
Are you new to the great game of poker? If you want to increase your win rate in online poker tournaments or cash games, a good place to start is with the most basic of concepts: hand rankings.
The ranking of poker hands starts with the answer to a simple question: What is a high card in poker? Basically, if your cards fail to match any of the combinations on the ranking chart – not even a pair – you are holding a high card. That doesn’t mean you’re bound to lose. In fact, some of the best winning hands in poker have been high card hands. It all depends on strategy, skill, and situation. This guide to high-card poker hands will help you play these hands better and, hopefully, win more money.
What Is a High Card in Poker?
“High card” is the correct name for the lowest-ranked hand in poker. In short, the five cards in such a hand aren’t connected in any way. There is no pair, no flush, or anything worthwhile. This type of hand’s value is based purely on its highest-ranking card, hence the name.
Poker High Card Hand Examples

Here are some examples of high card hands:
- Ace high: Ace, queen, 10, 4, 2.
- Queen high: Queen, jack, 10, 8, 6.
- 7-high: 7, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Of course, in all three examples, the cards must be at least two different suits. Otherwise, they would represent a flush – a significantly better hand.
Ace-high is the best-ranked of all high card hands. The worst-possible high card hand in Texas Hold’em is 7-high (6-high would be a straight).
High Card Rule
Imagine that none of the players in a Hold’em poker game get it together to form at least a pair come showdown. In that scenario, it’s time to apply the high card rules in poker. Basically, the player holding the highest-ranked card wins the pot on the spot. For example, king high beats queen high.
There’s another scenario in which the highest-ranking card makes a difference. That’s when two or more players end up with the same strength hand. In this case, the highest remaining card, known as the “kicker,” breaks the tie.
Let’s say the final two players both hold a pair of aces. The first player also holds a queen, while the second has a jack. The first player wins since the queen kicker is higher than a jack. This isn’t a high card poker hand since both have a pair. But the logic behind the rule is the same.
Probabilities
If you’re still learning how to play Texas Hold’em, understanding some basic statistics and probabilities will help. Sure, it won’t exactly be enough to induct you directly into the Poker Hall of Fame. But it will certainly give you an edge over other beginners.
So, what are the chances that you end up with a high card hand after the flop? On average, you can expect to see one around half of the time. These are odds of -100, to be exact. This is based on five cards selected randomly from a standard 52-card deck.
How about the odds of ending up with just a high card hand on the river? These are significantly lower, at +474. And, since any other combination beats a high card, your opponent’s odds of having a better hand are obviously -474.
How To Play High Card Hands in Poker
The chances of winning a poker game with a high card hand aren’t great. But does that mean that you can’t ever win? Not at all. There are two scenarios where it’s a distinct possibility.
Check Until Showdown

This won’t happen too often, especially when playing at an online casino where games tend to be less passive. But if the action is checked all the way to showdown, a high card hand is probably good. Especially if it’s ace high.
When the cards are flipped, if nobody has a pair or better, high card hands win the day. That said, in this scenario, the pot will likely be small, so a win won’t be especially rewarding.
Others Fold
The other scenario is when you only have a high card hand, but your bet or raise causes all opponents to fold. If you completely miss the flop and have nothing but trash, firing a bluff could still win the pot.
Depending on your hand, you could still improve on the turn or river. But if everyone folds, it’s academic, as the pot is yours, even with nothing but a high card hand. If you find callers and don’t improve by the river, you’re not likely to win. As previously mentioned, the odds of your opponent having a better hand are -474.
However, if your opponents have played passively during the hand, ace high could still be enough at showdown. This is especially true as you get close to the bubble in an online poker tournament, when more people tend to play tight.
More About Bluffing in Poker
It’s important to consider the tendencies of your opponents before trying a bluff in poker. If you know they play aggressively, calling and raising with a wide range of hands, you shouldn’t bluff with high card hands.
You must also consider your position. The best spots for bluffing are the button, the cutoff, and the hijack position in poker. These give you more insight into what your opponents might be holding, as more players act before you.
The last thing to note here is that successful bluffs don’t reveal much about the strength of your hand. If you or your opponents fold before showdown, they’ll never know you had nothing but a high card hand.
Final Verdict on High Card Rules in Poker
While it is possible to win with a high card hand, the odds are against it. Bluffing might succeed from time to time, but you’re almost certain to be punished if your opponents call.
On top of that, winning with high card hands isn’t usually very rewarding, since pots are often checked down.
In summary, you should always approach high card hands with caution and try not to risk too many chips. Your online poker session can quickly go awry if you get involved with such hands too often.
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Improve your chances of winning with the weakest poker hand. Learn the high card rules for poker and pick up strategy tips in this blog.