Domination
When two hands share a card and one has the better kicker, the weaker hand is dominated: it wins only about 25–30% of the time and is in deep trouble when both pair the shared card.
Frequently asked questions
What does dominated mean in poker?
A hand is dominated when it shares a rank with a better hand that has it out-kicked — ace-nine against ace-king, or king-jack against king-queen. The dominated hand typically has around 25% equity, and the hands that help it also help the opponent.
Why is domination worse than just being behind?
Because the cards you want are the cards that trap you. Hitting your ace with ace-nine against ace-king gives you top pair and a strong reason to keep putting money in while still losing. Being behind with a drawing hand at least tells you clearly when to stop.
Which hands avoid domination?
Pocket pairs and connected suited cards, because they do not depend on out-kicking anyone. That is why small suited connectors play better against a strong range than a hand like ace-seven, which looks stronger.