hehe please tell me I am correct on this hand?

[twizzybop]

Playing a friendly family house game of hold-em at my brother in law's the other day. This hand comes up and a friend of ours says I was wrong, while my brother in law looks at me like I have never seen such a hand.

Ok it is heads up.. my brother in law vs this other friend of ours.

5 Cards are on the board are A,A,J,Q,3... no flushes showing

Friend has in the hole A,5 off
Brother in law has A,6 off

Most of table said my brother in law wins the hand cause of his suppposive better kicker. I tried my best to point it out that it is a split pot because the hole kickers were irrelevant cause of the J,Q on the board. Please help me by saying this is correct.. cause I plan on printing this page.

They all relectantly aggreed I was right, not cause I knew and tried to point this out. It was my brother in law's house and he said I was right to stop any arguement. I just need proof from those who play, so next time there will be no disagreement.

Both holders have AAAQJ

 

[Styrofoam]

that is correct. You make the best 5 card hand possible, in this case it is AAAQJ. They'd need AJ, AQ, A3, or AK to avoid splitting the pot.

 

[spore]

Styrofoam is correct. I'll just 2nd that for more backup.. the best 5 card hand wins in Texas Hold'Em. both players had Trip Aces with QJ kickers.

Another issue similar to this that I have had to correct people on is that some people have the notion that only the highest card in the flush plays.. so if one player has: AJ942 and the other has: AQ942.. it's a split pot with the rationale that they both have Ace High flushes. But, in fact player 2 has Ace high flush Queen Higher, and thusly has the better flush.

Both of these scenarios are common knowledge to most players, but in effort to prove it to ignorant "newbies", it should be stated for the record.

BTW, this might be a good thread to sticky (maybe change the title to something like: Common Poker Misconceptions).

 

[t1riel]

You know, someone who REALLY knows how to play hold em poker would know that. Usually when a situation like this happens, I usually say "split" or "chop" out loud. If anyone debates it, I explain it.

 

[Stick66]

Do they play Omaha? In it, you must use both hole cards. But not in Hold 'Em. Hold 'Em is "the best 5-card hand", period. There's even cases where all 5 cards on board play to a split pot with no hole cards playing.

You could find them a web link or buy them a book on the rules of Hold 'Em for the next time there is a need for a ruling.

 

[AceZWylD]

Yes, you are correct. I ended up in the same arguement with a friend of mine in a home game we played not too long ago. We each hit a set of queens. I had a 7 kicker, and he had a 9 kicker. The board was QAQK6. We fought about this for a good hour, and I had to get on the trusty internet to prove to him that you make the best 5 card had available, and if the board offers a higher kicker you are able to use the board to force a push.

 

[gord962]

That's a no-brainer - split pot. It's the best 5 cards, period.

Another classic example is, let's sat the board shows A-A-K-K-5. you have pocket 2s and I have Q-J. I win with Q kicker - simple right?? I have had people argue with me because they think they should win because they have three pair!!! How can you have three pairs if you are only using the best 5 cards?????? :banghead:

 

[ChuckTs]

this is the question i always refer to when these annoying arguments come up:

"What is your best five card hand possible with the combination of your hole cards and the board?"
you're obviously right here, twizzy. Both of you have AAAJQ for a split pot

 

[Four Dogs]

Twizzy. Even you know the answer to that one. It pains me to say it, but... your right.

 

[Threesixes]

Wow,I want in on this game, lol...

 

[Fish]

Easiest way to explain it so everyone understands:

Tell guy A to pick any 5 cards he would like to use as his 5 card hand.
Tell guy B to also pick any 5 cards he would like to use as his 5 card hand.

When the hands match, they should understand it.
If they don't understand after this, kick 'em in da nutz.

 

[Styrofoam]

That's a no-brainer - split pot. It's the best 5 cards, period.

Another classic example is, let's sat the board shows A-A-K-K-5. you have pocket 2s and I have Q-J. I win with Q kicker - simple right?? I have had people argue with me because they think they should win because they have three pair!!! How can you have three pairs if you are only using the best 5 cards?????? :banghead:

I hear in some casinos in canada, they allow 3 pair as a legitimate hand

 

[ChuckTs]

hardy har har...

 

[Styrofoam]

hardy har har...

seriously....thats what some guys were telling me...in Ontario... not lying

 

[ChuckTs]

...really??
that's the strangest thing i've ever heard.
It has to be a different kind of poker - that's my only guess

 

[Coryan]

I will raise you one Pepsi and two YooHoos!

Wow,I want in on this game, lol...

I only want in if they confirm these decisions with a set of rules...and not just Brother-In-Laws house rules!

But I agree, there is money to be made here. Folks who don't yet understand this concept should only be playing for baseball cards and bottlecaps!

 

[gord962]

seriously....thats what some guys were telling me...in Ontario... not lying

Was his name Rick Mercer?? lmao (inside joke to us Canadians)