5 Tips for Playing the River

The river is when the pot is at its biggest. That means good plays are heavily rewarded and mistakes are magnified. In this episode of Upswing Poker Level-Up, you'll learn how to improve your strategy on the river so you make better decisions on this extremely consequential street.

Poker pro Gary Blackwood shares his 5 most valuable tips for playing the river alongside Mike Brady. If you want your bluffs to work more often and your strong hands to bring in as many chips as possible, listen closely to tips #3 and 5.

Episode Transcription

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00:00 Introduction to River Strategy

02:26 Example: Value Betting with Pocket Fours

04:11 Tip 2: Bluffing and Vacuuming Small Pots

06:53 Combining Thin Value Bets with Bluffs

08:21 Tip 3: Using Blockers in Big Pots

11:51 Tip 4: Calling the River – When to Overfold or Call Wide

13:44 Tip 5: Splitting Your Range on the River

16:39 Examples of Small and Big Bet Ranges

19:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of our poker strategy podcast, hosts Mike Brady and Gary Blackwood break down five essential tips for playing the river, the most crucial street in poker. The river is where the pot size is at its peak, and every decision carries the potential for maximum reward or severe penalty. By mastering these advanced river strategies, you can ensure that your strong hands extract maximum value, your bluffs are executed with precision, and you minimize mistakes that could cost you chips.

The episode begins with a discussion on betting thinner for value, where Gary explains the importance of making light value bets even with hands that might feel too weak in certain scenarios. He emphasizes how many players leave money on the table by not betting hands like second, third, or even fourth pairs when they should be looking for every bit of value. Mike and Gary provide examples that illustrate when and how to bet these hands to get paid by weaker hands.

Next, the hosts delve into the art of bluffing on the river, especially in small pots. They share insights on when to use bigger bet sizes to pressure opponents with weak holdings and how to pick spots for bluffing with hands that have little showdown value. By combining thin value bets with well-timed bluffs, you can create a dynamic and balanced strategy that keeps opponents guessing.

The discussion continues with a focus on blockers in large pots. Gary highlights when to consider blockers in three-bet or four-bet pots to increase the success rate of your bluffs or maximize the value of your strong hands. The hosts then explore the concept of calling the river correctly, advising players to call more often in smaller pots while tightening up in bigger pots to exploit common player tendencies.

Finally, the episode wraps up with a deep dive into range splitting on the river. Mike and Gary explain how to use different bet sizes to achieve balance, ensuring that your river strategy is unpredictable and challenging for opponents to counter. By mixing up small and large bet sizes, you can effectively manage your equity and put pressure on your opponents in various situations.

This poker strategy podcast is packed with advanced tactics for river play, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their game. Tune in to learn how to make better decisions on the river, balance your ranges effectively, and optimize your play for maximum profitability with insights from Mike and Gary.