What is a Boat in Poker

Introduction

If the phrase ‘having a boat’ has ever confused you, you are in the right place for the explanation.

Due to its rarity and strength, a ‘boat’ is highly valued in most poker games, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha.

This article will explain everything you need to know about boats.

What is a Boat in Poker?

A boat in Poker, also known as a full house, is a powerful hand of three cards of the same rank (three of a kind) combined with two cards of another rank (a pair).

Composition of a Boat

A full boat in Poker is a five-card hand made of:

• Three cards of one rank (commonly called ‘trips’ or a ‘set’)
• Two cards of another rank (which form a pair)

This combination of cards makes a full house distinct from other poker hands and gives it a substantial rank in the hand hierarchy.

Example of Boat Hands

• A♠ A♣ A♦ 2♠ 2♥ – This is called Aces full of Twos since the three Aces form the trips, and the pair of Twos completes the hand.
• K♠ K♦ K♣ 9♦ 9♥ – This is called Kings Full of Nines.
• 10♦ 10♠ 10♥ J♠ J♣ – This is called Tens full of Jacks.

The rank of a Boat

In the Poker hand ranking system, the full house is one of the strongest hands, ranked below only four of a kind, straight and royal flush. Its ranking makes it a rare and valuable hand to hold during gameplay.

Why Is a Boat a Strong Hand?

The full house is a difficult hand to beat because it combines both a strong ‘three of a kind’ hand with an additional pair. Combining two made hands in one often provides significant strength against other hands, like flushes, straights, and two pairs. However, it is vulnerable to higher full houses, four-of-a-kind, and straight flushes.

The strength of a full house depends on:

• The rank of the three-of-a-kind: A higher trip makes a full house stronger than others.
• The rank of the pair: If both players have the same trips, the player with the higher pair wins the hand.

Example 1:

• Player A has K♠ K♣ K♥ 6♠ 6♣ (Kings full of Sixes)
• Player B has K♦ K♥ K♠ 4♦ 4♥ (Kings full of Fours)

Player A wins with Kings full of Sixes, as the Sixes outrank Player B’s pair of fours.

Example 2:

• Player A has 10♥ 10♦ 10♠ 9♣ 9♦ (Tens full of Nines)
• Player B has Q♦ Q♠ Q♥ 5♠ 5♣ (Queens full of Fives)

Player B wins with Queens Full of Fives because Queens are higher than Tens.

Naming a Full House

When describing a full house, you always mention the three-of-a-kind (trips) part of the hand first, followed by the pair. For example:

•       ‘Queens full of Nines’ means you have three Queens and two Nines.
•       ‘Jacks full of Eights’ means you have three Jacks and two Eights.

Strategy to Win with a Full House

1. Maximize Value: A full house is a strong hand, so your main goal should be to extract maximum value from weaker hands like straights, flushes, or even two pairs. Consider betting or raising to build the pot in early betting rounds, especially if the board is relatively ‘safe’ (no obvious straight or flush possibilities).
2. Slow Play Against Passive Players: If your opponents are passive or cautious, consider slow-playing your full house by checking or making small bets to induce bluffs or weaker bets. This can help you trap your opponents and encourage them to stay in the hand longer, increasing the pot size.
3. Avoid Over-Betting: Over-betting may scare off opponents who might otherwise stay in the pot with weaker hands. Instead, make smaller bets to keep opponents in the game. The key is to bet just enough to keep them committed without forcing them to fold.
4. Cautious Play on Dangerous Boards: Be cautious if the board has the potential for a higher full house, four of a kind, or a straight flush. For example, an opponent may hold a stronger hand if the board shows multiple high or consecutive cards of the same suit. In such cases, control the pot size with cautious bets, especially if facing aggressive raises.
5. Read Your Opponent: Attention your opponent’s betting patterns and tendencies. A full house will likely be the best hand in most scenarios, but aggressive betting on a dangerous board could signal a stronger hand. If an opponent shows significant strength, consider folding if their behaviour suggests they have quads or a higher full house.
6. Strategy for the Last Stages of a Hand: If you still believe you have the best hand, increase your bet size to extract value on the turn or river. This is especially important against opponents who may have hit a weaker full house, flush, or straight and are willing to call larger bets.

Common Scenarios with a Boat

1. Paired Board: A paired board often leads to full houses. For example, a board of K♠ K♦ 9♣ 9♠ 5♥ allows for multiple full house possibilities. If you hold K♣ 9♦, you have Kings full of Nines, which is very strong. However, be mindful of players holding K♠ K♥ for quads or a higher full house.
2. Flopping Trips, Turning the Boat: If you flop trips (three of a kind), you might turn or river a full house when the board pairs. For instance, if you hold 7♠ 7♣ and the board comes 7♦ Q♠ Q♦ 4♥, you've hit Sevens full of Queens. This can be a great spot for slow playing, especially if your opponent has a weaker pair.
3. Opponent Holding a Weaker Full House: Sometimes, both players will hit a full house, but the player with the higher trips or pair will win. For example, if you hold 10♠ 10♦ and the board comes 10♥ J♠ J♦ 5♥ 5♦, you have Tens full of Fives, which beats an opponent holding J♣ 5♣ (Jacks full of Fives).
4. Flush and Straight Threats: If the board shows a potential flush or straight, but you hold a full house, you can dominate those hands. For example, if the board is 8♠ 8♦ 6♠ 7♠ K♠ and you hold 8♥ 6♦, you have Eights full of Sixes, which beats any flush or straight. However, be wary of an opponent holding a higher full house or quads.
5. Facing Aggression on Paired Boards: If the board is paired and you face heavy aggression, proceed with caution. For example, on a Q♠ Q♣ 4♦ 4♠ 7♣ board, holding Q♥ 7♦ gives you Queens full of Sevens, a strong hand. However, a player making large bets might hold Q♠ Q♦ (quad Queens), so evaluate their betting behaviour before committing too many chips.
6. River Full House After the Board Pairs: If the board pairs on the river, your hand can improve significantly. For instance, if you hold A♠ K♠ and the board is K♣ 10♦ 10♠ 7♥ 7♠, you now have Kings full of Sevens. This can be a great spot to bet for value, as opponents with straights or trips may be willing to pay off your full house.

Frequently Asked Questions

What beats a boat in Poker?

A full house is beaten by stronger hands such as four of a kind, a straight flush, and a royal flush. A full house beats other hands like a flush, straight, three-of-a-kind, two-pair, and one-pair.

How rare is a full house in Poker?

A full house is one of the stronger hands in Poker, but it is relatively rare. In Texas Hold'em, you will see a full house about 2.6% of the time, meaning it is not something that happens frequently. Given its rarity, it is usually a strong hand that can win a large pot when it appears.

Can you fold a full house in Poker?

Though rare, folding a full house can be correct if the board and opponent behaviour suggest a stronger hand, such as quads or a straight flush. For instance, if the board pairs a higher rank or shows potential for a straight flush and your opponent is betting aggressively, a fold might save you chips.

Conclusion

A boat or full house is one of the strongest poker hands, and while it is a rare occurrence, it can lead to massive winnings when played correctly. With the right strategies, like slow playing, cautious value betting, and assessing the board, you can maximize your profits with a full house. However, staying aware of stronger hands and reading your opponents is key to avoiding big losses against an even more powerful hand.