US HoldemThe Kicker Problem Solved
Texas Holdem is a game based on strategies to win. But the concept of Texas Holdem is simple. Play better hands to win the game. That is why it is important to have fundamental knowledge of what hands should be played and folded.
Here is a chart of hand rankings in the game of Texas Holdem. "S" stands for suited and "X" stands for a card with a value less than 10.
Hand Ranks
1 A+Ks, A+A, K+K, Q+Q, J+J
2 A+K, 10+10, A+Js, A+Qs, K+Qs
3 K+Q, A+Q, A+10s, K+Js, Q+Js, J+10s, 9+9
4 Q+J, Q+10s, K+J, K+10s, 10+9s, 8+8, A+J, A+10
5 Q+9s, Q+10, J+10, K+10, 7+7, 7+8s, 7+9s, J+8s, 9+8s, 10+8s, 6+6, 5+5
6 A+Xs, 5+4s, 5+6s, 6+8s, 6+7s, 7+10s, 10+9, J+9
7 Q+8s, K+Xs, 4+4, 6+4s, 4+3s, 5+7s, 5+6, 5+3s, 7+8, 9+8
8 10+8, J+8, J+7s, 7+6, 7+4s, 9+6s, 4+2s, 5+4, 3+2s, K+9, Q+9
Cards that are ranked from 6-9 should not be played by the Texas Holdem player. Saying that hands ranked 6-9 should not be played may cause a stir. This is because some of the pocket cards included are J+X, Q+X, K+X, and A+X.
When you play those hands, your opponent may have a higher kicker card. That is why it called the kicker problem. A kicker is the lowest card in the hand that does form a pair. If you have A+4, the 4 is the kicker. The kicker is the card that determines who wins when more than one player have similar cards. For example you have A+3 and your opponent has A+6, your opponent will win the pot.
The hands that are ranked in 6 to 8 can still be played in Texas Holdem as long as the following requirements are met.
1. Your position is on a late one.
2. 5 or more opponents have called before you.
3. No one has raised before your turn
If you choose to call without following the requirements you are most likely to lose. If another player bets and you are not able to read him or her you should just fold.
The most common mistakes novice Texas Holdem players make is that they choose to take a "kicker problem" hand all the way. If you can avoid losing at this semi good hands, you have the chance to avoid more losses.
If your hand is A+3s, you should learn not to overestimate the significance of the hands. This is because the chance of hitting a flush on a flop is only 7%. Follow this rule instead. If you have cards like that, think about what you would do with them if they are not suited.
But it would be a good hand to play if you are on one of the late positions or one of the blinds. This is because it enables you to confuse your opponents because they won't know what you have. But if you have not hit anything after the flop be prepared to fold.
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