"Trips" is a poker term referring to having three of a kind when two of those three cards are on the board rather than in your hand.

What are Trips in Poker?

In poker, the terms "trips" and "set" refer to having three of a kind. The difference is that "trips" refers specifically to a situation where two of the three matching cards are on the board (community cards), and one is in your hand. A set works the other way around.

Trips most commonly occur in flop games like Texas hold'em and Omaha and in stud games like seven card stud.

Understanding Trips

Trips is often strong hand in poker, ranked below a straight and above two pair. However, the fact that two of the cards are showing, makes trips an easier hand for your opponents to read.

It's worth noting that trips and a set are different. A set refers to three of a kind where two of the three matching cards are in your hand, and one is on the board.

Playing Trips

When you have trips, you have a strong hand that could potentially win the pot at showdown. However, it's important to consider other players' actions and potential better hands they may have.

Example of "Trips"

If the board reads A♦3♦A♠ then you would have trips if you held any AxXx hand except Ax3x (which would give you a full house instead), or both of the remaining two aces (A♣A♥ for four of a kind).

• "He made trips on the flop but decided to slow play to not scare off his opponents."
• "She lost the pot despite having trips, as her opponent had a flush."
• "Even though he had trips, he decided to fold due to the potential straight on the board."

Trips in Poker FAQs

What are trips in poker?

Trips is another name for three of a kind when two of the three matching cards are on the board.

How strong are trips in poker?

Trips can be a strong hand in poker, but the strength is greatly affected by the board texture and the strength of your opponents.

What is the difference between trips and a set?

The difference between trips and a set lies in how the cards are distributed. Trips occur when two of the three matching cards are on the board, and one is in your hand. A set occurs when two of the three matching cards are in your hand, and one is on the board.

How should I play trips?

How you should play trips depends on various factors, including the actions of other players, the other cards on the board, and the effective stack sizes in play.

Can trips beat a straight?

No, in the standard poker hand rankings, a straight beats trips.