Skip to main content
Poker glossary

Turn

What it means

The turn is the fourth community card dealt in Texas Hold’em and Omaha poker. It follows the three-card flop and precedes the fifth and final card, the river. This single card often dramatically shifts hand values and betting dynamics. The turn creates the second-to-last betting round and frequently determines whether players continue to the river or fold their hands.

How it works at the table

After the flop betting completes, the dealer burns one card and deals the turn face-up next to the flop cards. In a $1/$2 game, you hold A♠ K♠ with 100bb effective stacks. The flop comes Q♠ J♠ 5♦, giving you a flush draw plus gutshot straight draw. Your opponent bets $15 into a $20 pot and you call. The turn brings the 10♥ - you’ve made Broadway, the nut straight. Your opponent checks, and you bet $35 into the $50 pot. The turn transformed your drawing hand into the nuts, illustrating how this single card can completely change hand strength and betting strategy.

Strategic context

Turn play separates skilled players from amateurs. Pot odds become more critical here since there’s only one card to come. Bet sizing typically increases on the turn - while flop bets might be 33-50% of the pot, turn bets often reach 66-75%. The turn also clarifies ranges since many draws either complete or brick. Players must decide whether to barrel again, give up on bluffs, or protect made hands against river draws.

Common mistakes

Many players overplay draws on the turn when the pot odds don’t justify calling. They’ll chase flush draws getting 2:1 when they need 4:1. Another error is betting too small with strong hands - using the same sizing as the flop instead of increasing it. Players also fail to recognize when the turn dramatically changes board texture, like when a third suited card arrives or the board pairs.

The turn works in conjunction with continuation betting strategies, as players must decide whether to fire a second barrel. Turn play directly impacts river decisions and pot geometry. Understanding turn dynamics requires solid grasp of equity calculations and board texture analysis. The betting round following the turn often sets up river bluffs or value bets, making it crucial for overall hand planning.