What is the Kicker Card and what are the rules to use this?

Table of content:

• What is a kicker in Poker?
• Kicker rules in poker and kicker in Texas holdem
• How to use a kicker in Texas Holdem?
• How Do Kickers Work in Poker?
• What if Two Players Have the Same Kicker?
• Betting Strategy with Kickers in Poker

What is a kicker In Poker?

A kicker is a card which is not used while making a hand combination with the community cards on the table. A kicker is also called a side card. It is possible for a player’s hand combination to have more than one kicker and at times, no kicker. A kicker’s main purpose is to break ties when two players’ hand combinations are the same.

For example, If Player 1’s hand combination with the community cards on the table is King (K), King (K), Rank 2 (2), Rank 5 (5) and Queen (Q) and Player 2’s hand combination with the community cards on the table is King (K), King (K), Rank 2 (2), Rank 5 (5) and Rank 10 (10), both players have a one pair or King. Both these hand combinations have 3 kickers, Player 1’s hand has Rank 2 (2), Rank 5 (5) and Queen (Q) as kickers and Player 2’s hand has Rank 2 (2), Rank 5 (5) and Rank 10 (10) as kickers. In a situation like this, where both players have the same hand combination with the community cards, we look at the kickers to determine the winner. In this case, if we compare the kickers, both players have Rank 2 (2) and Rank 5 (5) in their hands as kickers. The third kicker determines the winner.

Player 1 has Queen (Q) as their third kicker and Player 2 has Rank 10 (10) as their third kicker. By comparing these, we see that Player 1’s kicker, Queen (Q) is bigger in rank than Player 2’s kicker, Rank 10 (10). Hence, the winner of this round is Player 1. This was an example where a kicker was used to break a tie. Let’s see an example where a kicker cannot be used. For example, If Player A’s hand combination with the community cards on the table is King (K), King (K), Jack (J), Rank 8 (8) and Rank 7 (7) and Player 2’s hand combination with the community cards on the table is King (K), King (K), Jack (J), Rank 8 (8) and Rank 7 (7). Here, we see that both the players have the same cards, a pair and 3 kickers.

Since both the players have the same hand combination with the community cards on the table, we compare kickers. We notice that both the players have the same kickers, Jack (J), Rank 8 (8) and Rank 7 (7). This calls for a tie between both the players. In this case, when both the players have the same hand combinations with the community cards on the table as well as the same kicker cards, the pot gets divided between the two players.

Kicker rules in poker and kicker in Texas holdem

There is not a specific set of poker kicker rules of rules for Texas hold'em kickers. Kickers can be found in some hand combinations. Here is a set of hand combinations defining kicker in poker, Texas hold'em variant, which you can play on GetMega.

High Card-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table consists of kickers. This is because in this hand combination, there is no relation between any of the cards in terms of color or sequence. So technically, all cards in this hand combination can be considered as kickers poker. So, all these cards can be considered kickers in this hand combination.

One Pair-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table consists of kickers. This is because in this hand combination, only 2 of the 5 cards are being used for the 5 card hand combination, leaving the 3 other cards. So, all these cards can be considered kickers in this hand combination.

Two Pair-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table consists of kickers poker. This is because in this hand combination, 4 of the 5 cards are being used for the 5 card hand combination, leaving 1 card. So, this card is considered a kicker in Texas hold'em.

Three of a Kind-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table consists of kickers. This is because in this hand combination, only 3 of the 5 cards are being used for the 5 card hand combination, leaving the 2 other cards. So, all these cards can be considered kickers in this hand combination.

Straight -

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table does not consist of any kicker poker. This is because this hand combination consists of all 5 cards in a sequential order. To have a kicker in Texas hold'em or any other variation of poker, there has to be one or more card left out of the 5 card hand combination which is not a part of that combination.

Flush-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table does not consist of any kickers. This is because this hand combination consists of all 5 cards of the same suit. To have a kicker in Texas hold'em or any other variation of poker, there has to be one or more card left out of the 5 card hand combination which is not a part of that combination.

Full House -

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table does not consist of any kickers. This is because this hand combination consists of a three of a kind and a pair, forming all 5 cards of the hand combination. To have a kicker in Texas hold'em or any other variation of poker, there has to be one or more card left out of the 5 card hand combination which is not a part of that combination.

Four of a Kind-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table consists of kickers. This is because in this hand combination, 4 of the 5 cards are being used for the 5 card hand combination, leaving 1 card. So, this card is considered a kicker in Texas hold'em.

Straight Flush -

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table does not consist of any kickers. This is because this hand combination consists of all 5 cards in a sequential order all of the same suit. To have a kicker in Texas hold'em or any other variation of poker, there has to be one or more card left out of the 5 card hand combination which is not a part of that combination.

Royal Flush-

Kicker rules in poker indicate that this hand combination with community cards on the table does not consist of any kickers. This is because this hand combination consists of all 5 cards in a sequential order from rank 10 (10) to Aces (A), all of the same suit. To have a kicker in Texas hold'em or any other variation of poker, there has to be one or more card left out of the 5 card hand combination which is not a part of that combination.

How to use a kicker in Texas Hold'em?

Using a kicker in Texas Hold'em is fairly easy. A kicker in poker, Texas hold'em variant or any other variant is described as a card which is a part of the 5-card poker hand combination but is not used to form the hand. A kicker in poker, Texas hold'em variation, specifically, can also be considered a part of the 2 card hand dealt to the player by the dealer. A kicker in poker, Texas hold'em variation, is used, for the most part, to break ties. As far as ranking is confirmed, the higher the rank of the card, the better the kicker in poker, Texas hold'em variation, is.

How Do Kickers Work in Poker?

When two or more players have the same hand strength at the end of a hand, kickers are used. The highest card in a poker hand that isn't part of a constructed hand is known as the kicker.

Let's imagine we're playing Texas Hold'em and the board reads K♠ T♥ 8♣ 5♥ 2♦ on the first turn. Two players face off in a showdown, with one showing K♣ Q♣ and the other showing K♦ J♥.

In this case, both players have a pair of kings, but the player with K♣ Q♣ wins the pot because he has a better kicker. Because K♣ K♠ Q♣ T♥ 8♣ defeats K♣ K♦ J♥ T♥ 8♣, this player has the better five-card hand.

When both players hold the same pair, the kicker is the next highest card in the five-card hand. The Q♣ of the first player outranks (or "outkicks") the J♥ of the second player.

What if Two Players Have the Same Kicker?

The next-highest card in the hand is used when two or more players have the same hand strength and kicker. For example, A A K T 8 defeats A A K 9 8, because the T is a superior second kicker than the 9.

The pot is split between the two players in a battle of two identical hands with identical kickers.

Betting Strategy with Kickers in Poker

Not all hands are made equal. Kickers have a significant role in the true strength of hands and win rates in poker.

When it comes to one-pair hands, kickers will be used the most. (When holding one pair, it's less possible that two players will have the same two-pair or three-of-a-kind in their hand.)

As a result, knowing how to manoeuvre with top-pairs hands of various kicker strengths is critical.

The following betting factors will be influenced by the value of your kicker:

You bet on the number of streets.
You choose the streets you want to wager on.
The amount of your stake that you can choose.

Now you know all about kicker cards and what they do! Download the GetMega app and play now!