Poker glossary

River

The river is the fifth and last community card in Hold'em and Omaha, dealt after the turn betting. It is followed by the final betting round and a showdown. It is also called fifth street.

The simple explanation

The dealer burns a card and turns over the last community card. All players can now see the five cards of the board. After the last round of betting, the players who remain show their hands.

A closer look

On the river there are no more cards to come, so draws that missed are worth nothing. This is when players make value bets with strong hands and bluffs with missed draws. The size of river bets often polarizes: strong hands and bluffs bet, and medium hands check. Decisions on the river are the hardest, because you must decide with the entire story of the hand.

A practical example

The board is K♠ 7♦ 2♥ 4♠ and the dealer deals J♦. That card is the river.

Full explanation

The river is the fifth and last community card in Hold’em and Omaha, dealt after the turn betting. It is followed by the final betting round and a showdown. It is also called fifth street.

The river is the last community card.

It is followed by the final betting round.

It is also known as fifth street.

Missed draws are now worthless unless used as bluffs.

The river

No-limit Hold’em · Blinds 1/2 chips · No rake

Read the example transcript

Player A has the button (BTN) and posts the 1-chip small blind (SB). Player B posts the 2-chip big blind (BB).

Preflop · Pot: 3 chips
The blinds are 1 and 2 chips. Heads-up, the dealer (D) also posts the small blind.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 199 · In this round 1
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 8 chips
Player A raises to 6 before the flop.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 198 · In this round 2
Preflop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B calls. Each player has put in 6 chips.
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 6
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
The flop is king, seven, two.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Flop · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
The turn is a four.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player B checks.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
Turn · Pot: 12 chips
Player A checks.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)4 of spades (4s)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
River · Pot: 12 chips
The fifth and last community card is dealt. It is the river, and the last round of betting follows.
Board: King of spades (Ks)7 of diamonds (7d)2 of hearts (2h)4 of spades (4s)Jack of diamonds (Jd)
- Player A BTN / SB Ace of hearts (Ah)Queen of diamonds (Qd) · Stack 194 · In this round 0
- Player B BB 9 of clubs (9c)8 of clubs (8c) · Stack 194 · In this round 0

Cards are shown for learning; totals are displayed before pot collection.

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