Called the turn is a poker term that refers to the action of placing a bet or making a call on the fourth community card or the turn card. In Texas Hold'em and Omaha Hold'em, two of the most popular poker variants, players are dealt two private or hole cards, and a series of five community cards are placed face-up on the poker table.
The turn card is the fourth community card to be revealed, and after its placement, the betting round commences. When a player decides to "call the turn," it means they are matching the current bet made by other players in the game. By doing so, they continue to be in the hand, with the hopes of improving their hand by the time the final community card, the river card, is revealed.
The decision to call the turn is often based on factors such as the strength of a player's current hand, the potential for improvement with the last community card, and the betting behavior of other players. Calling the turn can be a strategic move to maintain position in the game, gather more information about opponents' hands, or to bluff and deceive opponents by disguising the true strength of one's own hand.
Successfully calling the turn is an integral part of poker strategy, requiring a balance of analytical thinking, probability assessment, and psychological skills in reading the other players at the table. It is a crucial moment in the game that can significantly impact a player's chances of winning the pot.
