River Polarization & Sizing Tells

River play is the most decision-intensive street. Understanding polarization and sizing is crucial.

River Polarization

On the river, betting ranges should be polarized:

**Value hands**: Very strong hands that beat opponent's calling range

**Bluffs**: Hands with no showdown value that block opponent's value hands

**Check-back range**: Medium-strength hands that aren't strong enough to bet for value

Sizing Strategy

**Large bets (75-150% pot)**: Use with the strongest hands and best bluffing candidates

**Small bets (25-40% pot)**: Use for thin value bets where you only need to beat a small part of opponent's range

**Overbets**: Use when your range heavily dominates opponent's range

Sizing Tells

Some players give away information through their bet sizing:

**Always big with strong, small with medium**: Exploit by folding to big bets and raising small bets

**Bet timing**: Quick bets often indicate strength or a prepared bluff; tanking often indicates a tough decision

Blocking on the River

The best river bluffs come from hands that block opponent's value range. If you hold a card that makes it less likely opponent has a strong hand, your bluff succeeds more often.