Poker Term
彩虹牌面河牌偷鸡（River Steal on Rainbow Board）
An aggressive play on the river on a rainbow board (three flop cards of different suits, no flush possible) where you force your opponent to fold by making a large bet or going all-in, thereby winning the pot.
Concept
A Rainbow Board refers to a flop where all three cards are of different suits, meaning a flush is impossible by the river. A River Steal is a bet on the final round of betting made by a player holding a weak hand or air, intended to force opponents to fold and win the pot without a showdown.
Applicable Scenarios
- When the opponent's range is tight, and the river card significantly changes the board structure (e.g., completes a straight or pairs a card to make trips), but you do not actually hold those hands.
- When the opponent has shown weakness on the flop and turn (checking or calling), indicating their hand is not strong.
- When the pot is relatively large, making the risk-reward ratio of the bluff favorable.
Strategy Key Points
- The bet size is typically 70%–100% of the pot, or even an overbet, to apply maximum pressure.
- Pay attention to the opponent's fold frequency: if the opponent is a player who likes to hero-call, the success rate of the steal decreases.
- Avoid stealing in multi-way pots, as the probability that at least one opponent holds a strong hand is higher.
- On a rainbow board, flush draws are impossible, so the bluff narrative focuses more on straight or pair combinations.
Risks
- If called, you will almost certainly lose the pot (since your hand is weak).
- It can be easily recognized as a bluff, especially in loose-passive or low-stakes games.
Example
Board: Flop 9♠ 8♥ 2♦ (rainbow), Turn 4♣, River J♠. You hold Q♠J♣, pairing the Jack on the river. You judge the opponent's range to be weak, so you can attempt a river steal, representing a stronger Jack such as KJ or JT.