[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by poker

Well all I can tell you is what I know. A poker hand in Hold Em consists of a 5 card hand, not 4. So the kicker does apply. If given the example you posted

10-10-9-J-10

And you have A-10, the Ace kicker counts as the 5th card to complete your hand.
If for example you instead had 8-10 in the hole, you have quads but the "J" on the board out ranks your 8, so therefore you do in fact have quads but you are not using both your hole cards, only the 10.

The key being that both players must have both hole cards contribute to make up a 5 card hand to qualify for bad beat JP.

Poker,

You have missed my point completely! Yes, the kicker in your hand must play, making a five card hand, however, the value/rank of the kicker in your hand is irrelevant, as your four tens is the winning hand, no matter what the value of the kicker is. There is no other hand that can tie the four tens, so the value of the kicker, in your hand, should be irrelevant.