definition?

dominated hand

I saw this term quite a few times, but I'm still not sure exactly what it means. Can someone explain it to me and give me a few examples?

What is the difference between that and a hand at a disadvantage?

KT is the standard example. It looks good but is way behind (75-25) AA, KK, AK, AT. Behind KQ, QQ, JJ. On a K high flop you're likely out kicked. You have little straight potential.

Generally it's any mismatch, KK is dominated by AA. AA is dominated by KK on a K high flop.

A dominated hand comes in a situatino where you share one card with your opponent but he has a higher kicker than you do.

In the hand matchup AK vs KT, KT is the dominated hand.

A hand is dominated by another hand when it can hit the board and still be behind or if it is a pocket pair and the other hand is a higher pocket pair. A dominated hand has at most 3 one card outs to win, and in some cases may need to hit twice to win.

Some examples:

AK dominates AQ because if the AQ hits the A it is still behind and must catch a Q. AK dominates any other Ax hand.

QQ dominates AQ because only an A wins. This is even worse than the above case because although one card still wins (the A), if a Q falls, AQ must improve to Aces full or quads to win.

TT dominates any lower pocket pair. The lower pair must spike a set (2 outs) to win.

KT dominates JT. Only a J can help. And if a K falls, you need running Js or AQ for a straight.

AA dominates all other hands. Other pocket pairs must spike a set. Unpaired hands must make 2pair or trips or hit a straight or flush. To beat AA, an unpaired hand must hit board at least twice ... this is why AA is so strong.

KK dominates AQ

Some examples of hands that don't dominate:

QQ does not dominate AK ... this is the classic coin flip ... QQ is ahead, but AK has 6 outs and is only a little worse than 50%.

AK does not dominate QJ. QJ is quite a ways behind AK, but if no A or K falls, all 6 Qs and Js are clean outs.

Domination is a very important concept in poker. You want to be dominating your opponents' hands, not being dominated by them.