1. The Flow of the Game:
* This theory suggests that "river" refers to the final card dealt in a hand, similar to how a river flows to its end.
* The game of poker progresses through a series of actions and decisions, much like a river flows through a landscape. The river card marks the end of this flow and the culmination of the hand.
2. The "Riverboat" Connection:
* This theory connects the term to the historical popularity of poker on riverboats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
* The river, as a source of water for navigation, could be associated with the game's movement from one location to another on the riverboats.
3. "River" as a Metaphor for Uncertainty:
* Some argue that the river card is named for the uncertainty it introduces, like a river that can change its course unpredictably.
* This theory suggests the river card can completely change the outcome of a hand, just as a river can shift its path and reshape its surroundings.
Ultimately, the true origin of the term "river" in poker remains a bit of a mystery. It's likely a combination of these factors and the evolution of poker terminology over time.
It's worth noting that the word "river" wasn't used consistently in poker until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Before that, the final card was often referred to as the "fifth street" or the "last street."