[scrawnybob]

hi

yes kickers do count in this situation ... unless the board offers better

eg. in your example they both made 2 pair Queens and 7's

lets say ...

Player 1 holds Q K

Player 2 holds Q 3

say the board read - Q 7 7 4 J

then player 1 would win making the best hand from his dealt cards + the board so ...

Q Q 7 7 with King kicker

beating the other players effective Jack kicker using the highest available kicker available from his hand and the board

but say the board read - Q 77 4 Ace

this would now be a split pot as player 1's king is no longer the best available kicker from the board and player hand

they would both use the Ace as their kicker and thus the hand would be a split

hope thats a help

cheers scrawnybob