If both players have the exact same hand and kicker, the pot will be split evenly between them. For example, if both players have an ace and a king and the board is A♦ 9♣ 7♥ 4♠ 3♣, they both have Aces with a King kicker, which means a tie.
Sometimes, the tiniest of differences in poker hands can decide the fate of your game. That’s what makes poker a game of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. Why do we say luck? Because if ever your hand is tied with another player, i.e., both players have hands with equal strengths, it all comes down to one card to decide the game. This is called a kicker in poker.
The kicker is a side card that is used in this scenario to act as a tie-breaker. This is especially common in one-pair, two-pair hands, or high card situations. The kicker card determines which player has the edge and can claim the pot.
In this article, we will discuss more about:
As mentioned, a kicker is a side card that helps break the tie between hands of the same rank. It can be any card in your hand that can influence the outcome.
For example, imagine two players in a Texas Hold’em game with high pairs:
In this scenario, Player 2 will win because the K is the kicker, and the AK combination outkicks the opponent’s AQ.
In the second scenario, the kicker can be any card in your hand that may not be a part of the primary hand combination.
For example:
Both players have a pair of Kings, but Player 2 wins because they have a Queen kicker, while Player 1’s highest remaining card is a 10.
Kickers come into play in several scenarios, mainly when two players have hands of the same rank and need a tiebreaker. Here are a few examples:
If no player has a pair or better, the highest-ranking card determines the winner. If multiple players have the same high card, the kicker (the next highest card) decides who wins.
Example:
Both players have an Ace as their highest card, but Player 1 wins because their 9 kicker is higher than Player 2’s 8 kicker.
When two players have the same pair, the highest side card (kicker) determines the winner.
Example:
Both players have a pair of Queens, but Player 2 wins because their King kicker beats Player 1’s Jack kicker.
In two-pair situations, the highest pair determines the winner first. If both players have the same two pairs, the kicker (the fifth card) will determine the outcome.
Example:
Both players have Aces and Tens pairs, but Player 1 wins because they have a Jack kicker, while Player 1 only has a 9 kicker.
So, always consider your kicker when evaluating your hand strength. A strong kicker gives you a better chance to win in a showdown.
Kicker is a tiebreaker, so it is rarely used. You’ll be able to use this move in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, where players combine their hole cards (2 cards in hand) with the community cards (5 cards face up on the table) to make the best hand.
In situations where players have the same primary hand, the kicker decides who takes the pot. This happens frequently with high card hands, one pair hands, and two pair hands.
For example, let’s say two players each have a pair of Jacks in a Hold’em game:
Both have a pair of Jacks when combined with the community cards, but Player 1 wins because their Ace kicker is higher than Player 2’s King kicker.
In Omaha poker, players are dealt four hole cards (the private cards that players hold in their hand). In the case of Big O, players are given five hole cards. This, when combined with the community cards, gives a greater number of options to make a winning hand.
In Texas Hold’em, however, players receive only two hole cards. This means the number of combinations they can make is lower. In this scenario, players often end up having the same rank pairs when combined with the community cards. This is where a strong kicker gives you an advantage in these situations.
For example, suppose the community cards are K♦ 8♣ 3♠ 6♦ 2♥.
Both players have a pair of Kings, but Player 1 wins because their Queen kicker is stronger than Player 2’s Jack kicker.
There are some situations where a kicker in poker is not needed:
Straight is when all the five cards line up in sequence, irrespective of their colour. For example:
Both players are have a 10 pair, however, Player 1 also has a straight, which ranks higher in value. Hence player 1 wins.
A flush is when the all the straight cards are from the same suit. For example, a flush of spades means your final hand will look something like this: 6♠ 7♠ 8♠ 9♠ 10♠. This is one of the highest ranking hands in poker.
A full house has three of a kind along with a pair. For example, 3♣ 3♠ 3♦ 6♣ 6♥ is a full house. If by luck, your opponent also gets a full house, say 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ 6♣ 6♥, then they will win because three 7s rank higher than three 3s. Kickers don’t factor in here.
A kicker is not required in four of a kind hand. For example, if Player 1 has 7♣ 7♠ 7♦ 7♥ while Player 2 has 6♣ 6♥ 6♦ 6♠, Player 1 wins because of a higher hand. The fifth card, or the kicker, doesn’t add any value in this scenario.
In a two pair hand, the ranking follows this kind of hierarchy:
For example, suppose the community cards in a Texas Hold’em game are:
Q♠ 3♦ 7♣ 10♦ 4♠
Since both players have the exact same two pair and the highest kicker is 10 for both of them, the pot will be split.
Now, let’s look at another scenario this scenario where the board is:
10♠ K♦ K♣ 3♠ 8♠
Here, Player 1 wins because their 5♥ kicker beats Player 1’s 4♦ kicker.
To summarize, a kicker in poker is a side card that breaks ties between hands of the same rank. It is only used when the hands are identical. The kicker doesn’t count in straights, flushes, full houses, and four-of-a-kinds, or if the one hand of the same hand has a higher value.
And now that you know about kicker, dig into more poker terms to sharpen your knowledge of the game. Check out our casino glossary, to find in-depth explanations of poker terms like High Card, Two Pair, and Full House, and more. We also have a rundown of how to play different casino games like Blackjack and Slots.
If both players have the exact same hand and kicker, the pot will be split evenly between them. For example, if both players have an ace and a king and the board is A♦ 9♣ 7♥ 4♠ 3♣, they both have Aces with a King kicker, which means a tie.
No, a kicker must be one of the highest cards making up your hand. That’s because, in case of a tie, the player with a higher value kicker will become the winner.
If the highest kicker is on the board (community cards) and both players have the exact same hand, the pot will be split. In this scenario, the kicker does not provide an advantage to either player.
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