Hand History (HH)
A hand history is a record of everything that happened in a poker hand: the cards, the players, the stack sizes and every action. Online sites generate hand histories automatically, and players also write them out to discuss a hand.
The simple explanation
Hand histories are used to review your play, to share hands with other players for advice and to feed tracking software such as heads-up displays. A written hand history is usually told in the present tense and states the stacks, positions and bets in order.
A closer look
Poker sites save hand histories to resolve disputes and to detect cheating. Players import their files into trackers, which compute statistics. When you post a hand for discussion, give the stack sizes, the positions, the actions on each street and any reads, because the right play depends on them. Some rooms forbid sharing the histories of other players in real time.
A practical example
A forum post begins: 'Hero is on the button with ace-king, $200 effective. Folds to Hero, raises to $6, and the big blind calls.'
Full explanation
A hand history is a record of everything that happened in a poker hand: the cards, the players, the stack sizes and every action. Online sites generate hand histories automatically, and players also write them out to discuss a hand.
A hand history is a complete record of a hand: players, cards, bets and results.
Online sites save them in text files that players can keep.
Players post hand histories in forums to ask others for advice.
Tracking programs use the files to calculate statistics about opponents and yourself.
Alternative spelling: Hand History, HH
Follow the streets and betting rounds
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
Read the example transcript
Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).
- Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
- Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls 4 more. Each player has contributed 6; the pot is 12.
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop is dealt after both preflop contributions match.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks behind.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Both players checked the flop, closing that betting round. The turn is the next street.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks behind.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 12 chips
Both checked the turn. The river is the last community-card street.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)99 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)99 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- River · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks. The river betting round is closed; both hands reach showdown. There is no further street.
Board: KKing of hearts (Kh)88 of diamonds (8d)33 of clubs (3c)22 of spades (2s)99 of hearts (9h)
- Player A BTN / SB AAce of clubs (Ac)KKing of diamonds (Kd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB QQueen of hearts (Qh)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.