Help Card
A help card is a card that improves a player's hand. When it comes, your hand is stronger than before.
The simple explanation
If you have ace-queen and a queen comes on the turn, that queen is a help card because it gives you a pair.
A closer look
Help cards are the cards that count as your outs. The more help cards you have, the better your draw. But a help card for you may be the same card as a help card for an opponent, so a card that improves you can still lose to a better hand.
A practical example
You hold A♥ Q♦ and the flop is 9♣ 6♠ 2♦. The turn is Q♠, a help card that gives you a pair.
Full explanation
A help card is a card that improves a player’s hand. When it comes, your hand is stronger than before.
A help card improves your hand.
Help cards are your outs.
A card can help more than one player.
Count your help cards before you call.
A help card
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has only ace high.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
The queen pairs Player A. It improves his hand, so it is a help card for him.
Board: 99 of clubs (9c)66 of spades (6s)22 of diamonds (2d)QQueen of spades (Qs)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of hearts (Ah)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of clubs (Kc)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.