Poker glossary

Running Pair

A running pair is a pair that comes on the last two cards of the board, the turn and the river. The two cards have the same rank.

The simple explanation

If the turn is a five and the river is another five, the board has a running pair. It can change who has the best hand, since the board pairs.

A closer look

A running pair is a rare event that can make full houses and quads possible. A player with a pocket pair of another rank gets a full house, and a player with a pair of that rank gets quads. It also means that the board plays more often for some hands. The word 'runner-runner' is related to cards that come on the turn and river.

A practical example

The board is Q♠ 7♦ 2♥ 5♠ 5♣. The turn and the river make a running pair of fives.

Full explanation

A running pair is a pair that comes on the last two cards of the board, the turn and the river. The two cards have the same rank.

A running pair is a pair made by the turn and river.

Both cards have the same rank.

It can make full houses possible.

It is a rare event.

A running pair

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).

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)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop is queen, seven, two.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
The turn is a five.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)5 of spades (5s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)5 of spades (5s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)5 of spades (5s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 12 chips
The river is another five. The last two board cards make a pair. This is a running pair.
Board: Queen of spades (Qs)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)5 of spades (5s)5 of clubs (5c)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)King of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)9 of diamonds (9d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0

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

Explore this topic