The phrase “drawing dead” in poker is used to describe a situation where a player continues adding to the pot and taking part in the betting, despite the fact that they have a very weak hand and their chances of winning are extremely slim. This can occur when a player is trying to complete a straight or a flush and isn’t taking note of the fact that their opponents’ hands may be far stronger.

“Drawing dead” is deemed a bad strategy as it usually ends in loss of chips or money. It’s best practice to assess the strength of your own hand, the probability of improving it, and the potential strengths of your opponents' hands before making the decision to keep betting.