Playing with well-planned strategies is key to winning at poker — a thrilling card game. For this and other reasons, it attracts players from all walks of life, whether they’re casually passing the time or competing at the highest levels of the game.
Poker would not be the same without hand rankings. The winner of the pot is decided by their hand of cards.
But what if two players’ ranking hands are identical? Now we get to the exciting part. If players fail to grasp this principle, they run the risk of losing crucial pots. What is a kicker in poker? Learn its definition, its various uses and how to put it to good use at the poker table with the help of this article.
Definition of a kicker in poker
In a game of poker, a kicker is an additional card that can determine the winner between two players with identical ranking hands. When playing a hand containing shared cards, such as a pair, two pairs or four of a kind, kickers are crucial. For accurate hand evaluation, you need to understand kickers.
The role of kickers in ranking poker hands
Kickers play a crucial role when two players with identical pairs or trips tie in the main hand ranking. They break ties by using the highest-ranking unused card or cards to determine who wins.
Hand typeWhere it mattersAce highYes One pairYesTwo pairsYesThree of a kindYesFour of a kindSometimesStraightNoFlushNoFull houseNoStraight flushNoRoyal flushNoKicker in ace high
Kickers decide everything in ace-high hands. If no player gets a pair or better, the winner is determined by the descending order of the highest-ranking cards.
ace high cards in pokerExample:
Player A: Has A and K Player B: Has A and Q The board: 7, 9, 4, 2 and 6Result: Each player has an ace high card, but Player A wins with a king kicker.
Kicker in one pair
If two players have the same pair, the winner is the one with the highest remaining cards, known as kickers. In descending order, these kickers are used to break ties.
Example:
Player A: Has A and K Player B: Has A and Q The board: A, 7, 9, 3 and 2Result: Player A wins because their king is higher than Player B’s queen.
Kicker in two pair
When two players share the same two pairs, the kicker, which often decides who wins, is the fifth card in a two-pair hand.
Example:
Player A: Has A and K Player B: Has A and Q The board: A, 9, 3, 7 and 7Result: Player A’s king kicker is higher than Player B’s queen, giving Player A the win.
Kicker in three of a kind
If both players have the same three of a kind, kickers are used to compare which two remaining cards are better in each hand. The highest kicker wins, and if that doesn’t work, the second kicker is also taken into account.
Example:
Player A: Has A and K Player B: Has A and Q The board: A, A, 9, 3 and 2Result: Player A wins because their first kicker, a king, beats Player B’s first kicker, a queen.
Kicker in four of a kind
The kicker matters in a four of a kind scenario only when both players have the same four of a kind or when the quads are on the board. The winner is the player who has the fifth-highest card.
Player A: Has A and 7 Player B: Has K and 6 The board: Q, Q, Q, Q and 3Result: Both players share four queens on the board, but Player A wins because their ace is higher than Player B’s king.
Kickers in Texas Hold’em
The top Texas Hold’em players on the best online poker sites often combine their two private hole cards with five community cards to form the best possible five-card hand. Often, multiple players may have similar combinations, like a pair or two pairs. That’s where kickers become essential.
Kickers are cards that break ties, and having a higher kicker poker can mean the difference between winning the pot or losing it.
Example:
Player A: Has A and K Player B: Has A and Q The board has the following cards: A, 9, 6, 3, and 2Result: They both have two aces, but Player A wins because they have a king.
Poker slang: Kicker problems
A “kicker problem” occurs when your side card is weaker than your opponent’s, even if the main part of your poker hand is the same. Nevertheless, which type of poker you are playing, if your opponent has A and Q and you have A and 4 on an A 9 7 board, you could lose even though you share a top pair. This case is called being “outkicked”.
A related term is “counterfeit kicker”. This scenario happens when the board’s rank is the same as or higher than your kicker’s, making it useless. For instance, if you hold A and 5 and the board shows A, Q, J, 2, and 5, your 5 poker kicker is neutralised, which could lead to a split pot or a loss.
Tips for using poker kickers effectively
Using kickers in poker can bring players profit, and learning how to play poker and its kickers can be summarized in these tips:
Avoid weak aces: Aces with better kickers often have the upper hand over hands like A2 or A3. Use position wisely: Acting later in the hand helps you to gauge kicker strength based on how your opponent acts. Watch your opponents: Strong betting usually indicates they have a good kicker or top pair. Don’t overvalue top pair: A top pair with a weak kicker is vulnerable. Recognise counterfeits: If the board duplicates your kicker or makes it less valuable, you should reevaluate the strength of your hand. When you play kickers well, it can mean the difference between a small loss and a profitable fold or win.FAQ
Can a kicker tie two hands?
Yes, a kicker can tie two hands together. The hand is tied when both players have the same main hand, like a pair or three of a kind, and their kickers are also the same. In such a scenario, the pot is split. For example, both players have A and K, and the board shows A, 9, 7, 3 and 2.
How do I identify my kicker in a hand?
When it comes to determining what is a kicker card in poker, the highest-ranking card in your hand that isn’t part of your main hand combination is your kicker. If your cards are A and K and the board shows A, 8 and 4, your King is the kicker.
What distinguishes a winning hand using the kicker?
When more than one person has the same main hand strength, the kicker serves as a tiebreaker. For instance, if two people each hold a pair of jacks, the player with the higher side card wins. If Player A has J and Q and Player B has J and 9, and the board shows J, 7, 3, 6 and 2, Player A wins.
About the author
Daniel Smyth
Daniel Smyth has seen the online poker, casino, and betting industry from every angle. He previously played poker semi-professionally before working at WPT Magazine as a writer and editor. From there, he transitioned to online gaming where he’s been producing expert content for over 10 years.
Follow Daniel on Twitter @DanSmythThePoet
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