TPWK
TPWK means top pair with a weak kicker: you pair the highest card on the board, but your other card is low. It is a medium-strength hand that can lose to the same pair with a better kicker.
The simple explanation
For example, you hold jack-four and the flop is J-2-3. You have a pair of jacks, but your kicker is a four. Other players with jack-ten or jack-ace beat you.
A closer look
TPWK is a hand to play with care. It is strong enough to bet small for value against weak hands and to call a bet, but not a hand to put in many chips with. Against a raise from a tight player, it often folds. It is a typical hand that can lose a lot of money against a dominating one.
A practical example
You hold J♥ 4♦ and the flop is J♠ 7♣ 2♦. You have top pair with a weak kicker.
Full explanation
TPWK means top pair with a weak kicker: you pair the highest card on the board, but your other card is low. It is a medium-strength hand that can lose to the same pair with a better kicker.
TPWK stands for top pair, weak kicker.
The pair is the highest on the board, but the other card is low.
It can lose to the same pair with a better kicker.
Play it with caution.
Alternative spelling: Top Pair Weak Kicker, Top Pair, Weak Kicker
Top pair, weak kicker
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB JJack of hearts (Jh)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB JJack of hearts (Jh)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB JJack of hearts (Jh)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A pairs the jack, but his other card is only a four. With a weak kicker, he loses to any other player who holds a jack with a better card.
Board: JJack of spades (Js)77 of clubs (7c)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB JJack of hearts (Jh)44 of diamonds (4d) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB AAce of clubs (Ac)QQueen of spades (Qs) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.