In poker, the term hand can refer to two related but distinct concepts:
- The cards held by a player: This includes the hole cards (private cards dealt to each player) and the combination of those hole cards with the community cards on the table.
- The sequence of betting rounds (i.e. streets): The entire process from the preflop betting to the showdown is often colloquially referred to as a "hand". For example, you might say, "I played that hand well" referring to your decisions and actions throughout the entire poker hand, from the preflop betting to the final showdown.