What's a "kicker" card in Texas Hold 'em?

Question

I heard that referred to when I was watching a tournament recently.

Answer 1

A "kicker" card is used to break a tie between two players with the same hand.  For instance, if two players are holding a jack and there are two already laid down by the dealer, they both have "three of a kind".  To determine a winner, the person holding the highest card (kicker) wins.  In this example, if one player had a jack, ace and the other had a jack 10, the ace is the highest card or kicker.  The winner would have "three jacks" with an "ace kicker".