Kickers are very important in the game of poker. Often two players will have a pair of the highest card on the board, usually an Ace or King. The other card in their hand is their kicker, and unless the board cards are bigger than these kickers, they will come into play in the hand. That’s why it’s important to play two big cards pre-flop; weak kickers will cost you lots of money in a tight game.

If the kickers don’t come into play, then the hand is a tie – a “chop” in poker terms. Chops happen most often when the board has paired and there is another big card out there. A common chop is two players with an Ace and a low kicker. The board cards will often be bigger than the kickers. Other common chops include boards that have made big hands like a straight or flush or trips, omitting the player’s cards.