River (poker)

The river card is the final card dealt in a poker hand, to be followed by a final round of betting and, if necessary, a showdown. In Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold'em, the river, also called fifth street, is the fifth and last card to be dealt to the board, after the flop and turn. In seven-card stud the river is the final downcard dealt to each player, although in certain circumstances (such as when there are insufficient cards remaining in the deck to deal a card face down to each player remaining in the hand) the river is dealt as a face-up community card.

The river can change the fortune of a game by delivering one player a card which they need to beat another player's already completed hand. A player losing the pot due only to the river card is said to have been 'rivered' or 'drowned at the river'. Chancing the game on the river card is called 'living by the river', because of the dangers involved, and winning is called "sucking out".

ee also

* List of poker terms