Pokeriad / Learn / Flop, turn, river
Updated November 2026
The flop, turn and river are the five community cards in Texas Hold'em. The flop is the first three, dealt together, the turn is the fourth, and the river is the fifth and last, with a round of betting after each.
Together with the two cards you're dealt, they make the seven cards you choose your best five from.
| Stage | Cards added | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Preflop | 2 each, face down | Betting round 1 |
| Flop | 3 on the board | Betting round 2 |
| Turn | 1 more | Betting round 3 |
| River | 1 more | Betting round 4, then showdown |
You raise to $6 with two hearts and the big blind calls. The small blind folds its $1.
Two hearts land, so you have four hearts and need one more. Your opponent checks, you bet $8 and they call.
A blank. They check and so do you, which gives you a free look at the last card.
The queen of hearts makes your flush. They check, you bet $20, they call, and your ace-high flush wins.
So there's a reason to keep betting. After each new card, the best hand can change and players have new information to act on. Each stage is called a street, so the turn is "fourth street" and the river is "fifth street".
A lot. Holding two different cards, you pair one on the flop 32.4 times in 100, and by the river you've paired at least one 48.7 times in 100.
A flush draw on the flop has 9 cards that complete it. The turn brings one 19.1 times in 100 and, if that misses, the river brings one 19.6 times in 100. Together they get there 35 times in 100.
Before each of the three stages, the dealer discards the top card face down. It guards against a marked card or a player who has glimpsed the top of the deck, because that card never gets used.
No. If everyone else folds, the last player wins the pot and no more cards come out. If everyone's all-in, the betting is over and the remaining cards get dealt anyway.
Twelve spots in three rounds.
Three cards flip over together onto the table. The other names have no story anyone can confirm.
Yes. If the board is better than anything you can make, you play the board and split with anyone else in the same position.
Rules differ by room. In most places the card is replaced and the deal carries on, so ask the floor person.
Send them this page.