The term 'PAYS FOR A HAND' can be solved by two crossword solutions: ANTES (5 letters) and PONIESUPTHEANTE (15 letters). Antes is a poker term that refers to a forced bet made by all players before the cards are dealt. This bet is usually a small amount of money that each player must put into the pot before the game begins. Poniesuptheante is a phrase that means to increase the amount of the ante, or the initial bet. This phrase is often used in poker games when players want to increase the stakes and make the game more exciting.