Texas Hold 'Em: The Turn
Today we’re going to discuss “The Turn” in Texas Hold ‘Em and give you some winning tips as well. In Texas Hold ‘Em a turn can refer to two things: it can refer to one (any) of the rounds of betting, but it is best known as THE Turn, which is the fourth community card (which is what we will concentrate on in this article.)
First, to better understand The Turn, let’s look at all of the various betting rounds in the game:
Texas Hold ‘Em usually starts with players paying the blinds. Once this is done, the “Pre-flop” begins and players get their two hole cards. The next round is called the “Flop” and three community cards are turned over. Being community cards, they are shared by everyone at the table. The next round is “The Turn” and you get the fourth community card. “The River” round follows the turn and you get your fifth community card and make your final bets. The hand then finishes with the “Showdown” and whoever has the best hand (and hasn’t folded) wins!
The Turn is an important round in Texas Hold ‘Em. It’s really the make-or-break card for the real card sharks at the table, and a key part of the psychological war that is a part of every poker game. At this point, most people likely feel they have a good hand (or are bluffing), and most have somewhat committed to seeing the hand to the end. So use this to your advantage – if you have a good hand, The Turn is the place to start thinking about betting aggressively. This type of betting will help get rid of any bluffers or someone grasping at straws - if you make it clear that a “ride on The River” will cost them, they may just bow out.
The turn is also a point where the straights and flushes are usually made – there are not many gamblers who will go into The River desperately needing a card. If The Flop / Turn yields cards that could be used in a straight or flush, and someone is betting heavy, well, watch out – yes, they could be bluffing (this is a good time to put your use of Tells in action), but perhaps they truly have made their hand – can you beat them if they did indeed have the straight or flush?
Hopefully, you’ve had ample opportunity to observe the other player’s playing styles and pick up their tells, so your guesses on what they’re going to do will be more accurate.
Good luck out there with these tips during your next game of Texas Hold ‘Em. Remember, many a bankroll has been “turned” into a fortune!
