Why does kicker sometimes come into play and sometimes not?

[Werddown]

I dont understand why if there is a tie sometimes it uses the next highest card on teh board for the "kicker" and disregards your "hole kicker"....

But if theres a hand like 3 of a kind, even when theres a higher card on the board, it uses the hole kickers.

I just lost to 3 of a kind 8's with my kicker being 2 and opp kicker being 9, with a KING on teh board.

Othertimes I'll have the better kicker and it will split the pot because theres a higher card on the board??

I dont know its really confusing to me, and i thought I understood it, but that last hand made me think I dont.

I feel so newbie!

[Laeelin]

It's simple,

The best 5 card hand wins.

If you have:82
And I have:89

And the board is:
88K73

Your hand is:
888K7

My hand is:
888K9

I win.

If the board is:
99K3J

Your hand is:
888KJ

My hand is:
888KJ

We Tie.

[Irisheyes]

Yea if all the cards on the board are higher then your kicker then your kicker is essentially on the board itself.

[Pelion]

It's simple,

The best 5 card hand wins.

If you have:82
And I have:89

And the board is:
88K73

Your hand is:
888K7

My hand is:
888K9

I win.

If the board is:
88K3J

Your hand is:
888KJ

My hand is:
888KJ

We Tie.