Kicker

A kicker is a side card that doesn’t directly help make a hand combination, but it is used to determine a winner when two or more players have the same combination on the showdown.

For example, in a Hold’em hand, the board reads K K 5 7 9, and two players get to a showdown. Player A has KJ, and Player B has K8. While both players have a three-of-a-kind combination, player A has a better kicker (J is better than 8). Player A’s final hand is KKKJ9, while Player B is holding KKK98, so Player A wins the hand.

In the event both players also have the same kicker, the pot is split between them. Although it may not look that way to inexperienced players, kickers are very important in Texas Hold’em, and you should always pay attention to it.

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