Legitimate Hand
A legitimate hand is a hand that is strong enough to have a good chance of winning the pot. The term separates real, playable holdings from bluffs and weak hands.
The simple explanation
When a player bets, you can ask yourself whether he has a legitimate hand or is only trying to push you out. A legitimate hand is one that could really win at showdown, such as a good pair, a straight or a flush.
A closer look
The phrase is mostly used in discussion of reads: 'I think he has a legitimate hand' means that you believe the bet is for value and not a bluff. It does not mean the hand is the nuts. A legitimate hand can still lose, but it is a hand that deserves respect. When you decide whether to call, the key question is how often your opponent's bet represents such a hand.
A practical example
A player bets the river on a board of K♠ 9♠ 4♦ 2♣ 7♥ and shows K♦ Q♦. He had a legitimate hand: top pair with a good kicker.
Full explanation
A legitimate hand is a hand that is strong enough to have a good chance of winning the pot. The term separates real, playable holdings from bluffs and weak hands.
A legitimate hand is a hand with a real chance to win the pot.
It is the opposite of a bluff or a weak holding.
The term is used when you try to read whether a bet is for value.
A legitimate hand is not always the best hand.