What Is Full House in Poker? Meaning and How to Use It

If your opponent is holding a straight draw that doesn’t include a king, they won’t make the straight.

You are more likely to be beaten by a four-of-a-kind or a better full house.

For instance, let’s say you’re holding pocket 8s and see a flop of 10, 10, 8. You have a full house of 8s over 10s. But if your opponent has pocket 10s, they have a four-of-a-kind, and there’s no way you can improve your hand enough to beat them.

If they have pocket aces and turn an ace, they have also beaten you, as they now have aces over 10s. In a contest between two full houses, the one with the higher three-of-a-kind will always win.

Even though you flopped a big hand, you could even be beaten by someone with a single 10. They only have a three-of-a-kind on the flop, and if the 8 pairs the board, you won’t care as you’ll have a four-of-a-kind. But you could be beaten if there is another 10 or a pair in the final two cards. For instance, if the turn and river are both 9s, they have 10s over 9s, and as you can’t have 3 pairs in poker, your hand is still 8s over 10s.

How to Play a Full House in Poker

It depends on your position and cards. If you’re holding a pocket pair or have one card from the pair and one from the three-of-a-kind, you are in a stronger position as your hand is more disguised. If you only have one card in your hand and are getting the rest from the community cards, there’s a higher chance you’ll be up against another full house or something stronger.

Take a look at our Texas Hold’em poker cheat sheet for some more specific tips on playing Texas Hold’em poker online.

Of course, Texas Hold’em isn’t the only game where you can draw a full house. It’s arguably an even stronger hand in Five-Card Draw, as there are no community cards, and your opponents have very little information to decipher your hand. In such cases, it’s all about getting as much value as possible from the hand, as you often have the best hand at the table.

For more information on playing draw games, including video poker, check our guide on how hand frequency affects payout percentages.

Where Does the Term Full House Come From?

The origins of this term are a little murky, but it likely stems from the fact that it’s one of the few hands that use all five cards. A four-of-a-kind, for instance, only uses four cards. There is a fifth, known as a kicker, but these cards usually only come into play when two players have the same hand, and it’s used to determine the winner. If you have a four-of-a-kind, you have all the possible cards of that value, so your hand can’t be matched, and that fifth card is useless.

Initially, it may have been called a “full hand” before eventually becoming a “full house” over the years.

Nicknames for a Full House in Cards

It’s common to hear the term “full boat” or just “boat” about a full house. This seems to come from the world of casino and poker cruises.

Summary: What’s a Full House in Poker?

Flopping a full house while holding a pocket pair is one of the best feelings in poker. You could have the nuts; even if you don’t, you likely have the best hand at the table. Moreover, you can improve to a better full house or even a four-of-a-kind.

You can still be beaten, so pay attention to those community cards and how your opponent bets. Once you’re confident you’re onto a winner, it’s all about getting as much value as possible.