What does Kicker mean in poker?

A Kicker in poker is the extra card that decides the winner when two players have the same main hand. It does not create the hand itself, but it helps break the tie.

How does it work?

For example, if two players both have a pair of aces, the player with the higher next card wins. That card is the kicker. The term matters most in hands such as one pair, two pair, or trips, where the main part of the hand is the same and the difference comes from the side card. For that reason, a weak kicker can seriously reduce the value of what looks like a strong hand.