The example techniques of this disclosure are directed to default construction techniques for the construction of a combined reference picture list, and default mapping techniques for the combined reference picture list. In some examples, a video coder may construct first and second reference picture lists from frame number values, and construct the combined reference picture list from the frame number values of the first and second reference picture lists. In some examples, a video coder may construct first and second reference picture lists from picture order count (POC) values, and construct the combined reference picture list from the POC values of the first and second reference picture lists. In some examples, a video coder may construct a combined reference picture list from received information for the construction, and map the pictures of the combined reference picture list to one of a first or second reference picture list.