over 2 years her

We've all sat down at a tournament table to be dealt nothing but the worst cards imaginable right from the start of the game, or even after taking a break. Nothing higher than nine (60% of the time), no pair, nothing that even resembles a connector, and that's all it takes to make an inexperienced player lose hope. You are then, as they say in the jargon, card dead. Being card dead, which is a way of saying that you are only dealt small starting hands, is actually a common occurrence in poker. It's often blamed on a player getting knocked out of a tournament, hitting a rough patch, or getting carried away after receiving a Kh-Th and ending up committing all of his remaining chips. But it's really wrong and unfair to think that being card dead is responsible for your elimination in tournaments.

Being card dead can actually be a good thing!

Watch Your Opponents

One way to make the most of the time when you are not involved in one or more hands is to watch your opponents carefully. If you're playing with nine players in a live tournament, for example, you can easily spend an hour observing all of your opponents to better categorize them individually. What are their hole cards at the time of the showdown? How often do they bluff? While these elements are essential, each table with many players reveals a different set of clues. Try to focus more on the two players to your left (the blinds when you're on the button) and the two to your right, so you're prepared for the moment when your mandatory starting bet is on the board.

If you find yourself folding with a mismatched 9-2 three hands in a row, rather than losing focus, take the opportunity to keep a close eye on the players you'll be trying to beat once you're back in the game. You'll be surprised at how much information gathering will pay off later.

The Blind Man's Bluff

You should be looking to steal the blinds, regardless of whether or not you're getting good cards, because if everyone passes and you're getting bad cards while on the button, you should be making moves on the players in the blind position. As long as you've watched them carefully, you'll know whether they're likely to fold straight after numerous raises when they're out of position, or whether they'll try to defend their blinds instead.

If they choose a defensive strategy, will they over-raise with a weak hand in order to protect their blind? Or are they more likely to call a raise with a weak hand and fold on the flop? Being precise and specific in your analysis of players will give you a big advantage over them, no matter how strong your hole cards are.

Use and Abuse Your Tight Player Image

You may not be getting good cards pre-flop, but your opponents don't need to know that. How you change your image at the table in a live or online casino-market poker game is always, and only, up to you. This is especially true online where your behavior will dictate how others perceive you. If your opponents see you folding almost every hand for an hour, they will start to take advantage of you when you are in a worse position than they are at the table, and your average hands will often end up being decimated by over-raises.

It is essential that you know how you are perceived at the table and that you combat this image in poker. In this sense, if you are aware that you haven't played a hand in a while and your opponents must be starting to think that you are still playing tight, then use a little imagination. Over-raising when everyone thought you were a tight player in previous hands can be perceived as extreme strength. There is a good chance that you will not have to defend a flop that you secretly fear. Plus, the cards often reward such a style of play!

While it's true that "fortune favors the brave," be careful not to overdo this tactic, because if they detect one of your moves, your opponents will end up raising anyway, which could cost your chip stack dearly.