While certain variations of poker will suggest or even require the use of a dummy hand, a dummy hand can be added to many variations of poker to spice things up. This guide explains how to play a dummy hand in poker including using a dummy hand in guts and follow the queen poker variations as well as adding the variation to other games.

The dummy hand, which is one hand dealt face down, is always used in the game of guts poker, forcing each player to beat the hand to win. It can also be used when playing with a lower number of players in other games, such as follow the queen, giving players an extra chance to see a queen be flipped up and respectively get the use of wild cards.http://www.oinc.net/poker/dummy.html

Although you'll rarely ever see it in casinos, a dummy hand can also be added as a house rule for home games of many types of poker, including Texas hold'em, five-card draw and seven-card stud, among others. Each player should agree to the use of a dummy hand as well as rules regarding what happens should the dummy hand beat the hand held by a player.

Just like the name suggests, guts poker requires players to predict if they are holding the best hand, including beating the dummy hand. If they think they have the best hand, they call "in" or else they can call "out" to fold their hand. While the game can be varied by the number of cards dealt to each player, two or three cards each is the most common policy.

1. The game begins with each player betting an ante, which can be any amount but must be agreed upon by all players at the table.
2. The dealer gives each player their cards, either two or three per game rules, all face down. A dummy hand, placed face down right next to the dealer, is also dealt. Players look at their cards, returning them to their face-down position.
3. Each player grabs a chip of the same amount and holds it in their hands. The dealer will count down from three, at which time all players can drop the chip to signify if they want to be in the hand or hold their chip, noting they are out and folding their cards.
4. All of the hands are flipped face up with the highest-ranking hand, which must also beat the dummy hand, winning the pot. Each player who remained in the hand but did not win, must pay equal to the amount of the pot. This money goes to start the pot in the next round, increasing the pot value during each hand.
5. The game continues until only one player remains, winning all of the chips.http://www.gamguru.com/guts-poker-preview.htm

Playing a dummy hand in follow the queen is not a requirement, but adding that extra hand is a common variation on the standard game, allowing the table an extra hand to increase the chances of flipping up a queen and thus making the queen and the card that follows it wild.

1. Playing similar to seven-card stud, the game starts with each player betting an ante.
2. Three cards are dealt to each player and to a dummy hand, the first two face up and the third face down. During this round of dealing or any other, should a queen be dealt face up, queens and the card flipped face up immediately after it are wild.
3. The player with the lowest-ranking hand opens the betting. The dummy hand is not required to bet and is "in" all hands.
4. Cards are dealt to each player and the dummy hand one at a time, separated by betting rounds until each player has seven cards. Start to finish, the first two cards will be face down, the next four face up and the final card face down.
5. Should a second queen be flipped face up, queens will remain wild, however the original secondary wild card is no longer wild, with the rank that follows the second queen replacing it as the wild card.
6. After the final round of dealing and betting, remaining players show their hand with the highest hand wins. In follow the queen, players are not required to beat the dummy hand to win the pot.http://www.pokerrakeback.com/poker-skool/follow-the-queen-poker-rules

While dummy hands are not the standard for many variations of poker, the use of such dummy hand can be added to nearly any poker variation as a house rule. It's important that each player agree to the rule and use of the dummy hand, as well as what it represents.

1. Add a dummy hand to your favorite poker variation by having the dealer deal one extra hand, generally to their left or right.
2. Decide as a table how the dummy hand will be played. Options include:
   1. The player holding the best hand must beat the dummy hand to win the pot, or else the pot will remain and carry over to the next hand.
   2. One card, usually the first or last dealt, to the dummy hand can be named wild.
   3. If the dummy hand beats any or all players at the table, each player who holds a hand ranking lower than the dummy hand must perform a certain action, such as betting a certain amount or taking a shot.
   4. Should a player receive a certain bad hand, such as all cards lower than an eight without a flush or straight, they may have the option to exchange cards with the dummy hand.
3. When playing draw games, unless one person is designated as the dealer and will not participate in the game as a player, the hand does not exchange cards with the dealer during any draw rounds.
4. Remember that the dummy hand does not need to bet, but will always remain in each hand.