Lesson 2
Showdown: Best Five
How to actually read the board and determine your hand.
You have 7 cards available (2 hole + 5 community). You MUST choose the mathematical best 5-card combination.
Any cards not in your top 5 are ignored completely.
The Kicker: If hands are similar (both have a pair of Aces), the next highest card ("kicker") decides the winner.
Key Takeaways
- • Always use exactly 5 cards.
- • Kickers break ties.
- • You can 'play the board' (ignore your hand).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- • Counting a 6th card to break a tie.
- • Thinking two pair uses a kicker (it does, the 5th card)..
Worked Example
You
Opponent
The Board
Result: Split Pot (Chop)
Both players have a pair of Aces.
- Your Best 5: A-A-J-10-8 (playing the board's kickers)
- Opponent's Best 5: A-A-J-10-8 (playing the board's kickers)
Your "2" and their "4" are too small to count. They are "counterfeited" by the board.
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding to complete this lesson.
Question 1 of 5