It happens to everyone – you sit down for a poker game, and you are dealt a virtually useless hand. Your hand of cards has no pairs, nothing above a nine, and nothing that you can feasibly use to create a connector. When that happens, it is called being card dead.
Having a card dead hand is a common experience in poker, and every player will get a poor hand from time to time. When a player is card dead, they may bust tournaments, have a bad run, or act with a little too much enthusiasm when they do finally get a good string of cards.
Since we all have a card dead hand once in a while, it can be helpful to remember and rely on a few carddead strategies which you can refer to the next time you get a terrible hand. If you play your cards right, a card dead hand can come in handy and prove to be successful.
Stay calm and keep your eyes open
Regardless of whether you are playing poker in a tournament, a casual game with friends, or with NJ Online Casino, the most important thing to do when you have received a card dead hand is to remain calm. A lot of players will allow the stress and anxiety of being card dead to affect how they play, which can lead to poor choices and risky moves.
If you allow the sudden panic or stress to take over, other players might also note the change in your demeanor and react accordingly. Being card dead is a temporary situation that will eventually pass, and you may be able to play your way out. Relax and just try to do your best with what you have been given!
Stay observant and calm
If you have terrible cards, you can use the time observing your opponents. Use the time to understand better how your fellow poker players act and react to their cards. Notice what they look like when they are bluffing, how risk-averse they are, and how they act during the game. Keeping a close eye on your opponents will help you to understand their playing styles, and how you can take advantage of their weaknesses, once you have a better hand.
Taking the time to observe your opponents properly will require patience. Rather than losing your calm and acting suddenly, use the time you have with a card dead hand to slow down, observe, and even take a break to relax if you are playing in a tournament.
Re-raise position players
If you can play a dead card hand with a true pokerface, you can re-raise your fellow poker players with your less-than-stellar cards. It takes skill, strategy, and practice, but if you have a card dead hand, you can try to up the ante by pushing yourself to be aggressive and re-raising your opponents.
These are just a few tips to use the next time you find yourself card dead in the middle of a match. Do not let it discourage you, use it to your advantage and hone your poker skills.
