River
The river is the fifth and final community card in Texas Hold'em. After it comes the last betting round and, if needed, the showdown.
The river is the fifth and final community card, dealt after betting on the turn is complete. It is also called fifth street. After the river there is one last betting round. If two or more players remain when it ends, the hand goes to showdown.
What makes the river different
On every earlier street, hands can still improve. On the river they cannot. Every hand is now complete and final, which simplifies the decision in one way: there are no more draws, so there is no reason to bet to protect your hand or call to chase one. A river bet has only two sensible purposes:
A medium-strength hand that will only be called by better hands and will only fold out worse hands usually does best by checking.
Example hand
You hold A♣ T♣ and the board reads T♦ 8♠ 5♣ 2♥ K♦. You had top pair until the K♦ arrived; now you have second pair with an ace kicker. Your opponent, who called your flop and turn bets, checks to you. Betting here is risky: most kings and better hands will call, while missed straight draws such as 7-6 or 9-7 will fold. Checking behind lets you win against those missed draws at no extra cost. Now imagine the river was the 3♠ instead: you still have top pair, worse tens and pocket pairs like 9-9 may call, and a value bet is reasonable.
Calling on the river
When facing a river bet, use pot odds directly. If the pot is 200 and your opponent bets 100, you call 100 to win 300, so you need to win at least 25% of the time. Ask yourself whether your opponent bluffs often enough to make that call profitable. Because no cards are left to come, this is a pure reading exercise.
Common river mistakes
- Bluffing with a hand that can win at showdown. Turning a weak pair into a bluff often folds out only worse hands.
- Betting too small for value with strong hands. When you hold the nuts, think about the largest bet your opponent is likely to call.
- Calling out of curiosity. Wanting to see the cards is not a reason to pay for them.
- Forgetting the board can counterfeit you. A river card that pairs the board can make your two pair much weaker.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the river?
The origin of the name is uncertain. It is the last card dealt, and is also known as fifth street.
Can you raise on the river?
Yes. The river has a full betting round where players can check, bet, call, raise or fold.
What does rivered mean in poker?
Being rivered means an opponent overtook your hand with the final card, for example by completing a flush on the river.
Related poker terms
- Turn — The turn is the fourth community card in Texas Hold'em, dealt alone after the flop betting round. It is also called fourth street.
- Showdown — The showdown happens after the final betting round when two or more players remain. Hands are revealed and the best five-card hand wins the pot.
- Value Bet — A value bet is a bet made with a strong hand that you want worse hands to call. It is the main way winning players build pots they expect to win.
- Bluff — A bluff is a bet or raise with a weak hand that aims to make better hands fold. It wins when your opponent gives up the pot.
- Pot Odds — Pot odds compare the cost of a call to the size of the pot you could win, telling you the minimum equity you need for a call to be profitable.