ChipNews :: Poker News and Poker Events :: River Play in No Limit Texas Holdem Poker

Play on every street in no limit Texas Holdem poker is important. Some players put a great deal of thought into how they will play the hand pre-flop, on the flop, and on the turn, but then neglect the river. They may think the river is simple. The final card is out, and you have a good idea whether you have the best hand or not, and can bet, fold, call or raise accordingly. In fact, there are some unfortunate errors in poker strategy you can make on the river in no limit Texas holdem, and understanding some of these ideas will improve your overall game.

Bluffing Errors on the River
Bluffing on the river is a tactic that can be used to great effect in no limit Texas Hold em, but should not be overused. You need to be sure that your bluff is convincing, not just by the way you sell it, but by the play of the hand. For example: The board reads Jh 9h 5c. A player makes a bet of half the pot and you call. The turn is a 3d. You call a pot sized bet. The river is a 3s. The opponent makes another pot sized bet and you move all in. This is a poor situation to be on a bluff. In the first place, your opponent may have bet so many chips already that he feels pot committed and calls even if he believes you have him beat. In the second place, it looks for all the world like you were calling along with a heart flush draw and are pushing all-in in a desperation move to win the pot at the end. Finally, it is very difficult to sell the idea that you have a 3 in your hand. It is unlikely you would have called any reasonable bet on the flop if you were holding a 3, since you would have missed the flop entirely. Even calling a large bet on the turn with bottom pair is unlikely. The only hand an opponent can really put you on is Ah 3h, and that is enough of a longshot that your bluff will probably fail.

Folding Errors On the River
If you have been calling along in the hopes of catching a good river card and you don’t, do not be so quick to fold on the river. Remember that depending on the amount of a river bet that you have to call, you may be getting correct odds to show your hand down. If there is a $300 pot out there and someone has made a $50 river bet, they only have to be bluffing (assuming you can beat a bluff) one time out of every seven for you to be okay. Of course, if you cannot beat even the weakest of hands, you must fold, but if you have a situation for example where you have backed into bottom pair and you suspect your opponent has been leading with A K all the way and missed everything, you may consider a call. Making this kind of call on the river is a vital part of your Texas Holdem strategy.

Calling Errors On the River
There are certainly situations, however, where you must fold on the river. If you have been putting an opponent on a flush draw all the way, and the third of a suit comes on the river, you will probably have to fold, especially if you bet and are raised. Of course many opponents will bluff in this situation, but if you have made a confident read, to change it just because you don’t like the implications will be costly. Making a good laydown is one of the hardest things to do in poker. Learning to make correct folds can have dramatically positive effects on your bankroll.