What Does kitty Mean in Poker?
In poker, the ‘kitty’ refers to a small fund or pool of money collected from the players, typically built from antes or a small percentage of the pot. The kitty is used to cover expenses such as new decks of cards, snacks, or other game-related costs.
In online poker, players often don’t need a kitty since expenses are managed differently. However, if you’re interested in a more interactive experience, you can play poker online.
When You Might Hear Or Use The Term kitty
The term ‘kitty’ is often mentioned in casual home games where players agree to set aside a percentage of winnings to cover shared expenses. It may also come up when organizing a game, deciding how to handle incidental costs.
In-Game Example
During a friendly poker night, players agree that 5% of each pot will go into the kitty to cover the cost of pizza and drinks for everyone. By the end of the night, the kitty ensures these expenses are fully paid.
Strategy / Tips
- Best Practice: Clearly agree on how the kitty will be funded and used before gameplay begins to avoid confusion.
- Common Mistake: Forgetting to set aside money for the kitty, leading to disputes about who pays for expenses.
- Pro Tips: Use a consistent method for calculating contributions to the kitty, such as a fixed percentage, to maintain fairness.
- Differences playing over the table vs online: The concept of a kitty is more prevalent in live home games and is rarely used in online poker, where expenses are typically not shared.
Alternative Names
There are no widely recognized alternative names for the term ‘kitty’ in poker.
FAQs:
Q: Why is it called a “kitty”?
A: The term “kitty” likely derives from a slang term for a pool or reserve of money used for a specific purpose, though its exact origin is unclear.
