Sample Hand Format

1. Introduction

This article will show you how to interpret the format used when looking at sample hands in the articles and forums at PokerStrategy.com.

Sample hands always look something like this:

0.50/1.00 No-Limit Hold'em (6 handed)
Pre-flop: Hero is CO with K, K
2 folds, Hero raises to $4,00, BU folds, SB calls $3.50, BB folds.

Flop: ($9,00) 9, A , 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6.00, SB calls $6.00.

Turn: ($21,00) A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($21,00) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $12, Hero folds

2. What does all this mean?

Who is Hero?

Hero is the person playing the hand.

The different streets

Each sample hand shows the actions of each player on each street, as well as the community cards, size of the pot and number of players in the hand on that street.

Pre-flop: The round before any community cards are revealed
Flop: The round in which the first 3 community cards are revealed
Turn: The round in which the 4th community card is revealed
River: The round in which the final community card is revealed

The positions at a poker table

	Late Late Positions		Middle Middle Positions		Dealer Button
	Early Early Positions		Blinds

The players' positions are always noted in the sample hand format. Each position is abbreviated as follows:

Early Positions: UTG, UTG+1, UTG+2
Middle Positions: MP1, MP2, MP3
Late Positions: CO, BU (Dealer)
Blinds: SB (Small Blind), BB (Big Blind)

Players' actions

XY checks	That player checks.
XY folds	That player folds.
2 folds	Two players fold in a row.
3 folds	Three players fold in a row.

XY bets	That player bets. The amount is also given in NL sample hands.
XY calls	That player calls. The amount is also given in NL sample hands.
XY raises	That player raises. The amount is also given in NL sample hands. (XY raises to $xx)

XY 3bets	Fixed Limit: That player raises after a bet and a raise were made in front of him.
XY caps	Fixed Limit: That player raises after a bet and two raises were made in front of him. The cap is the last raise allowed in a FL betting round.

3. Sample hands step-by-step

0,50/1,00 No-Limit Hold'em (6 handed)

Pre-flop: Hero is CO with K, K
2 folds, Hero raises to $4,00, BU folds, SB calls $3.50, BB folds.

Flop: ($9,00) 9, A , 2 (2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets $6.00, SB calls $6.00.

Turn: ($21,00) A (2 players)
SB checks, Hero checks.

River: ($21,00) 6 (2 players)
SB bets $12, Hero folds

0,50/1,00 No-Limit Hold'em (6 handed)

This shows you that the example is from a No Limit Hold'em game with a 0.50 SB and 1.00 BB (NL100). There are 6 active players at the start of the hand (6 handed).

Pre-flop: Hero is CO with K, K

The person playing this hand, Hero, is sitting in the CO position (to the dealer's immediate right).

2 folds, Hero raises to $4,00, BU folds, SB calls $3.50, BB folds.

Both players in front of Hero fold (2 folds). Hero then raises to $4.00. The player on the button (BU) folds. The player in the Small Blind calls $3.50 and the Big Blind folds.

Flop: ($9,00) 9, A , 2 (2 players)

There are $9 in the pot and 2 players in the hand as the flop is revealed. The three cards in the flop are the nine of hearts, ace of diamonds and two of clubs.

SB checks, Hero bets $6.00, SB calls $6.00.

The player in the Small Blind checks. Hero bets $6 and the Small Blind calls $6.

Turn: ($21,00) A (2 players)

There are $21 in the pot and 2 players in the hand as the ace of hearts is revealed on the turn.

SB checks, Hero checks.

Both players check.

River: ($21,00) 6 (2 players)

There are $21 in the pot and two players in the hand as the six of spades is revealed on the river.

SB bets $12, Hero folds

The Small Blind bets $12.00 (SB bets $12) and Hero folds.