Hand
A hand has two meanings: the set of cards a player holds, and a single game of poker from the deal until the pot is pushed to the winner.
The simple explanation
When you say 'I have a good hand', you mean your cards. When you say 'we played ten hands an hour', you mean the rounds of play.
A closer look
In a more exact way, a poker hand is the best five-card combination a player can make. The ranking goes from high card to royal flush. The word 'hand' also appears in hand histories, which record a game from start to finish for study. Decide which meaning is used by the context.
A practical example
A player says: 'In that hand I had a flush.' He means one round of play and his five-card combination.
Full explanation
A hand has two meanings: the set of cards a player holds, and a single game of poker from the deal until the pot is pushed to the winner.
A hand is the cards you hold or a round of play.
The best five cards make your hand.
Hands are ranked from high card to royal flush.
A hand history records one round.
Compare the hands at showdown
No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake
Betting has finished. A announces “two pair”, but A’s best five are A-A-A-7-7: a full house. B has A-A-Q-Q-7. At showdown the cards determine the winner, even when a player miscalls the hand.
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).
- River · Pot: 12 chips
Betting has finished. A announces “two pair”, but A’s best five are A-A-A-7-7: a full house. B has A-A-Q-Q-7. At showdown the cards determine the winner, even when a player miscalls the hand.
Board: AAce of hearts (Ah)AAce of diamonds (Ad)77 of clubs (7c)77 of diamonds (7d)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 clubs (Qc)QQueen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.