When playing the river of a Fixed Limit Texas Holdem game, all the cards are out.  The hand that is ahead is ahead, and those behind cannot catch up.  The river gives a player the opportunity to extract value, as well as to knock weaker players off hands where their draw missed.

In typical Fixed Limit Holdem games, the field narrows as we progress through the flop and turn.  The river typically ends up two, three and four handed.

Aggressive River Play

Many players have come this far chasing a draw.  With this in mind, it makes sense we will see players who have missed their flush draws, as well as players holding hands such as pocket fours hoping to make a set.  Additionally, players who have flopped top or middle pair will be involved in the hand on the river from time to time.  Because we have a superior starting hand discipline than most players, we will often be ahead of our opposition when we get this far in the hand.  To take advantage of this, we will often bet or raise on the river.

Mistakes of Folding

The bet will serve to knock weaker players who were drawing off their hands when they miss their draws.  Additionally, betting the river when we have top pair will extract value from players who have top pair with a kicker inferior to ours.

Thinking into the future, if players notice our betting the turn and then betting the river, they will begin realizing that continuing in the hand while drawing is more costly than meets the eye.  The biggest mistake players make on the river is folding.  When rewinding to the turn, keep in mind that if you are drawing to a hand and miss, you will still usually have to call on the river.  That being said, your speculative or optimistic hands should have been released by the turn, so hopefully you are not chasing a flush with a speculative seven – eight of clubs without also having either a straight draw or a pair to boot.

With that in mind, many a player chase flushes to the river holding seven – eight of clubs while absent a pair or straight draw to boot.  Often these players will be forced to either call a bet with a hand that is clearly a loser, or they will be forced to fold when they are bet into.  Because of these tendencies, combined with the fact that you will not fall into this category, you should almost always bet on the river.  By doing so, you will extract value from other players possessing starting hand discipline and drawing discipline inferior to yours by causing them to fold or call with lesser hands.

By taking the river card, you plan to play to the end.  The time to fold is long since passed, so be certain you are prepared to call, bet or raise when approaching the river.