In poker, the Turn is the fourth of the five community cards dealt face-up on the table, following the Flop and preceding the River. It is a single card dealt after the betting round on the Flop has concluded, initiating a new round of betting. This card is pivotal as it significantly changes the board texture, often completing draws, creating new hand possibilities, or making existing hands stronger or weaker.
Example
Imagine you’re playing Texas Hold’em. The Flop comes A♥ K♥ 7♥. You hold Q♥ J♥, giving you a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw. After the Flop betting round, the dealer burns a card and deals the Turn card, which is the T♥. This card completes your flush, giving you the nut flush, and significantly improving your hand’s strength, potentially leading to a larger bet from you or an opponent.
Strategy Tip
The Turn is a critical street for making strategic decisions due to its position as the penultimate card. Players with strong draws (straight draws, flush draws) should carefully evaluate their pot odds and implied odds to determine if calling a bet is profitable. This is also a common street for semi-bluffing, where you bet with a drawing hand, hoping your opponent folds, but still having equity if they call. Bet sizing often increases on the Turn as the pot has grown and players are more committed, so consider how your bet communicates strength or weakness, and how it sets up action on the River.
FAQ
- What comes before and after the Turn?
- The Flop (the first three community cards) comes before the Turn. The River (the fifth and final community card) comes after the Turn.
- Is the Turn always a single card?
- Yes, in games like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, the Turn is always a single community card dealt face-up on the table.
- Why is the Turn considered so important in a poker hand?
- The Turn is crucial because it’s the fourth of five community cards, meaning it’s the last chance to improve your hand before the final card (the River) is dealt. It often determines whether draws are completed, how strong existing hands become, and significantly influences the betting action and pot size going into the River.