Poker Basics: The Flop, The Turn and the River
Texas Hold'em poker has three famous steps - the flop, the turn and the river. These three are parts of the distribution of the community cards in this variant of poker.
After each segment there is a phase of betting. Betting after each step becomes more intense. More of the cards are revealed and more knowledge on just how valuable their cards are comes out into the light. To play at a higher level, a poker player must know what each flop means, both for themselves and their opponents.
The flop is when the first three cards are revealed. Most hands come to life here, so being aware of this phase is vital. A round of betting begins. If there are no bets, a player may check or bet. If a bet happens upon the table, upcoming players must raise, reraise, call or fold.
If the flop gives you something good or amazing, play it hard. Your kicker should still be on your mind though, as it could lead to an even better hand, potentially turning a pair into a full house. If your position isn't as strong, be careful and conservative.
If you flop a draw, use the odds to your advantage. Be wary of scaring opponents away - throwing in a big number might work against your purposes. Try to bait them in. Sometimes, however, the flop gives you nothing. With that, check or fold unless you have a great pair. The last two cards don't serve you, so don't bet everything on them.
The turn occurs when all betting on the flop is finished and there are still players. Another card is placed face up on the table, followed by another round of betting. Beginners could find themselves over their heads if they're not careful. This is when, even more so than other points in the game, you should know just where you are in the game, what your cards are really worth. If you left a great hand to slow burn, now's the time to push the numbers up. If you feel ahead after the turn, then rev up the engine and fill up the pot. Bet big. Generally, this is when should decide what you want to do. Bet if you're ahead and if you're behind, fold and make it up next turn. Be proactive and take a stance. The River is the showdown at the O.K. corral.
If you're here, you're here for a great reason - or at least, you'd better be. This isn't as complicated as the previous phases. Don't bother checking at this point - take them for all they're worth. If you're here and you were bluffing, brace yourself. Chances are, the other guy isn't. If you've made it this far, don't fold. You're already here and if you're here, you think you have a shot at winning.
These strategies and tactics won't guarantee winning - nothing will. Some days the odds are just against you. Utilizing these tips should tip the numbers in your favor: and there's no reason to not want that.