What Is Four of a Kind in Poker? Ranking, Examples & Rules

Four of a kind is four cards of the same rank plus one unrelated card. It ranks #3 in poker hand rankings — it beats a full house but loses to a straight flush. Also called “quads.”

Example

The fifth card is the “kicker” — it only matters if two players have the same four of a kind (possible with community cards in Hold’em).

Where Does Four of a Kind Rank?

See the complete hand rankings guide for tiebreakers, kickers, and detailed examples.

How Does Four of a Kind Work?

You need all four cards of one rank — all four Nines, all four Kings, etc. There are only 13 possible four-of-a-kind combinations in a deck.

When two players both have four of a kind, the higher set of four wins. If both have the same quads (only possible with community cards), the kicker breaks the tie.

Quad Aces beats Quad Kings because Aces outrank Kings.

What Beats Four of a Kind?

A straight flush beats four of a kind. Four of a kind beats a full house.

What Are the Odds?

In a five-card deal, the probability of being dealt four of a kind is 0.0240% — roughly 1 in 4,165 hands. In Texas Hold’em (seven cards available), the odds of making quads by the river are about 0.168%.

FAQ

Is four of a kind better than a full house?

Yes. Four of a kind (#3) always beats a full house (#4). Only a straight flush and royal flush can beat quads.

What does “quads” mean?

“Quads” is the common nickname for four of a kind. “Quad Aces” means four Aces, “quad Tens” means four Tens, and so on.

Can two players have four of a kind at the same time?

Yes, but only in games with community cards like Texas Hold’em. If the board contributes to both players’ quads, the higher set of four wins. If the quads are identical, the fifth card (kicker) breaks the tie.

For the complete guide to all 10 poker hands, see our poker hand rankings. Need a quick reference? Download our poker cheat sheet.