Call More Often on the River Call More Often on the River Most poker players don't see enough showdowns. The river fold is one of the biggest leaks many players have. Understand that if you shouldn't have been in the hand at the river in the first place, then you have bigger leaks in your game than this article can ever hope to address, but if you have a legitimate reason for staying in the hand to the river, and you find yourself folding made hands too often, you are probably losing money as a result. If you are a calling station, a weak player who calls bets all the way to showdown “just to see,” this article is not for you. In fact, this article will make you worse, encouraging bad river calls when you might possibly have saved at least one bet thanks to one of your rare folds. Making somewhat thin calls on the river is an acquired skill, and requires careful consideration. Several factors to consider are: The relative strength of your hand. If you have A - spades 4 - clubs and the board is K - Diamonds, Q - Diamonds, J - Diamonds, 4 - Diamonds, 9 - Hearts then you can safely fold. All you have is ace-high on a board where a straight, and flush, and even a pair (because of high cards) is very likely. If you have two pair or a set, you should still consider a fold. If you have a ten for the straight, you would be more likely to call. If you have a weak flush card like the 5 - Diamonds, you would be even more likely to call. The number of opponents. If more than one player remains in the hand, you should be more likely to fold a weak hand. The likelihood of a bluff. How often have you seen this opponent bluff? How often will your opponent bet a well-coordinated board? The texture of the board. If the flop only has one flush card, but the turn and river made a flush possible, you would be less likely to consider a flush possible and more inclined to call. If the three flush cards were on the flop, and especially if a fourth flush card comes, then you must give higher weight to flush possibilities. The reactions of your opponent. (This is especially effective in live games.) Did your opponent suddenly wake up and bet? This makes it more likely that they hit a draw, and you should be more inclined to fold. The size of the pot. If the pot is large, you will be more inclined to call. The size of the bet. If you are in a no limit holdem cash game, and your opponent makes a small bet, you can be more inclined to call, even though a lot of players make small bets with made hands to induce calls. A lot of players know that, so they often make small bets as bluffs, too. If you are in a limit game, the size of the bet is fixed, so you would be even more likely to call. Opponents left to act behind you. If you are last to act, you will be more inclined to call. If three players wait to act behind you, consider a fold more carefully (or occasionally a raise to chase out a hand that might be weak, but better than yours). Your tournament position. If you are in a tournament, the percentage of your stack you are willing to risk should be a consideration. Perhaps you can find a better spot later. The game. In Texas Holdem, your calls can be a little thinner, because the probability of big hands is lower. In an Omaha game, the possibility of a player having the nuts (or close to it) is high, and you should consider a fold.It all depends on the types of poker you are playing. The size of the game. In a shorthanded game (five or six players), you should be more likely to call. In a heads-up game, you would be even more likely to call. Consider all of the above factors carefully, and then remember, when faced with a relatively small river bet, a big pot, and a decision to make, there are two possible mistakes you could make. The first mistake will cost you one bet. The second mistake could conceivably cost you the entire pot if you were ahead all along. Remember that good and bad players are capable of betting a missed draw. There is one other added benefit to making a weak call on the river – the good players will remember it, respect you, and be less likely to try a bluff on you in the future, especially if they lost the pot to you the first time. Try this strategy today on Carbon poker!

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