Poker Glossary
Poker glossary

Up

'Up' is used in a two pair hand to name the higher pair. For example, queens up is two pair with queens as the higher pair, as in queens and tens.

The simple explanation

If you have two pair, you can describe it by the higher pair: 'aces up' means two pair with aces. The second pair is often added: aces up with nines.

A closer look

Two pair hands are compared by the higher pair first, then the lower pair, then the fifth card. The name 'up' helps to tell them apart: kings up beats queens up. In modern Hold'em, 'aces up' is the common use.

A practical example

You hold A♥ 9♦ and the flop is A♠ 9♣ 4♦. You have aces up.

Full explanation

‘Up’ is used in a two pair hand to name the higher pair. For example, queens up is two pair with queens as the higher pair, as in queens and tens.

‘Up’ names the higher pair in two pair.

Aces up means two pair with aces on top.

Compare two pair by the higher pair first.

Add the lower pair to be precise.

Aces up

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

  1. Preflop · Pot: 3 chips

    The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
    • Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
  2. Preflop · Pot: 8 chips

    Player A raises to 6 before the flop.

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
  3. Preflop · Pot: 12 chips

    Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
    • Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
  4. Flop · Pot: 12 chips

    Player A pairs his ace and his nine. Two pair with the higher pair of aces is called aces up.

    Board: Ace of spades (As)9 of clubs (9c)4 of diamonds (4d)

    • Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
    • Player B BB King of clubs (Kc)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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