What Is the High Card in Poker?

In poker, the player with the highest-ranking card is said to have the “high card”. High card can also refer to the situation where two or more players have the same hand, and the highest-ranking card among them is used to determine the winner.

The most common use of high card is in determining who wins a pot when no player has made a hand (no flush or straight). In this case, the player with the highest card wins.

PRO TIP:In poker, the highest card in a given hand is known as the ‘high card’. This is the card with the highest rank (A-K-Q-J-10-etc…) and will usually win a pot if no other player can make a better hand. The high card is also often used in a tiebreaker in order to determine who wins the pot if two or more players have similar hands.

For example, if two players each have a pair of 9s, and the player with the Ace high card would win.

When multiple players have the same high card, the second highest card is used to break the tie. If both players have the same second highest card, then the third highest card is used, and so on.