What’s a Pair in Card Games?

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By Ralph Torres

When it comes to card games, a “pair” is a term that is commonly used. A pair refers to two cards of the same rank, such as two Kings or two Aces. In many card games, having a pair can be advantageous and can increase the likelihood of winning the game.

One of the most popular card games that uses pairs is poker. In poker, players are dealt two cards face down, and they must use those cards in combination with five community cards to make the best possible hand. A pair is one of the lowest-ranking hands in poker, but it can still be valuable if no other players have a better hand.

In addition to poker, pairs are also important in other popular card games like blackjack and baccarat. In blackjack, players aim to get a hand that totals 21 or as close to 21 as possible without going over. If a player is dealt a pair as their starting hand, they have the option to “split” their hand into two separate hands and play them separately.

Pairs can also be important in other types of card games like rummy and go fish. In rummy, players aim to create sets of three or four cards of the same rank, so having a pair can be an important step towards creating a set. In go fish, players ask each other for specific ranks of cards in order to create pairs.

Overall, whether you’re playing poker or any other type of card game that involves pairs, it’s important to understand what they are and how they can benefit your gameplay strategy. So next time you’re playing your favorite card game and you’re dealt a pair, remember that it could just be your ticket to victory!