What Is a Dead Hand in Poker?

In poker, a “dead hand” is a hand that cannot be played. There are two ways a hand can become dead:

If the hand is fouled, it is dead. A fouled hand is one that has been exposed to the view of other players, or has been placed in the muck (discarded pile).

PRO TIP:In poker, a dead hand is a hand that has been declared dead by the dealer or another player before any betting has taken place. This could be due to an incorrect amount of cards dealt, a misdeal, or an exposed card. Dead hands are not eligible for any form of winnings.

If a player is not active for a period of time, their hand may be declared dead. In most casinos, a player must take some sort of action (bet, raise, call, or fold) every 30 seconds or their hand will be declared dead.

A dead hand has no value and cannot win the pot. If you are dealt a dead hand, you will simply be dealt a new one.