Big Tiger
A big tiger is a nonstandard hand of eight to king with no pair, played in some home games.
The simple explanation
A big tiger is a nonstandard hand used in some home games: five unpaired cards from eight to king. It is not part of regular poker, where the same cards are simply a king-high hand. Where it exists, it is a valuable hand that beats most others.
A closer look
In games that use it, the big tiger ranks above a tiger and just below a flush. It is also called a big cat. As with other named hands in this family, such as the big dog and the little tiger, the rankings are set by the group playing, so you need to agree them before you rely on them. They are historical curiosities more than strategy terms.
A practical example
A home game with special rankings shows 8♣ 9♦ 10♥ J♠ K♣ and calls it a big tiger.
Full explanation
A big tiger is a nonstandard hand of eight to king with no pair, played in some home games.
A big tiger is a nonstandard hand sometimes given value in a private or home game: five cards from eight to king with no pair. It ranks above a tiger and just below a flush.
The hand is also called a big cat. Together with the big dog and the little dog, it belongs to a family of special hands defined by the highest cards.
In standard poker the same cards have no special rank and lose to any pair.
If you hear the term, you are probably in a game with house rules. Ask the dealer for the exact ranking.