Definition of Dead Hand
What does the term "dead hand" mean in the game of poker? What is the definition of the term "dead hand" in poker?
In poker, a "dead hand" occurs when there has been some sort of an infraction that renders the rest of the hand unplayable.
For instance - let's say that a player is facing an all-in at the World Series of Poker main event. After a few minutes, somebody else at the table calls the clock on this player.

Another example of when a hand would be considered dead - a player says "fold" but then puts in a call. The player protests that he meant to say "call", but his verbal declaration of a fold will stand and his hand will be considered dead, despite the fact that he had intended to call.
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The decision as to whether or not a hand is dead will lie with the dealer. If there is some dispute as to whether the call is correct, a tournament director can then be called in to determine whether or not the hand will remain dead.
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