What are Trips in Poker

Introduction

Trips, also known as three-of-a-kind, are powerful hands in poker that often catch players off guard.

But with great power comes great responsibility—playing trips the right way can mean the difference between maximizing your winnings and falling into traps set by savvy opponents.

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about trips to Poker hands.

What are Trips in Poker?

In Poker, the term ‘trips’ describes a hand that includes three cards of the same rank, commonly called three of a kind. It's crucial to differentiate trips from other hands featuring three cards of identical rank, especially sets.

Trips happen when a player holds one card of a specific rank in their hand (hole cards), and two additional cards of the same rank appear among the community cards on the board.

Trips commonly occur in Texas Hold'em and Omaha, where players frequently use their hole cards alongside the community cards to form their strongest five-card hand.

Differences Between Trips and Set

The difference between trips and a set lies in the distribution of the matching cards:

Trips: One card of the rank is in your hand, and two of the ranks are on the board.

Set: Two cards of the rank in your hand, one of the rank on the board.

Both are technically three of a kind, but the likelihood of achieving trips versus a set can vary, and so can the strength of the hand.

Example of Trips

Here’s an example of trips in a Texas Hold’em game:

Your hole cards: 7♠ 5♦ (you have a 7 and a 5)

The community cards: 7♣ 7♦ 2♠ K♥ 4♠

Here, you have trips with three 7s (7♠ 7♣ 7♦). You have one 7 in your hand, and two 7s appear on the board, forming three of a kind. The kicker in this hand is the K♥ on the board. Since there is no higher combination like a straight or flush, you are holding trips with a King kicker, and you can evaluate if your hand is strong based on the opponents’ betting patterns.

Trips in Different Situations:

Trips on a Low Pair Board:

Suppose you are holding 8♠ 4♣, and the board shows 8♦ 8♣ 3♠ Q♠ K♦. You have trips with three 8s (8♠ 8♦ 8♣).

This is a strong hand but not invincible. Your opponent might hold Qx or Kx, making a top pair or even two pairs, potentially challenging your trips. You would want to consider how the other players are betting in this scenario and whether they might have a hand with a higher kicker.

Trips vs. Full House

A full house can often outclass trips Poker hand, so it is important to watch out for full house possibilities, particularly when matching pairs or higher-value cards are on the board.

For example, if your hand is 6♠ 6♣, and the community cards show 6♦ 2♠ 2♣ K♠ J♣, you have trips (three 6s). However, if an opponent holds 2♦ 2♠, they have a full house (two 2s and three 6s), which beats your trips.

Ranking of Trips

While trips is a strong hand, it’s ranked below other hands like:

Straight (five consecutive cards)

Flush (five cards of the same suit)

Full House (three of a kind plus a pair)

Four of a Kind

Straight Flush or Royal Flush

A key element of playing trips effectively is understanding their relative strength in different situations. Trips are generally more vulnerable than a set, especially if the board shows potential straights or flushes or multiple players are still in hand.

Strategies to Play Trips

• Slow Play or Bet Aggressively

 If you have trips, you must decide whether to slow-play (check or bet small) or aggressively (raise or make large bets). The choice often depends on the situation and your position at the table.

Slow play: If the board is relatively dry (not many straight or flush possibilities), you might slow-play trips to induce bluffs from your opponents or to lure them into making larger bets.

Aggressive betting: If the board is draw-heavy (e.g., four cards to a flush or straight), you may want to bet aggressively to build the pot and protect your hand from being overtaken by another hand.

• Be Wary of Possible Straights and Flushes

For instance, if you have 8♠ 7♣ and the board comes 9♠ 10♦ 3♠ 2♣ 6♠, you are holding trips with the 7s, but there is also a straight (5-9) and a flush (5♠ and 6♠ are part of the same suit) on the board. While your hand is technically tripped, it is relatively weak compared to the board's potential to form better hands.

• Trips with a Low Kicker

Suppose your hole cards are 3♠ 3♦, and the board shows 3♣ Q♠ 5♦ 7♥ 10♠. You have trips (three 3s), but your kicker is quite low. If an opponent has a higher kicker, like a queen or a pair of queens, they could beat your trips. In such cases, you will want to assess the strength of your hand based on the players’ bets and positions.

How to Detect Trips in Opponents' Hands

It’s important to look at the board and your opponent's behaviour to evaluate whether they are holding trips. For instance:

A player who bets heavily on the flop or turn could hold trips, especially if the board shows a pair.

If the player calls a large bet on a paired board and then raises on the river, they could hold trips or a set.

However, detecting trips requires experience and a keen sense of how your opponents are playing. Players who make unexpected large bets after the turn or river could indicate they have trips, but this could also be a bluff or a different strong hand.

Example of Trips on the River

Your hole cards: J♠ J♣

The community cards: J♦ 9♠ 5♥ Q♦ 3♣

You now have trips with three Jacks (J♠ J♦ J♣), and this is a very strong hand. While it’s still vulnerable to straights or full houses if the board changes, it’s a hand you would want to bet aggressively on the river to extract value from weaker hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between trips and sets in poker?

A set is when a player holds two cards of the same rank, and one matching card appears on the board. Conversely, trips occur when a player has one card of a certain rank in their hand and two corresponding cards appear on the board.

Can trips be beaten in Poker?

Yes, trips can be beaten by hands like straight, flush, full house, four-of-a-kind, and higher hands. For example, if there is a full house on the board or a straight flush possibility, trips could be vulnerable.

What are the odds of hitting trips in Poker?

The odds of hitting trips on the flop with a pocket pair are roughly 11.8%. If you don’t have a pocket pair, the odds of hitting trips on the flop are about 0.8%. However, achieving trips is relatively common, especially in games where many players are involved.

Conclusion

Trip is a solid hand, but its strength can vary greatly depending on other players' actions. It's important to assess the risk of stronger hands, like a straight or flush, and adapt your strategy based on those factors. Understanding when trips are strong and when to be cautious is key to maximizing their potential in poker.