Tip #26 - Don't play when you're card dead without adjusting your strategy

Being "card dead" - receiving a long run of unplayable hands - is a natural part of poker. However, many players make the mistake of either playing bad hands out of frustration or continuing to play an overly tight style that makes them predictable. The key is to adjust your strategy when you're not getting premium hands.

Common mistakes when card dead:

• Playing weak hands out of boredom or frustration
• Becoming too passive and predictable
• Missing opportunities to steal blinds
• Failing to recognize profitable bluffing spots
• Letting others know you're running bad

Ways to adjust your strategy:

• Look for more stealing opportunities in late position
• Use your tight image to make successful bluffs
• Take advantage of aggressive players who are overplaying hands
• Focus more on opponent tendencies and table dynamics
• Consider changing tables if the current one isn't favorable

Profitable plays when card dead:

• Re-stealing against aggressive players who attack your blinds
• Making position plays with marginal hands
• Using well-timed three-bets as bluffs
• Taking advantage of fold equity in multi-way pots
• Making small ball plays to keep pots manageable

Remember that being card dead is temporary, and how you play during these periods can significantly impact your overall results. Don't let a run of bad cards force you into playing badly. Instead, use it as an opportunity to work on other aspects of your game, like reading opponents and finding creative ways to win pots without premium hands.