04-24-06, LearnTexasHoldem:

Split Pots And Kickers

Question:

Here are some related questions from different readers:

1. I've noticed on online games that there are times when two players have 2 matching pairs (each player has 7s and 10s) and different kickers. I'd think the higher kicker wins; however, the online game automatic splits the pot sometimes. How come????

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

1. In the scenario of AJ93 diamonds on the table with K diamonds in one hand and Q diamonds in the other, Does the K win? Wouldnt it be a tie with Ahigh flush? My freinds were about to bet me 1000 dollars that K wins...should I have taken it? Thanks.

2. My question is in regards to splitting the pot when two or more players have the same card.

Example:

player A: 10s,5s

player B: 8d,5d

player C: jc,5c

The flop is: As,Kd,2h,4d,3s

We all have a striaght, but I thoght that player C should take the pot because he has a higher kicker. I would like to know if this is correct and can you explain a situation where the pot is suppose to be split. thanks

3. Lets say two players, I have a 3 heart and 4 diamond the second player has 4 heart and 3 diamond. On the table is a complete flush 6, 7, 9, 10, J all hearts. Does the guy with the 4 heart win because he has a higher heart than I do. Or do we split the hand because we are actually both playing the five on the table since they are the five highest.

Example 2: Flush on the table. Player one nor player two have any hearts both play the flush on the table is it then a split pot or do you then use the cards in your hand to decide the winner.

Answer:

This is a common question I get so I'll group some of them here and hopefully clear up the confusion. The rule that governs what hand beats what in poker is that the best five cards play. Holdem is a game of community cards and personal cards -- you get two personal cards and five community cards, of which you make the best five card hand. Because cards can be shared and suits don't matter (diamonds aren't better than hearts), then it is common to have hands where more than one player have the winner. Likewise, since the community cards can be the best cards possible, "chopping" the pot is possible that way too. (This scenario is called, "the board plays." The "board" is another name for the flop/community cards.)

Now to the specific questions:

1. In the online games where two players both have the same hand, but different kickers, yet they still split the pot, most likely a better kicker is on the flop, which basically overrides their personal kickers. Remember the best five cards play, so that means if the situation was like this, they would split the pot:

Player A: KT

Player B: QT

Flop/Turn/River: T - 7 - 7 - 9 - A

They both have TT77A. Notice the Ace beats both kickers so it is the best kicker, and as such used. If that Ace didn't hit on the last card, then the player with the King would have one based on his kicker.

2. Flushes are a little weird in the respect that even though two players may both have an Ace high flush, the player with the higher card of that suit wins. So in the example you gave, the player with the King in his hand would have won. Don't ask me why it is like this. I guess the rule that the best five cards win overrules the denomination of the hand. It's only like this for flushes; all other hands are ranked solely by their denomination: straight vs straight, pair vs pair, etc.

3. When players have the same best hand, the pot is split. To make up a "hand," you look at the best five cards. Five cards is required to make a straight, so there are no kickers. Hands like a pair, or two pair, or even no pair require kickers since those types of hands don't take up five cards. The straight uses all five cards, by definition. Each player has a five high straight with A - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5.

4. The best five cards play. When the flop is 6, 7, 9, T, J, all of hearts and each player on has a 3 or 4 of hearts, neither of their 3 or 4 plays, since the flop cards are larger. This is the same as if you had KK against someone's A2 and the flop was QQQ2Q. He wins. You had QQQQK and he had QQQQA. Your hand changed because the flop overpowers your hand (this is called counterfeiting). If you replaced any card on the flop with a 2 of hearts instead, then the player with the 4 would win since it would play instead of the flop card.

In the second example when neither player has a card of the right suite, and the flush in on the board, then the pot would be split.

Your rating:

Click on the clover of your choice

User Rating: (3 Votes)

  • Share on Facebook
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us