In the context of blackjack, the term pat hand (aka standing hand) refers to an hand dealt to a player that has a score of a hard 17 or more.
In the vast majority of cases, the player will choose to stand when they are dealt a pat hand. This is because they are likely to bust if the player were to hit. Soft hands are not considered pat hands because they are very unlikely to bust.
The term pat is also used in draw poker for a hand that does not need more cards.
Pat hand:
- A hand in blackjack with a score of a hard 17 or more.