Dummy hand
In some games involving two or more players, for the sake of making the game more challenging, adding new dynamics to various rules or compensating for a missing player; other players act as though there is one more player or an extra hand is dealt to "ghost player".
In Rummoli, this is known as the widdow. It is designed to keep some cards out of the game, making it more difficult to win.
In some versions of three player mahjong, thirteen tiles are not used in the wall to represent the missing fourth player and the wind position that this player would take.
A ghost player in Bunko[1], or other games with multiplayers formed in partnerships, represents the unfilled seat or position in a game, in which one person will play for him/herself as well as the ghost position.
In tournaments, especially in draw tournaments such as tennis, of single elimination, a ghost player may be added in certain rounds if there are not enough players to fill out a binary tournament table.