Most new players in poker believe that if more than two players have equal hands, all it leads to a draw. Therefore, you need to get to know what is a kicker in poker, because this is a completely erroneous opinion. Often in such situations, the money goes to one player. And who will be such a person help to decide the kicker?
What is a kicker?
Let’s move on to the main question of this article and find out what is a kicker in poker. This is the card by which the winner will be determined in case of equivalent combinations. As you know, any number of cards can participate in making combinations. If we talk about the straight, full house, or straight flush, then you need five cards. In other cases, only two, three, or four cards are valuable.
How is the winner determined?
If the players have the same main hand, for example, a pair or a set of the same rank, the one with the higher additional cards wins. If they are equal, the next highest values are compared.
An example of a poker kicker
To understand what is a kicker in poker in more detail, let’s look at an example. Let’s imagine a game where two players failed to make a combination. And if you think that the bank is divided into two, then it is not. Players analyze their cards they have in their hands and look at the highest one. For example, one player has cards 2 and 3, and the other 7 and J. The first player has the highest card 3, and the other J, respectively, and the second one wins.
Varieties of kicker
In total, the following types of a kicker can be distinguished, namely:
- Combinations with one kicker. When players have collected the same combinations and are guided only by the highest card in their hands;
- Combinations with two kickers. When players have collected the same combination and are guided by their cards in their hands, but at the same time, one of the cards matches. For example, the first player has J and Q in his hands, and the second has Q and 10. Since both players have the highest Q card, they take into account their second card. In this case, the first player wins, because he has J, which is higher than 10;
- General kicker. A kicker in poker can be common only in one case – when the board has the same combination for all poker players: two pairs or four of a kind, plus a card of a higher denomination, which none of the players has in their hands. In this case, the bank is divided in half.
Now you know what is a kicker in poker. Remember that if you have not collected a combination, this does not mean that you have lost. Sometimes your high card can completely change the course of the game. At certain points, the kicker can be very useful, so don’t forget about it. Before placing a bet, evaluate the cards in your hand and consider if you do not make a combination, you can win by the kicker or not.
