Kicker
A kicker is a card in your hand that does not form part of the pair or other combination, but is still counted when two otherwise equal hands are compared.
A poker hand is always exactly five cards. If a pair uses two of them, the three highest remaining cards fill the rest, and those are compared one at a time from the top when both players hold the same pair.
It is one of the most common ways to lose a pot you thought you had won. Two players with an ace are not tied: the second card decides, and only if all five cards match exactly is the pot split.
an example
your cards
board
You have a pair of aces with a king kicker. An opponent with Ah 3s has the same pair of aces, but their best five cards use the jack and the nine where yours use the king. The king plays, and you win.
This example is made up. The real one is in your own hand history: find kicker in your own hands and see how often it came up and what it cost you.
related terms
Showdown
A showdown is the point after the final round of betting where the remaining players turn their cards face up and the be ...
Trips
Trips is three of a kind made with one card from your hand and a pair already on the board, which means the same three c ...
Overpair
An overpair is a pocket pair higher than every card on the board.
next
Knowing the word is not the same as seeing it.
All ten hands in order, with how often each one turns up.