Does two pair beat one pair?
Yes. Two pair beats one pair.
Makes a two pair.
Makes a pair.
Two pair uses two matched ranks and beats a single pair, even a higher one. A pair of kings loses to two pair of jacks and eights. The number of pairs decides it first, and only then do the ranks of the pairs matter.
On a board of K♣ 8♦ 3♠ Q♦ 5♥, one player holds Q♠ 8♠ for queens and eights and the other holds A♥ K♥ for top pair with an ace kicker. The kings looked strong on the flop, but the queen on the turn gave the other hand a second pair, and two pair wins the showdown.
Top pair with a good kicker is the hand that pays off two pair most often, because a player with ace king on a king-high board will call two or three bets. Two pair is also where kickers stop deciding: when both players hold two pair, the higher top pair wins, then the higher second pair, and only then the fifth card.
Quick tip: Two pairs beat one pair, no matter how high the single pair is.
Now put the rankings to work.
Practice real hands against opponents who punish the wrong calls.
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