Definition: High Card is the lowest-ranked hand in poker. It occurs when a player holds no pair, no straight, no flush, and no other made hand — the hand is ranked solely by its highest card.
High Card ranks ninth and last in the standard poker hand rankings. Despite having a “high” card such as an Ace or King, it is still weaker than any hand that contains a pair or better.
A High Card hand is named after its highest card. For example, a hand with a King as the highest card is referred to as “King-high.” Even without a pair, these hands must still be ranked so the system can compare outcomes consistently.
You can also make a High Card hand by “playing the board.” If the community cards contain no pairs and your hole cards do not improve the hand, your final hand may consist entirely of board cards, such as an Ace-high board.
When comparing High Card hands, the highest card determines the winner. If both players share the same high card, the next highest card (the kicker) is compared, and this process continues until a winner is determined. Suits are irrelevant.
From a hierarchy perspective, High Card always loses to One Pair and every other poker hand. As a result, it rarely wins at showdown unless all opponents fold or are bluffing.
Strategically, High Card hands are usually weak and are often folded. However, in certain situations — such as heads-up play, uncoordinated boards, or clear bluffing opportunities — a High Card can still be used aggressively.
Mini-summary: High Card is the weakest poker hand. It relies entirely on card rank and kickers and is usually only profitable through position, pressure, or bluffing.
Numeric focus: How often do players end with only a High Card in Texas Hold’em? Depending on the situation, the probability of not improving beyond High Card by the river can be very high, often exceeding 50%.
| Stage | Texas Hold’em | Pot Limit Omaha | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-flop | 50.12% | 50.12% | Based on 5 cards drawn from a full 52-card deck |
| Flop | 67.70% | 31.08% | Based on non-paired unsuited hole cards |
| Turn | 87.23% | 73.33% | Based on non-paired unsuited hole cards |
| River | 86.96% | 72.73% | Based on non-paired unsuited hole cards |
Visit our High Card odds article for more information.
Now that you’ve got High Card covered, we’ll move on to the next hand in the rankings: One Pair.
