Discarded cards in poker are cards which the players put to the side and stop using in the current round. Discarding cards usually happens after a hand is complete, when the players decide to show their cards (if necessary) and determine the winner.

Players may keep discarded cards secret from other participants in the hand and give them back to the dealer. The dealer usually places discarded cards in a special separate pile or stack so that they cannot get mixed up with the cards which are still in play. Discarded cards may be important in the event of disagreements or arguments about the course of the hand.

Sometimes, in some types of poker such as Omaha hold ‘em and Stud, discarded cards may be viewable to players if they decide to call on the river (last street). This may help players to analyze what cards remain in the deck and more accurately assess their chances of success.