diff --git a/pyfpdb/Hand.py b/pyfpdb/Hand.py
index adb7d3f6..71fc6ced 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Hand.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Hand.py
@@ -274,15 +274,16 @@ If a player has None chips he won't be added."""
             self.streets.update(match.groupdict())
             log.debug("markStreets:\n"+ str(self.streets))
         else:
+            tmp = self.handText[0:100]
             log.error("markstreets didn't match")
             log.error("    - Assuming hand cancelled")
             self.cancelled = True
-            raise FpdbParseError
+            raise FpdbParseError("FpdbParseError: markStreets appeared to fail: First 100 chars: '%s'" % tmp)
 
     def checkPlayerExists(self,player):
         if player not in [p[1] for p in self.players]:
-            print "checkPlayerExists", player, "fail"
-            raise FpdbParseError
+            print "DEBUG: checkPlayerExists %s fail" % player
+            raise FpdbParseError("checkPlayerExists: '%s' failed." % player)
 
 
 
@@ -1487,9 +1488,9 @@ class Pot(object):
         if self.sym is None:
             self.sym = "C"
         if self.total is None:
-            print "call Pot.end() before printing pot total"
+            print "DEBUG: call Pot.end() before printing pot total"
             # NB if I'm sure end() is idempotent, call it here.
-            raise FpdbParseError
+            raise FpdbParseError("FpdbError in printing Hand object")
 
         ret = "Total pot %s%.2f" % (self.sym, self.total)
         if len(self.pots) < 2:
diff --git a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
index 5b65b955..3b858f10 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ Otherwise, finish at EOF.
                         self.numHands += 1
                     except FpdbParseError, e:
                         self.numErrors += 1
-                        log.warning("Failed to convert hand %s" % e.hid)
-                        log.warning("Exception msg: '%s'" % str(e))
+                        log.warning("HHC.start(follow): processHand failed: Exception msg: '%s'" % e)
                         log.debug(handText)
             else:
                 handsList = self.allHandsAsList()
@@ -152,8 +151,7 @@ Otherwise, finish at EOF.
                             self.processedHands.append(self.processHand(handText))
                         except FpdbParseError, e:
                             self.numErrors += 1
-                            log.warning("Failed to convert hand %s" % e.hid)
-                            log.warning("Exception msg: '%s'" % str(e))
+                            log.warning("HHC.start(): processHand failed: Exception msg: '%s'" % e)
                             log.debug(handText)
                     self.numHands = len(handsList)
                     endtime = time.time()
diff --git a/pyfpdb/PokerStarsToFpdb.py b/pyfpdb/PokerStarsToFpdb.py
index 79bef1ea..17a9b15c 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/PokerStarsToFpdb.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/PokerStarsToFpdb.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class PokerStars(HandHistoryConverter):
             tmp = handText[0:100]
             log.error("determineGameType: Unable to recognise gametype from: '%s'" % tmp)
             log.error("determineGameType: Raising FpdbParseError")
-            raise FpdbParseError
+            raise FpdbParseError("Unable to recognise gametype from: '%s'" % tmp)
 
         mg = m.groupdict()
         # translations from captured groups to fpdb info strings
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class PokerStars(HandHistoryConverter):
             except KeyError:
                 log.error("determineGameType: Lim_Blinds has no lookup for '%s'" % mg['BB'])
                 log.error("determineGameType: Raising FpdbParseError")
-                raise FpdbParseError
+                raise FpdbParseError("Lim_Blinds has no lookup for '%s'" % mg['BB'])
 
         # NB: SB, BB must be interpreted as blinds or bets depending on limit type.
         return info