Please explain the "kicker" to me.

[Eduardo]

I hear a lot about 4 aces and a kicker.  Is there a kicker in every game or does that only apply to certain games like Double Doube Bonus where the paytable lists 4 aces and 4 aces with a 2,3,4.For instance, Jacks or Better does not have this kicker right?Thanks.

[rascal]

Just where the paytable lists the kicker. DDB, TDB, SDB, so on and so forth. No kicker listed, no kicker. Games offering a kicker take something away from a lower paying hand to make up for the kicker. TDB, for instance, the kicker payout is fantastic, but you lose on three of a kind to make up for it.
 
Kicker rules vary from game to game. In DDB, don't hold kickers. In TDB, where the payout is so high, it makes sense to hold your kickers.
 
If you are playing Jacks or Better you are wasting your time and money.

[Eduardo]

So Jacks or Better isn't a good choice at all? Should I always play a game with a kicker then?

[BOOPSAHOY]

Jacks are better will be less volatile. Less dramatic bad days and less dramatic good days. Its a good game to keep playing for a royal.

[Eduardo]

So would people hold three aces and a kicker instead of drawing two cards to try to get the 4th ace?

[BOOPSAHOY]

No correct strategy is to throw away te kicker-gives u 2 chances to hit the 4th ace

[rascal]

TDB, hold the kicker with three cards. DDB, don't hold the kicker. TBD pays $2,000 for 2, 3, 4, with kicker and $4,000 for Ace with kicker, so it makes sense to hold the kicker. DDB pays less, so it does not make sense.
 
Jacks or Better is worthless. If you are playing for nothing except Royals you are leaving a lot of money on the table. Start with DB, move up to DDB and TDB and the other members of the BP family. I know several VP professionals who can't believe anyone still plays Jacks or Better.

[BOOPSAHOY]

Rascal u r correct. I said not to hold the kicker thinking DDB cause thats what I play!

[macaroo]

 The kicker card is a hold over strategy from the table game of poker.  An ace has no value of it's own.  When I see somebody holding a Ace kicker while playing Dueces Wild, it tells me that the individual does not know how to play this game correctly.

[jojo1974]

 The kicker card is a hold over strategy from the table game of poker.  An ace has no value of it's own.  When I see somebody holding a Ace kicker while playing Dueces Wild, it tells me that the individual does not know how to play this game correctly.Yes, you must make sure the game you are playing has an extra payout for a kicker to begin with. Having a single high card is meaningless in video poker since you're not trying to break any "ties."