The River card is the most maligned card in all of poker. It is also the best
loved. This card, which is the last card dealt in Holdem and Omaha can make or break those hands that have called the bets after the Turn card. This card can decimate a hand that looked like a sure winner. The River card can turn a rag hand into a winner and make a bet on the come look like pure genius. This one card in Holdem and Omaha is what generates a lot of sizeable pots that are seen in these games. It will bring about bluffing on poor hands and betting on sure winners. A person setting with a lonely pair of tens is hard pressed to call a bet when a jack is dealt on the River. The better could have been calling on a Jack Ace or Jack Nine suited if the board were set up that these hands could be a winner. Of course it could be just a bluff. The problem is that the tens will only know if they call the bet.
Many players will try to force out other players before the River is dealt by making sizeable bets after the Turn card. They know from the Flop that some of the players are on a draw and if the Turn card did not help, they want to make the River card very expensive to see. This form of Power poker is seen in tournaments as well as cash games or ring games. Watch the pros do this in any TV covered tournament or one that you are watching on the Internet from an Online Poker site. Their aggressive play is what separates them from the other tournament players.
When the River card is dealt and exposed completing the Board, each player knows the value of their hand and the best possible hand that could be out based on the Board. They can evaluate and determine how their play should go based on the information the River card has completed. At this point the previous betting and the betting that follows the River card will fill in the picture.
Be aware a quiet player that suddenly gets active after the River card is a dangerous player and must be evaluated compared to the hand you have now.
If the River helped them substantially is their hand better than what you now have. Did the y make their hand, but still have a second best hand. This is the decision that you need to come to. Can their improved hand due to the River card beat what you now hold? If you think so, then a check raise may be in order to get maximum value for your hand. The maligned or much loved River card can make a player look very smart or very stupid. A rush of luck will favor getting the River card you need to make your hand. If you are running lucky, the play should be for the River to help your hand. Do not offend the rush. When the River favors your play, it can be a terrific friend and the River cards will seem to fall your way more than usual. One thing that is a noticeable difference between online games and live games is rushes do not seem to last as long. So the River card may not stay favorable for long in an online game. It does not matter whether it is a cash game or a tournament.
Remember this the River can take away and the River can give to a player. Over time things will even out, but it will always be difficult to live with a bad beat on the River. That is just human nature and must be tolerated so that the rest of your play is not affected.
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