The River Raise
In Texas Hold ‘Em online poker, the last card to be revealed is the river, followed by the final round of casino betting. Raising on the river, especially in a multi-player pot is risky business unless you are holding the absolute nuts.
Players use raising to chase others off the pot, and with a strong hand, like a set or two pairs, it might be tempting to raise. But when there are still other poker online players behind you, who have stayed to see the river card, then be very cautious about raising without the absolute nuts. When you bet on the river with a good hand, but not an absolute cinch, and then get called by players behind you, chances are your hand is beat.
If you are last to act and the action has been checked to you, there is probably no sense in betting unless you know your hand is the best. Most likely, everyone will fold to your bet anyway, but again, if you’re called, or worse, check-raised, then you have unnecessarily lost chips by betting your almost best hand on the river. Be on the alert for a check-raise trap on the river. You may be holding a set, but for all you know your opponent has a higher one. Maybe you hit the straight, but your opponent may have too, and a better one at that, if your pockets complete the low end. Be cautious at the river, and only bet when you know your hand is best.
