High Card in Poker: Hand Ranking

‘High Card’ the term might sound tempting and even look tempting during poker, but it is the least ranked hand in poker hand rankings. Players sometimes get confused when they get hole cards like Ace ♥ and say 3 ♣, they will go ahead and play the hand, but the chances of winning with a ‘High Card’ is very low unless other players have less than a pair.

In Texas Hold’em, if A ♣ 6 ♦ 5 ♥ 10 ♠ 7 ♥ open on the table and you’re holding 3♠ 2♠, your hand will be called Ace-High with all the cards on the table. Chances are if someone holds 4 ♠ and 2 ♠, they will win, because 4 is higher than 3.

The value of high cards in poker against the next best card is done by their deck denomination. For example: A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. In a 5-card combination, each high card is ranked first by its highest card, next by the second highest ranked card called the kicker and so on.

How does High card rank?

In Texas Hold’em or in most poker variations, the high card is the lowest ranked hand among all the hands. If a player does not have any other hand combination after all the cards open, then the high card is used to determine the winner, keeping in mind that all other players do not have any higher hand combinations.

Here are a few examples of possible high card hands:

A ♠ K ♣ Q ♥ 10 ♦ 8 ♠

K ♠ Q ♦ J ♣ 9 ♥ 6 ♥

A ♠ K ♦ Q ♣ J ♥ 7 ♥

A ♠ K ♣ Q ♥ 10 ♦ 9 ♠

K ♦ Q ♣ 10 ♥ 9 ♣ 5 ♥

A high card is any card that has a higher value than the next best card. So there can be multiple different combinations that may or may not involve the above mentioned cards. But, the examples show the highest possible combinations inclusive of the second card or kicker.

The ‘Kicker’ card: A ‘Kicker’ or a side card is a lower ranked hole card from the two hole cards that a player is dealt. It is usually used to break ties when both players have the same first cards. For example: Player 1 has A ♠ & 7 ♥ and player 2 has A ♥ & 10 ♣. Both are tied and player 2 wins because of holding a higher value ‘Kicker’ card, that is 10.

How does a high card hand match up?

The ‘High Card’ is the worst possible hand in poker, it is the lowest in hand rankings. The only way to win with a high card is to bluff your way through the game and hope that the opponents fall for it and fold.

High Card Poker Probabilities?

We will look at the probabilities of making a high card hand in Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha based on the factor that 5 cards are drawn from a standard deck of 52 and there are unpaired unsuited hole cards.

Texas Hold’em high card probabilities:

Pot Limit Omaha high card probabilities:

Even though ‘High Card’ is the weakest hand in poker, the probability of getting a high card in Texas Hold’em depends on the strength of the card. That is because one pair is the most common winning hand in poker. A player will get at least a pair most times during a hand of poker, having a strong high card like Ace or King can help you win.

Strategies When You Have a High Card Hand

‘High Card’ hand isn’t the best hand to have in poker, in fact it ranks the lowest on the poker hand rankings chart. But, if you are holding a high card hand in poker, then you can maximize the outcome by using these three strategies:

1. Strong High Cards: If you are holding high ranking cards like Ace, King or Queen, then play aggressively pre-flop to force players with weaker hands to fold.

2. Bluff Wisely: Bet aggressively, but selectively if you are holding a strong high card. This is to show that you might have a very strong hand. But, if the opponent is not backing down, then do not overcommit.

3. Play With Caution: It’s always better to fold once the flop opens and it hasn’t improved your hand. You can also fold if another player is betting too aggressively.

Read more: Poker Strategy for Winning at Poker

Importance of High Card in Poker

As described above, the ‘High Card’ hand is the lowest in the hand rankings. But, that doesn’t mean it still can’t add value to a game of poker:

1. Breaking Ties: In poker games, where no player has a pair or higher card combinations, the high card is used to break ties. A strong high card like the Ace or King could win in such a scenario.

2. Bluffing Potential: Bluffing and putting in aggressive bets with a high card may prompt the opponents to fold, especially in situations where they are not confident about their own hands.

3. Reading Opponents: Observing how other players play when you only have a high card can provide valuable information into their betting behavior and hand strength.

Tiebreaking Poker Rules for High Card

This is how tiebreaking works with ‘High Cards’ in poker:

1. Highest Ranked Card: If no player has a pair, straight, flush or any other ranked hand, then the player with the highest individual card wins.

2. Comparison of Highest Cards: All five cards are compared in both player’s hands. If all cards are different, then the player with the highest value or ranked card wins the hand.

3. Identical High Cards: If both players have the high cards of the same rank, then the next best card is compared to decide the winner.

4. All Cards Are Identical: If all cards are identical in rank, and exactly the same high cards in each position, then the pot is split.

Examples of High Card in Poker with Kickers

Here are examples of ‘High Cards’ in poker. This is a poker hand where no pairs, straights or flushes are present. The highest ranked card determines the value of the hand.

In each scenario, the highest card in the hand is used to compare it against other high-card hands. If two players have the same high card, then the ‘kicker’ card or next best ranked card is compared.

Explore other hands in poker:

FAQs on High Card in Poker: