Kicker Questions in Hold 'Em - Beginning Poker Questions

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Kicker Questions in Hold 'Em

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11-06-2013 , 01:06 AM

Mr. Action

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 107

All the years I've been playing cards, I've never really understood the exact protocol for Kickers as regards to each 'rung' of the 'hand ranking ladder'...

The more common instances of AK vs KQ on Kxxxxx etc. is easy enough, but mainly Full Houses and Two Pairs are not always clear to me. Sometimes two players chop up a pot with the same two pair, and it looks like the two highest cards not associated with the two pair cards both play.

This also relates to hands being counterfeited in certain spots.

Anyone want to weigh in here? I tried to word this as non-awkwardly as possible.

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11-06-2013 , 01:47 AM

Freewill2112

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Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,372

A poker hand is 5 cards. Basically, you look at the best 5-card hand a person can make based on the board and their 2 hole cards, with no special weight being given to the hole cards. So there are times when kickers are not even playing. For instance:

Hand 1: A9
hand 2: A3
Board: AKKJ2

The best hand that both players can make is two pair, Aces and Kings, with a Jack kicker. So the actual kickers in the hole cards are irrelevant. The only Ace (besides AK) that would outright beat another Ace here is AQ. Even AJ would be chopping, because it still can only make AAKKJ.

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11-06-2013 , 04:40 AM

Mr. Action

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 107

The purpose of a kicker is to distinguish the winner when two or more players share the same hand, be it a pair or full house... as I understand it.

This post was basically made to clear up

-kicker situations in full houses
-confirming only one kicker is in play in any given hand.

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11-06-2013 , 04:48 AM

Zombiefan

adept

Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 1,175

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Action

You cant have a lower kicker with a FH as it's the best 5 cards that win, You can have a lower FH though.

Example1 : Both players have the same FH, the pot will be split.
Hero: A

Villain: k

Board K

Example2 : Both players have a FH, but villains is a lower FH. Hero wins the pot
Hero: A

Villain: A

Board K

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11-06-2013 , 05:07 AM

WereBeer

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 10,700

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Action

-confirming only one kicker is in play in any given hand.

Best 5 cards wins. That means if 2 players have the same value one pair hand, then all 3 of the remaining cards might need to be looked at. So AAT86 beats AAT85.

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11-06-2013 , 05:17 AM

Mr. Action

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 107

Yeah, I know about the overfull vs underfull deal. The other night I saw the poker after dark where Dwan did his patented massive check raise vs. Peat. Peat had a King in his hand and Dwan had a Qx or something. After the big raise Oli Nejad was talking about how and Ace would be the best kicker or something to that effect...

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11-06-2013 , 05:49 AM

DiamondDog

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Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7,474

Get out a deck of cards and deal some hands.

Work out who wins.

Post hands in this thread that you're not sure about.

Just a suggestion.

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11-06-2013 , 08:01 AM

Freewill2112

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Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 3,372

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Action

Yeah, I know about the overfull vs underfull deal.

So, what's the confusion regarding full houses if you know about overfull / underfull? There is no kicker issue, there aren't any kickers, all 5 cards are used to make a full house.

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11-06-2013 , 08:36 AM

Cry Me A River

Orange is the new Green

Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 23,784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Action

The purpose of a kicker is to distinguish the winner when two or more players share the same hand,

No.

Players only "share the same hand" if all five of their cards are the same. Otherwise, they have different hands.

Best five card hand wins. In many cases the best hand is obvious and you don't need to look past the first couple cards. However, that's just shorthand/lazy. The reality is everybody always has a five card hand.

If you can't instantly spot each player's best five card hand then you should be explicitly arranging the cards (even physically) until you can. This should be something you do automatically.

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11-06-2013 , 09:30 PM

#10

Mr. Action

centurion

Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 107

Thanks for the clarification guys. I've been tightening up my game lately with all 'loose ends' that I've never clarified before, also knowing exact odds instead of the 'x4,x2' outs rule.

I mainly made the post after I heard Mr. Nejad discuss kickers when both player had the same full house. Either I heard wrong or he made a mistake...

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