A kicker in poker is a side card that’s not part of your main combination but can be important in certain situations to determine the winner.
For example, if you have AK on a board of A-J-9-5-2, you’ll have a pair of aces with a king kicker. The king in your hand doesn’t help you make your pair, but it is the best side card you can have.
A kicker is important in situations where two or more players have the same made hand on a showdown. For example, in this scenario, if another player has AQ, their hand will be a pair of aces with a queen kicker. Since your kicker is stronger, you win the pot. Learn more about poker kickers.
