Noun
A hand in which the player does not draw any cards, either because the hand is complete or because it is being represented as complete; a straight, flush, full house, straight flush, royal flush, or a hand being represented as any one of these possibilities. While not using all five cards and therefore allowing the possibility of drawing, a four of a kind is sometimes considered a pat hand because the draw will not improve it.
EXAMPLE: "When I'm lucky enough to get a pat hand, I'll usually play it. However, if the three of a kind portion of a full house is strong enough I will sometimes just keep the three of a kind if I think the investment odds made it worthwhile. It is a move I only try when I know my opponents' betting habits very well."
APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues
GAME CATEGORY: Draw Games
ANTONYMS: Drawing Hand
RELATED TERMS: Draw, Pat Hand Bluff