Each player has to make a lot of serious decisions throughout the game, but there are several key points in each game, when player’s decisions are especially important. First important decision that should be made by each player is whether to play or not to play a hand preflop. However, if you decide not to fold and reach the river, then you will have to make another important decision. In this article we will discuss river betting, play and its importance for winning at Texas Holdem poker. In Texas Holdem (including all its variants), the river is a unique and very important round. While during all previous betting rounds each player gets a chance of improving his\her hand, on the river, when all board cards are dealt, all bets are either pure value bets (those that show the actual strength of a player’s hand) and pure bluffs (those made to scare out other players). At the same time, there is no actual need to knock some of the players out and it is definitely impossible to semi-bluff. And as the circumstances change, the alteration in strategy is also required. Although each game is different, there are some common situations, where a strong player can actually gain an edge.

Take a look at the following example:
Let’s say you have Ace of spades and J of spades and the board is Jack of diamonds, 9 of clubs and 2 of hearts. Simply, you have a semi-strong hand in multi-way pot. You are in middle position and wait for the check-raise. The player sitting on the button bets, the player sitting in the small blind position calls and then you check-raise and both your opponents call your raise. The turn brings one more Jack (of clubs), so therefore you have three of a kind. You make a bet and your opponents call. The river brings 10 of spades. You and your opponents are still in the pot, the player sitting in the small blind position bets, it is your time to act and the second opponent is to act right after you. What would you decide to do?

Obviously, folding is not an option. At the moment the pot is pretty huge and your three of a kind and a top kicker is a pretty strong hand worthy to fight for the pot. You can either call or raise, but I’d definitely choose to call, since if I call, it is more likely that the next player (the one sitting on the button) will also call and if you raise, then next player will probably decide to fold and the player sitting in the small blind position will re-raise your raise. However, the small blind will just call if you’ll have him beat. Hence, if you hold the best possible hand, then you have a chance to win the very same pot regardless of whether you’ll raise or call. At the same time, if you will lose, then you will lose less money by calling, not raising.

Playing heads-up in games, where you have been the aggressor
If you have a top pair, when playing in a heads-up pot, then you are probably betting it through the flop and turn. However, imagine that at the river, the board suddenly forms a scary hand. What would you decide to do?
In this situation everything depends on player position at the table. Imagine that you have position on your opponent. For instance, your opponent is in the middle position, while you are sitting in the dealer position and your opponent decides to check. It is more likely that you will think of making a value bet, regardless of the fact that you are definitely wary of a check-raise. In case if your opponent will constantly raise in case if he has you beat and on the contrary – he will tend to call in case if you have him beat. As you can see, you must have 2/3 chance of winning in order to bet safely, since you will either win one bet or lose two. Besides of this, there are certain situations in which your opponent will just continue calling you, even having a better hand. In these situations everything depends on your own judgment of your opponent and your player reading skills.

Playing heads-up in games, where you are on a draw
What would you do, if you get lucky to hit a big draw? In case if you have a position on your opponent, then your subsequent decisions are obvious. Just make a bet and raise then. You have a 90% chance to hit the pot, so you must get your value out of it. At the same time, you must understand that if you sit out of position, then the situation is way trickier. Will you decide to check-raise or bet? Everything depends on the analysis of your opponent(s).

In case if your opponent shows excessive aggression, you should tend to check-raise. Your opponent may simply bluff, trying to simulate a strong hand, so you can just go on and let him think he bluffed you to build a bigger pot. This is a standard Texas Holdem trick used by many winning professionals.

Also recommended:

1. An Example of the Play (Bluff on the Turn and River)
2. Bluffing Techniques against Solid Holdem Players
3. Learn to Play Short Handed Texas Holdem (Limit)
4. The Check-Raise and The Check-Call
5. Heads up Holdem Tips