like?

Quads consist of four playing cards of the same rank and one additional card, known as a kicker. To better understand what a four-of-a-kind looks like, here are some examples:

• Four Kings: K ♠ K ♥ K ♦ K ♣ + 5 ♠ (Kicker);
• Four Tens: 10 ♠ 10 ♥ 10 ♦ 10 ♣ + D ♠ (Kicker);
• Four Twos: 2 ♠ 2 ♥ 2 ♦ 2 ♣ + 7 ♦ (Kicker);
• Four Sevens: 7 ♠ 7 ♥ 7 ♦ 7 ♣ + K ♥ (Kicker).

How Does Four-of-a-Kind Rank?

The power of a four-of-a-kind is primarily determined by the rank of four cards. So, Four Aces A ♠ A ♥ A ♦ A ♣ is the maximum possible quads. Four Twos 2 ♠ 2 ♥ 2 ♦ 2 ♣ is the smallest possible combination. A combination of Four Aces will always be stronger than any other (for example, the Four Kings).

Only if the hand is the same, the Kicker is taken into account. For example: K ♠ K ♥ K ♦ K ♣ 10 ♥ beats K ♠ K ♥ K ♦ K ♣ 5 ♥, because the Kicker 10 ♥ is higher than the Kicker 5 ♥.

What Beats a Four-of-a-Kind?

The four-of-a-kind combination is one of the highest-rated combinations in poker, but it can still be beaten by several other combinations. Below is a table showing the combinations that can beat the quads:

These are the only combinations that can beat a four-of-a-kind. All remaining combinations are weaker than the quads.

Ways to Approach the Four-of-a-Kind

You can collect a Four-of-a-kind in poker thanks to a combination of luck and the right game strategy. One of the main ways is to get a pocket pair on the preflop, and then collect two more cards of the same rank on the board. You can also make quads by improving the set (Three-of-a-kind) on the flopping to the Four-of-a-kind on the turn or river. Always keep track of which cards you have in your hands and be on the alert to get the necessary combination in time!

Strategy to Play Four-of-a-Kind

Having a strong enough Four-of-a-kind combination in your hands, you need to choose the right gaming strategy that will allow you to maximize the benefits. Here are some of the tips you should pay attention to:

• Start with calculation and value bets to increase the pot without scaring away your opponents;
• Sometimes play slowly to hide the strength of your combination and provoke a bluff;
• Pay close attention to the gameplay so as not to miss other strong combinations from your opponents;
• Use your position to control the course of the game, adjusting your strategy depending on the trends in the game;

Carefully control the size of the pot to avoid losing winnings if the poker table becomes dangerous.

Four-of-a-Kind Probabilities

Here is a table showing the probability of getting quads in the classic version of the game Texas Hold’em:

So, the chances of this combination drawing are quite rare.