What is a Kicker in Poker? How Kickers Decide Winning Hands

Jon Sofen
Senior Editor U.S.
17 min read
Kickers in poker title image

What is a kicker in poker? For starters, it's not the same thing as the player in American football who kicks the ball. In a nutshell, a kicker is what essentially breaks a tie in poker, but does not determine the ranking of a poker hand.

We'll go more in-depth on kickers in this article so you can fully understand exactly how they come into play when you play poker, especially a game like Texas Hold'em. It's important to know that this is not a page solely listing the Poker Hands Rankings, but rather a comprehensive look into what kickers are in poker and how they work.

Aside from the main hand rankings that determine what hands beat what, there's a secondary part that comes into play when it comes to hands such as a pair and two pair that decides the winning hand, and that is the kicker. If you're completely confused as to what a kicker is, you won't be in a few minutes.

On this page, you'll learn: 

What is a Kicker in Poker?

The TL:DR answer to what a kicker is in poker is it is an unpaired side card that is used as a tie-breaker in games such as Texas Hold'em and Stud poker.

Think of it this way - let's say you have Ax5x and the board shows Ax3x10x9x4x. You have a pair of aces in Texas Hold'em, but what if your opponent is also holding an Ax in their hand? Who wins the pot? Let's take a look.

In Hold'em, you play your best five-card poker hand. So, with Ax5x, your best hand is AxAx10x9x5x. Your kicker is the 5x as it is your side card that is unpaired.

But now let's say your opponent is holding the 8x as their side card - or kicker. Their hand would win as the 8x kicker is superior to your 5x.

Kickers are only relevant in five-card hand comparisons. They do not improve hand categories - a pair is still a pair regardless of kicker, but the kicker is used to break a tie. The best starting hands often include an ace for several different reasons, and one is due to its kicker value.

When Does a Kicker Matter?

A kicker matters when two or more players have the same general poker hand category strength, such as a pair or two pair. The kicker is then used to break the tie between the players to determine who wins the pot.

A kicker matters and comes into play when two or more players hold:

Read on to find out more about kickers with each hand.

When Kickers matter in poker graphic

One Pair Situations

Often times, especially in Hold'em games, the winning hand is just one pair. And sometimes the players share the same pair. So, who wins the pot? Well, it all comes down to the kicker.

Here's an example that should help:  You are holding Jx10x and your buddy Jim has Jx6x with the five community cards showing Jx4x9x3x7x. You both have a pair of jacks, but you're going to win the pot because Jim's 6x kicker is less than the 10x in your hand.

Two Pair Situations

It's a bit more complicated with two pair hands, but the same basic concept applies.

Two pair means you have two separate pairs, but a kicker still comes into play if you and your opponent both share the same two pairs. This is often the case when there is at least one pair among the five community cards. So, if your two hole cards are Ax8x and the community cards are 8x5x5x3x2x and your opponent has 8x7x, you both have two pair eights and fives, but your Ax tie-breaking kicker is better than their 7x kicker.

Three of a Kind Situations

There are situations where players can have the same three-of-a-kind, such as three aces. But how does the dealer decide who wins the hand in these situations?

Once again, it all comes down to the kicker. The example for this is if the board shows AxAx2x4x5x and you're holding Ax10x,  you have three aces with a 10x kicker, and that would beat a hand such as Ax9x.

But let's say the board is 9x9x9x2x3x for three-of-a-kind on the board. Two kickers could come into play if neither player has a 9x for four-of-a-kind or any pair. So, if you have Jx8x and your opponent  has Jx6x, your five best cards are superior because your first kicker Jx ties your opponent's Jx, but your 8x secondary kicker breaks the tie against the lesser 6x secondary kicker.

Four of a Kind Situations

Yes, there are certain, albeit rare, situations where a kicker can come into play with four-of-a-kind (also referred to as "quads"). The only possibility of that happening in Hold'em, however, is if the four-of-a-kind hand is showing on the community board, such as JxJxJxJx8x. In this case, if one or both players have at least one card that beats the 8x, the pot will go to the player with the superior kicker(s).  

For example, if your hole cards are 10x7x, your hand would beat, say, 8x7x because your 10x kicker to go along with the four jacks is best. Remember, you're making the best possible five-card poker hand between your two hole cards and the five community cards available. 

High Card Situations

There are certain situations where no player in the hand hits so much as a pair - leaving them with just a high-card hand. In those instances, it comes down to which player has the best kicker. For example, suppose neither player hit a pair and Player X has Ax4x and Player Y has Ax9x. Who wins? If you guessed Player Y, you'd be correct, and that is because the 9x kicker with the Ax strongest card beats the 4x kicker.

While kickers matter in the hands we mentioned above, it's important to realize that kickers are the last factor that's considered when determining who wins a hand. A strong kicker isn't going to win you every hand, especially in multiway pots and on well-connected boards. 

When a Kicker Does Not Matter

A kicker doesn't always come into play, and in those situations your secondary card is completely irrelevant to the outcome of the hand. Let's dive into this concept in more detail.

A kicker does not matter when two or more players hold:

Read on to find out more about kickers with each hand.

When kickers don't matter in poker graphic

Straights

A straight is five consecutive numerical cards - assuming you don't have five of the same suits (that is a flush) - such as 10xJxQxKxAx. If you have a straight, your kicker means nothing because the straight alone encompasses five cards, and poker is about having the best five-card hand.

So, if you have Qx8x and the board is showing 9x10xJxKx2x, your Qx gives you a straight. If your opponent has Qx3x, also a straight, your 8x kicker won't bail you out against the weaker 3x kicker and you will both chop (split) the pot evenly.

Flushes

The same concept with straights applies to flushes. Flushes are any hand with five of the same suit, such as five diamonds. You don't need a better kicker to beat a player who also has a flush. You need a higher value flush, as no kicker comes into play with flushes.

If you're holding J♥4♠ and the board is 3♥5♥9♠6♥A♥, the only card in your hand that matters is the J♥ as it gives you a flush. The 4♠ isn't going to be used at all to determine the winner in the hand.

Full Houses

Another hand category that will never use a kicker is a full house, which is three-of-a-kind and a pair together, such as 9x9x9x5x5x. In this case, there is no need for a kicker, as you are already playing five cards.

Now let's say the board is 7x7x7x3x2x and you have 5x3x. You have a full house as your five best cards are 7x7x7x3x3x, meaning the 5x in your hand won't be used. If your opponent also has a 3x, you'll automatically chop the pot even if their second  card is better than your 5x because their secondary card also won't be played.

Straight Flushes and Royal Flushes

Straight flushes and royal flushes are the toughest hands to hit in poker. But you won't need to worry about using a kicker when you hit one of these rare hands.

Although these hands are stronger than standard flushes, they use the same concept when it comes to kickers - one doesn't ever come into play when determining the winning hand.

The Best Five-Card Rule

Poker is not about your two hole cards. It is about the best five-card hand you can make.

What that means, in Texas Hold'em, is you are attempting to make the best possible five-card poker hand from the seven available to you - five community cards and two hole cards - whether it be using one, two, or none of your hole cards. Thus, it is possible for the board (i.e. the community cards) to completely cancel out your kicker.

Here's a prime example of what we're talking about.

Let's say the board shows 8x8x9xAx4x. You've got Qx9x for two pair and your bitter rival next to you is holding Jx9x. You might think to yourself, "I've finally got him" because your Qx kicker beats his Jx. But we're sorry to tell you that you don't have a better hand. Your hand is equal, and that is because your kicker is cancelled out by the Ax on the board. Your best five-card hand is 9x9x8x8xAx, and so is his hand. Neither of your kickers come into play because neither can beat the Ax.

If you're still a bit confused, check out our How to Play Texas Hold'em page to fully understand the rules of the game.

If you only learn one thing on this page, make sure it's five-card rule. The best five cards out of the seven total cards in play make up your final poker hand, even if the best five are all the community cards on the board.

Top 4 Common Kicker Mistakes Beginners Make

Now that you've learned about what a kicker is in poker, let's talk a little poker strategy. More specifically, strategy on how to avoid making beginner mistakes when it comes to understanding kickers.

  1. Overvaluing Ace-X
  2. Ignoring the Second Kicker
  3. Assuming Your Hole Card Always Plays
  4. Misreading Two Pair Kickers

Overvaluing Ace-X

Many new poker players in Texas Hold'em (or Omaha games) will get excited when they are dealt an ace. Yes, the ace is the best card in the deck, but certain hands with an ace can get you in trouble and cost you a lot of money.

Hands such as Ax2x and Ax5x can prove costly if the board is something like Ax3x10x9xKx. Sure, you have a top pair in this case, but that low kicker could get you in trouble if you're up against a bigger ace. Be cautious playing weak aces and try to stick to almost exclusively playing big aces like AxKx and AxQ♣.

Ignoring the Second Kicker

Ignoring the second kicker can also be costly! Here's a board for you to look at: 8x8x4x3x10x. Your hand is Ax6x and you're facing a bet on the river. You put your opponent on weak hand similar to yours, which is ace-high (with the pair of 8's on the board). You're thinking to yourself, "they probably just have an ace, too, so I'm going to call." You then call and were correct on your read that they had ace-high, except they had AxKx, so you lose the pot because their second kicker is stronger than yours.

Assuming Your Hole Card Always Plays

Understand the rules of Texas Hold'em before you play poker. Otherwise, you'll lose money. The best five-card hand wins out of the seven cards you have available between your two face-down hole cards and the five face-up community cards. Your kicker won't always play.

For example, if you have Ax4x on a board of Ax3x3x9x10x, you're playing AxAx3x3x10x as your best five-card hand, meaning the 4x kicker doesn't play.

Misreading Two Pair Kickers

An even more common mistake among beginners is misreading two pair kickers. The example for this is a hand like 9x7x on a board of 9x5x5x8x3x. You might think your kicker is the 7x, but it actually isn't. Your two pair kicker is the 8x on the board, and your 7x doesn't play because it isn't a bigger card than the 8x. Make sense?

Mistakes are normal in poker, everyone makes them. But beginners tend to make more errors when it comes to reading hands and not fully understanding kickers. These can be costly, but practice and experience at the tables is a quick, easy way to eradicate them from your game. 

Texas Hold'em Quiz

Think you understand poker hands? Take our Beginners' Poker Quiz and test whether you can spot the winning hand every time.

Learn More About Poker Hands

Kickers in Poker FAQs

What is a kicker in poker?

A kicker in poker is a tie-breaking card in games such as Texas Hold'em. A kicker comes into play when multiple players in the pot have the exact same general hand category such as a pair of aces. The kicker, or the secondary card, then becomes the deciding factor as to who wins the pot.

Does a higher kicker always win?

The answer to this question is, yes, the higher kicker always win ... only if a kicker matters. For example, if both players have the same straight, there is no need for either player to play their kicker, because the straight alone is the best five-card hand.

Can a kicker win with two pair?

Yes, a kicker can win with two pair, but only if there is a pair on the board. For example, if you have [Ax10x] and the board shows [Ax5x3x10x9x], you don't have a kicker in your hand because you are playing two pair aces and tenss. But if you have [Ax10x] and the board is [Ax5x5x3x9x], you have aces and fives with a [10x] kicker.

What happens if both kickers are the same?

If two players have the same kicker, the pot will be chopped (split evenly). This can happen from time to time, and it isn't uncommon. It's especially common when there is two pair on the board and both players have an ace in the hole, such as [8x8x6x6x3x] and neither player has a full house but they both have an ace. In this situation, the pot would be chopped.

Can the board play the kicker?

Yes, the board can play the kicker. This happens quite frequently when none of the players have much of anything at all. Let's the community cards are [AxAx4x4xKx] and you have [QxJx] and your opponent has [10x9x]. You might think because your queen higher than your opponent's best card, a 10, that you win the hand. But that isn't accurate. You will split the pot because the [Kx] kicker on the board with the two pair on the board trumps both of your kickers. 

Is the Ace always the best kicker?

In any traditional poker games such as Texas Hold'em and stud, the ace is always the best kicker even though ace can also play as a low card. If you and your opponent have the same basic poker hand category such as top pair and your kicker is the [Ax] and theirs is a [Kx], you're going to win the pot.