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

Adjective

Complete; in which there are no additional cards required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Applies only to a hand using all five cards, and sometimes applied to a four of a kind.

EXAMPLE: "I was dealt a pat flush."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

GAME CATEGORY: Draw Games

USAGE: Describes a hand.

RELATED TERMS: Draw, Improve

Adjective

Drawing no cards.

EXAMPLE: Player A says to Player B, "It's your turn to draw." Player B replies, "Oh, I'm pat."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

GAME CATEGORY: Draw Games

USAGE: Describes a player.

RELATED TERMS: Draw, Knock, Pat Hand Bluff, Rap