Key Card
A key card is a card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand. When it comes, it changes the strength of your holding.
The simple explanation
If you need a certain card to finish your straight or flush, that card is your key card. You can watch for it on the turn and river.
A closer look
Knowing your key cards helps you count outs and also helps you see what the opponents are afraid of. A key card for you can also be a scare card for an opponent, because a card that completes your hand often shows on the board for everyone. Experienced players think about which cards help them and which cards would stop their story.
A practical example
You hold 9♥ 8♦ on a board of 10♣ 7♠ 2♦. A six or a jack completes the straight, so those cards are your key cards. The turn is 6♥.
Full explanation
A key card is a card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand. When it comes, it changes the strength of your holding.
A key card is a card that makes or greatly improves your hand.
It can complete a straight or a flush.
Counting key cards is counting outs.
A key card can also be a scare card for others.
A key 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 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A has nine and eight. A six or a jack would complete a straight.
Board: 1010 of clubs (Tc)77 of spades (7s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: 1010 of clubs (Tc)77 of spades (7s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: 1010 of clubs (Tc)77 of spades (7s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
The six completes the straight for Player A. It is the key card of his hand.
Board: 1010 of clubs (Tc)77 of spades (7s)22 of diamonds (2d)66 of hearts (6h)
- Player A BTN / SB 99 of hearts (9h)88 of diamonds (8d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB KKing of spades (Ks)KKing of clubs (Kc) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.