Winning hand

Don't fold the winning hand

One of the most costly mistakes you can make in limit Hold'em is folding the winning hand on the river.
With the good pot odds, calling on the river is usually correct if you feel you have some chance of winning the hand.
An important consideration in determining whether calling is correct is the type of opponent you are against. You can fold your weak hands with more confidence against a tight player who never bluffs than if you are against a tricky player who is not so straightforward.
Another important consideration is whether or not the bettor could have been on a draw. A weak hand can win if your opponent is bet ting a busted draw.

Folding to Save Bets

Sometimes you need to fold to save bets when it is obvious that you have a losing hand. The type of opponent, type of board, and bet ting sequences should help you in your decision.
The more opponents you are against, the more likely it is that you need a strong hand to win. This is especially true when there has been a bet and a call on the river.
Whenever the flop is two-suited and there is more than one opponent playing to the river, there is a decent probability that one of them is on a flush draw. This is especially true when they couldn't be drawing to overcards or a straight.
Generally fold against an opponent who bets out into several players on the river with a scary board.

Betting or Raising to Gain Bets

Only bet or raise a good hand on the river against a lone opponent when you have at least a 50% chance of winning when your opponent calls. This should be even higher if there is a risk that your opponent could raise with a better hand and you would call.
Considerations when betting into a lone opponent on the river with a good hand include:

Probability that you will win in a showdown (should be at least 50%)

Probability that your opponent would raise and you would call

Probability that your opponent would bet a weaker hand it you check but fold this hand if you come out betting

Probability that your opponent would check a losing hand that he would call with if you bet.

Sometimes it is correct to bet into a scary board on the river with a strong hand if you can safely fold when you are raised. This rule does not apply against tricky opponents
Check-raising can be a good strategy with a strong hand to either induce a bluff or gain more bets when you are confident that an opponent will bet and call your raise.
Check-raising is risky when the board would scare your opponents from betting; therefore, usually bet out to gain at least one bet.
Sometimes consider just calling rather than raising your strong hands when there are still opponents to act behind you. This is especially (rue if there is even a small chance that the bettor has the nuts and will reraise or there is a good chance you might split the pot with the bettor.

Betting or Raising as a Bluff

Getting an opponent to fold the best hand is a great achievement since you win the entire pot.
The most common example is when you are on a draw and you bet hoping that your opponent is on a busted draw also or will fold a weak pair.
Bluffs are generally more successful against strong opponents who are capable of folding a weak hand such as middle or bottom pair. Most weak players tend to call with anything.
Bluff raises on the river are generally not profitable, as it is difficult to get an opponent to fold who has already bet on the river, and you have reduced pot odds on your raise.
A scare card on the river can improve your chances for a successful bluff.

Poker Concepts