Types of Poker Hands and Pay Off in No Limit

In poker, we want the other players to bet more money into the pot when we have a hand we think we can win. The more they bet, the more we'll win if we do win. This is called pay off. Your opponents' hands "pay off" for you because if those other players think their hands can beat yours, they will call your bets. Naturally, the stronger their hand, the more a player is willing to risk. Thus, while better hands for your opponents is more dangerous for you, it can also be more profitable if you beat them.

Depending on how you make your hand, you may or may not be paid big. It depends on the board. When estimating pay off, study the board. A well-coordinated board usually pays off more than a rainbow. Someone may have a hand (hopefully one you beat) or a drawing hand.

To understand pay offs, let's look at the types of hands:

1. Nut Hand.

This is when you have the best possible hand, or almost. Say an Ace-high flush or that rare four of a kind.

2. Strong Hand.

A solid made hand that can still be beaten if someone else has the nuts. Your hand may have a Queen high and there is a possible King- or Ace-high out there.

3. Very Good Hand.

An overpair and/or a set is a very good hand.

4. Good Hand.

Top pair and middle pair. A top pair means one of your cards is paired to the highest card on the board. These hands can beat a bluff but if they DON'T think you're bluffing, they may not call a big bet.

5. Weak Hand.

Low suited connectors. These are hands you normally won't play with.

Pay Off

When you bet to someone, they will try to decide whether you have a real hand or you're bluffing. If they think you're bluffing and they have a hand that can beat a bluff, they will pay off (that is, they will call or even raise). If they have a strong hand or the nuts, they don't care if you're bluffing or not; they will call or raise. But if theirs is a weak hand, they will probably fold unless they are desperate or feeling really lucky.

Middle pairs like Jack pairs and low suited connectors like Three-Five of Hearts pay off little. There aren't a lot of hands they can beat. If you go all-in and your opponent happens to hold one of these, they'd be foolish to call.

Overpair and high pocket pairs pay off well. Players are confident of them and are reluctant to let go of them even when there's no connection to the board. BUT, if it's *you* who has an overpair and you make a set, it's unlikely you will be paid off unless the board suggests a stronger hand, like a flush or straight draw.

Having high cards like AA or AK can make a player over-confident. If a player has AK off-suit and the board is 8K54A, they will likely pay off to someone with 67.

Small pocket pairs and low suited connectors are like all or nothing. They're either great or worthless hands. The good thing here is they'll never be "trap hands" like KQ can be.

These general pay off values are relevant only to No Limit Holdem. It is not like this in Limit Holdem. Use these as a guide when you want to induce bets into the pot.