Top Pair/Weak Kicker (TPWK)
Top pair with a weak kicker, TPWK, is a pair of the highest board card with a low side card. It is a medium hand that can lose to the same pair with a better kicker.
The simple explanation
If you hold jack-four on a board of J-2-3, you have TPWK. Many hands such as jack-ten or jack-ace beat you. The hand is still good against weaker holdings.
A closer look
TPWK should be played with caution. It can bet for value on dry boards against weak players and can call a bet or two, but it is not a hand to build a large pot with. When an opponent raises, he often has a better kicker. The problem of domination, where you have the same pair and a worse kicker, is the main danger.
A practical example
You hold J♥ 4♦ and the flop is J♠ 7♣ 2♦. You have top pair with a weak kicker.
Full explanation
Top pair with a weak kicker, TPWK, is a pair of the highest board card with a low side card. It is a medium hand that can lose to the same pair with a better kicker.
TPWK means top pair with a weak kicker.
It beats lower pairs but loses to better kickers.
Be careful with large pots.
Domination is the main danger.
Alternative spelling: Top Pair Weak Kicker, Top Pair, Weak Kicker, TPWK
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.