Kicker in Poker: What Is It & When Does a Kicker Matter?
In poker, the outcome of a hand can often come down to the smallest details, and one of the most important of these is the kicker. Many new players do not realise how much a kicker can influence who wins a hand, even when two players hold similar cards.
This blog post explains what a kicker is, why it matters, and how it comes into play in different types of hands. It also explores what happens when players share the same kicker and clarifies the idea of a high card kicker.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is a Kicker in Poker and Why Does It Matter?
A kicker in poker is any card that is not part of the main hand combination but can be used to break ties. For instance, if two players both have a pair, the kicker is the next highest card held by each player outside the pair itself.
The kicker plays a key role in deciding the winner when players share the same principal combination. If two players both have a pair of kings, the player with the higher side card, or kicker, wins.
Kickers are important because they differentiate hands that might appear identical at first glance. In games such as Texas Hold’em, where players make their best five-card hand from seven cards, recognising how kickers operate is essential for assessing hand strength.
With these basics established, it is useful to look at how kickers function within common hand types.
How Does a Kicker Work in Poker Hands?
A kicker is relevant in hands where not all five cards form the main combination, such as pairs, two pairs, or three of a kind. It is generally the highest card outside the main combination and comes into consideration when players tie on the primary part of the hand.
For example, if one player holds a pair of jacks with other cards being 10, 7, and 4, the 10 would serve as the kicker. If another player has a pair of jacks but their highest extra card is a 9, the player with the 10 wins due to the superior kicker.
Kickers may involve more than one card depending on the hand:
With two pairs, the fifth card acts as the kicker if both players share the same two pairs.
With three of a kind, the two remaining cards may both be kickers if required.
With a single pair, up to three kickers are compared in sequence.
Certain hands do not involve kickers because all five cards contribute to the combination. This applies to straights, flushes, and full houses, where the ranking depends solely on the combination itself.
Now that the basics are clear, the next section explains when a kicker determines the winner.
When Does a Kicker Decide the Winner?
A kicker decides the outcome when players have the same main combination. The additional cards are compared in order until a difference is found:
Pair: if both players hold a pair of queens, the highest non-queen card is compared first. If those cards match, the next highest card is compared, and so forth.
Two pairs: if both players share the same two pairs, the fifth card acts as the deciding factor.
Three of a kind: if both players have the same trips, the next highest card is checked, followed by the next if necessary.
For hands where all five cards define the result, such as straights, flushes, and full houses, kickers are not used. The strength of the five-card combination settles the outcome.
For instance, on a board showing K 9 5 2 2, if one player holds K Q and another holds K J, both have two pairs, kings and twos, but the player holding the queen wins since the queen acts as the higher kicker.
But what if the additional cards match exactly?
What Happens If Players Have the Same Kicker?
If players share the same main hand and identical highest kicker, the next available card is compared. This continues through the remaining cards until a difference emerges or all five cards are identical.
Take Texas Hold’em as an example. If both players have a pair of nines and both use an ace from the board as their highest additional card, the next highest card is then compared. If that also matches, the final card is compared. If all five cards making the best hand are the same for both players, the pot is shared.
This frequently occurs when community cards play a major role. For example, if the board reads A K 9 7 3 and both players hold A 10, both form ace high with identical kickers, resulting in a tie.
There is also the scenario where no pair is formed at all, which brings us to the concept of high card kickers.
What Is a High Card Kicker in Poker?
A high card kicker is the highest card in a hand that is not part of any made combination and is used to decide the outcome when hands are otherwise equal.
For example, if two players each hold a pair of sixes, and one has an ace as their next highest card while the other has a queen, the ace acts as the higher kicker and wins. In a hand with no pairs or better, the highest card is compared first, then the next highest, and so on. Ace high beats king high, ace-queen high beats ace-jack high, and so forth.
Understanding high card kickers is useful when a board produces weak or scattered combinations, as a single high card can be the deciding factor when everything else aligns.
If you choose to play poker, or any other casino games, be sure to keep responsible gambling practices in mind and never wager more than you are willing to lose.
Play Casino Games Online at King Casino
If you’re looking to explore a variety of casino games online, we’ve built King Casino as a platform licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This means we meet the required standards for fairness, security, and responsible play.
At King Casino, you can choose from a wide range of games, including popular slots and classic tables such as baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. You’ll find Random Number Generator (RNG) versions if you prefer to play at your own pace, as well as live dealer tables that offer a more interactive experience.
We also provide tools such as deposit limits and account settings to help you manage your gameplay. Registering is simple, and you’ll find clear guidance on game rules, payments, and how everything works.
If you’d like to try the games we have available at King Casino, you can create an account with us, add funds, and explore our collection in your own time.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
In poker, the outcome of a hand can often come down to the smallest details, and one of the most important of these is the kicker. Many new players do not realise how much a kicker can influence who wins a hand, even when two players hold similar cards.
This blog post explains what a kicker is, why it matters, and how it comes into play in different types of hands. It also explores what happens when players share the same kicker and clarifies the idea of a high card kicker.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is a Kicker in Poker and Why Does It Matter?
A kicker in poker is any card that is not part of the main hand combination but can be used to break ties. For instance, if two players both have a pair, the kicker is the next highest card held by each player outside the pair itself.
The kicker plays a key role in deciding the winner when players share the same principal combination. If two players both have a pair of kings, the player with the higher side card, or kicker, wins.
Kickers are important because they differentiate hands that might appear identical at first glance. In games such as Texas Hold’em, where players make their best five-card hand from seven cards, recognising how kickers operate is essential for assessing hand strength.
With these basics established, it is useful to look at how kickers function within common hand types.
How Does a Kicker Work in Poker Hands?
A kicker is relevant in hands where not all five cards form the main combination, such as pairs, two pairs, or three of a kind. It is generally the highest card outside the main combination and comes into consideration when players tie on the primary part of the hand.
For example, if one player holds a pair of jacks with other cards being 10, 7, and 4, the 10 would serve as the kicker. If another player has a pair of jacks but their highest extra card is a 9, the player with the 10 wins due to the superior kicker.
Kickers may involve more than one card depending on the hand:
With two pairs, the fifth card acts as the kicker if both players share the same two pairs.
With three of a kind, the two remaining cards may both be kickers if required.
With a single pair, up to three kickers are compared in sequence.
Certain hands do not involve kickers because all five cards contribute to the combination. This applies to straights, flushes, and full houses, where the ranking depends solely on the combination itself.
Now that the basics are clear, the next section explains when a kicker determines the winner.
When Does a Kicker Decide the Winner?
A kicker decides the outcome when players have the same main combination. The additional cards are compared in order until a difference is found:
Pair: if both players hold a pair of queens, the highest non-queen card is compared first. If those cards match, the next highest card is compared, and so forth.
Two pairs: if both players share the same two pairs, the fifth card acts as the deciding factor.
Three of a kind: if both players have the same trips, the next highest card is checked, followed by the next if necessary.
For hands where all five cards define the result, such as straights, flushes, and full houses, kickers are not used. The strength of the five-card combination settles the outcome.
For instance, on a board showing K 9 5 2 2, if one player holds K Q and another holds K J, both have two pairs, kings and twos, but the player holding the queen wins since the queen acts as the higher kicker.
But what if the additional cards match exactly?
What Happens If Players Have the Same Kicker?
If players share the same main hand and identical highest kicker, the next available card is compared. This continues through the remaining cards until a difference emerges or all five cards are identical.
Take Texas Hold’em as an example. If both players have a pair of nines and both use an ace from the board as their highest additional card, the next highest card is then compared. If that also matches, the final card is compared. If all five cards making the best hand are the same for both players, the pot is shared.
This frequently occurs when community cards play a major role. For example, if the board reads A K 9 7 3 and both players hold A 10, both form ace high with identical kickers, resulting in a tie.
There is also the scenario where no pair is formed at all, which brings us to the concept of high card kickers.
What Is a High Card Kicker in Poker?
A high card kicker is the highest card in a hand that is not part of any made combination and is used to decide the outcome when hands are otherwise equal.
For example, if two players each hold a pair of sixes, and one has an ace as their next highest card while the other has a queen, the ace acts as the higher kicker and wins. In a hand with no pairs or better, the highest card is compared first, then the next highest, and so on. Ace high beats king high, ace-queen high beats ace-jack high, and so forth.
Understanding high card kickers is useful when a board produces weak or scattered combinations, as a single high card can be the deciding factor when everything else aligns.
If you choose to play poker, or any other casino games, be sure to keep responsible gambling practices in mind and never wager more than you are willing to lose.
Play Casino Games Online at King Casino
If you’re looking to explore a variety of casino games online, we’ve built King Casino as a platform licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This means we meet the required standards for fairness, security, and responsible play.
At King Casino, you can choose from a wide range of games, including popular slots and classic tables such as baccarat, roulette, and blackjack. You’ll find Random Number Generator (RNG) versions if you prefer to play at your own pace, as well as live dealer tables that offer a more interactive experience.
We also provide tools such as deposit limits and account settings to help you manage your gameplay. Registering is simple, and you’ll find clear guidance on game rules, payments, and how everything works.
If you’d like to try the games we have available at King Casino, you can create an account with us, add funds, and explore our collection in your own time.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
