diff --git a/lyra/tools.py b/lyra/tools.py
index e144589..819ab2a 100644
--- a/lyra/tools.py
+++ b/lyra/tools.py
@@ -444,9 +444,29 @@ def _running_stats(args: dict, ctx: dict) -> str:
     return f"{rs['sessions']} sessions, {rs['hours']:g}h, net {rs['net']:+.0f}{hourly}. By stake: {by}"
 
 
+def _shorthand_from_fields(args: dict) -> str:
+    """Rebuild a hand description from log_hand-style granular fields. The chat model
+    sometimes calls record_hand with those fields (position/hole_cards/board/streets)
+    and leaves `shorthand` empty — so we reconstruct a parseable description from
+    whatever it did pass, instead of failing on an empty shorthand."""
+    parts = []
+    pos, hole = args.get("position"), args.get("hole_cards")
+    if pos or hole:
+        parts.append(f"Hero {pos or '?'} with {hole or 'unknown'}")
+    for st in ("preflop", "flop", "turn", "river", "showdown"):
+        if args.get(st):
+            parts.append(f"{st.capitalize()}: {args[st]}")
+    if args.get("board"):
+        parts.append(f"Board: {args['board']}")
+    if args.get("result") is not None:
+        parts.append(f"Hero net: {args['result']}")
+    return ". ".join(str(p).strip() for p in parts if str(p).strip())
+
+
 def _record_hand(args: dict, ctx: dict) -> str:
+    shorthand = (args.get("shorthand") or "").strip() or _shorthand_from_fields(args)
     out = poker.record_hand(
-        args.get("shorthand") or "", stakes=args.get("stakes"),
+        shorthand, stakes=args.get("stakes"),
         tag=args.get("tag"), lesson=args.get("lesson"),
     )
     if not out["id"]:
@@ -759,8 +779,11 @@ TOOLS.update({
         "record_hand",
         "Reconstruct a hand from Brian's rough shorthand into a structured, "
         "replayable hand history. Use when he describes/vomits a hand he wants "
-        "saved or to review. Pass his description verbatim as 'shorthand'.",
-        {"shorthand": {**_S, "description": "Brian's rough description of the hand, verbatim"},
+        "saved or to review. Pass his ENTIRE description as ONE string in `shorthand` "
+        "— do NOT split it into position/board/street fields (that's log_hand). "
+        "`shorthand` is required and must be non-empty.",
+        {"shorthand": {**_S, "description": "Brian's whole hand description as one verbatim "
+                       "string, e.g. 'UTG with 9h6h, raise 15, BTN calls, flop 8h7h5s...'"},
          "stakes": {**_S, "description": "Stakes if known, e.g. '1/3'"},
          "tag": {**_S, "description": "well_played | leak | cooler | confidence | notable"},
          "lesson": {**_S, "description": "Takeaway, if he stated one"}},
diff --git a/tests/test_hand_tools.py b/tests/test_hand_tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6f37b95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_hand_tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+"""record_hand tolerance: recover when the model calls it with log_hand's fields."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from lyra import tools
+
+_GRANULAR = {
+    "position": "UTG", "hole_cards": "9h6h", "board": "8h7h5s 5h Kc",
+    "preflop": "raised to 15, BTN calls", "flop": "bet 25, BTN calls",
+    "turn": "bet 50, BTN raises to 150, call", "river": "check, BTN all in, snap call",
+    "showdown": "BTN shows 55 for quads, hero shows straight flush", "result": 300,
+    "tag": "notable", "lesson": "rare straight flush over quads",
+}
+
+
+def test_shorthand_from_fields_builds_a_parseable_description():
+    s = tools._shorthand_from_fields(_GRANULAR)
+    assert "UTG with 9h6h" in s
+    assert "Preflop:" in s and "River:" in s and "Board: 8h7h5s 5h Kc" in s
+    assert "Hero net: 300" in s
+
+
+def test_record_hand_recovers_from_granular_fields(monkeypatch):
+    # The model called record_hand with log_hand's schema (no `shorthand`). The
+    # handler must reconstruct one and pass it to poker.record_hand, not fail empty.
+    seen = {}
+
+    def fake_record_hand(shorthand, stakes=None, tag=None, lesson=None, backend=None):
+        seen["shorthand"] = shorthand
+        return {"id": 42, "parsed": {"hero_involved": True, "hero_pos": "UTG",
+                                     "hero_cards": ["9h", "6h"]}, "linked": 0}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tools.poker, "record_hand", fake_record_hand)
+    out = tools.dispatch("record_hand", _GRANULAR, {})
+    assert "UTG with 9h6h" in seen["shorthand"]      # reconstructed, not empty
+    assert "#42" in out and "couldn't parse" not in out
+
+
+def test_record_hand_still_prefers_explicit_shorthand(monkeypatch):
+    seen = {}
+
+    def fake_record_hand(shorthand, stakes=None, tag=None, lesson=None, backend=None):
+        seen["shorthand"] = shorthand
+        return {"id": 7, "parsed": {"hero_involved": True, "hero_pos": "BTN",
+                                    "hero_cards": ["As", "Ks"]}, "linked": 0}
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tools.poker, "record_hand", fake_record_hand)
+    tools.dispatch("record_hand", {"shorthand": "BTN AKs, I open, everyone folds"}, {})
+    assert seen["shorthand"] == "BTN AKs, I open, everyone folds"   # verbatim, not rebuilt
+
+
+def test_record_hand_empty_call_still_fails_gracefully(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tools.poker, "record_hand",
+                        lambda *a, **k: {"id": None, "parsed": None})
+    out = tools.dispatch("record_hand", {}, {})
+    assert "couldn't parse" in out.lower()