TPMK
TPMK stands for top pair, medium kicker. You have a pair with the highest card on the board, together with a good but not top kicker.
The simple explanation
If you hold jack-ten and the flop is J-2-3, you have TPMK: a pair of jacks with a ten kicker.
A closer look
A medium kicker is not weak, but it can lose to better kickers. Against a single opponent who has shown little strength, TPMK is often a good hand to bet or call for value. Against heavy action, hands with a better kicker, such as ace-jack, are ahead of you. Choose a smaller pot size.
A practical example
You hold J♥ 10♦ and the flop is J♠ 2♣ 3♦. You have top pair with a medium kicker.
Full explanation
TPMK stands for top pair, medium kicker. You have a pair with the highest card on the board, together with a good but not top kicker.
TPMK means top pair, medium kicker.
The kicker is good but not the best.
Bet it for value against passive opponents.
Be careful against heavy action.
Alternative spelling: Top Pair Medium Kicker, Top Pair, Medium Kicker
Top pair, medium 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)1010 of diamonds (Td) · 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)1010 of diamonds (Td) · 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)1010 of diamonds (Td) · 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 with a ten as his other card. The ten is a decent but not the best kicker, a medium kicker.
Board: JJack of clubs (Jc)77 of spades (7s)22 of diamonds (2d)
- Player A BTN / SB JJack of hearts (Jh)1010 of diamonds (Td) · 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.