Poker glossary · Hands
What does “made hand” mean in poker?
Definition
Made hand: A made hand is a hand that already has showdown value, such as a pair or better, rather than one still needing cards to improve.
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Made hands can win at showdown without help, while draws need to improve. On wet boards, made hands are often bet to deny equity to draws. A hand can be both at once, such as top pair with a flush draw, which is often very strong. Knowing which category your hand falls into helps you decide between betting for value and semi-bluffing.
Example: On a flop of 9♠ 8♠ 3♦, A♥ 9♦ is a made hand (top pair), while Q♠ J♠ is a draw.
Related terms
- DrawA draw is an incomplete hand that needs one or more cards to become strong, such as a flush draw or a straight draw.
- Top pairTop pair is a pair made by matching one of your hole cards with the highest card on the board.
- ShowdownShowdown is the point after the final betting round where the remaining players reveal their hands and the best hand wins the pot.