Poker Strategy Tips: Probe Bets

Betting Strategy
February 28 2009

If you haven’t noticed before, online poker is more aggressive than the average live game. The inability to pick up physical tells forces players to bet in order to gain information. Probe bets are usually made early in a hand, or late if there’s no action, to find out where you stand in the hand at the time. In the right situation probe bets can be profitable. They can also save you a bunch of chips, because it forces your opponent to show that he is holding something.

A probe bet can come from any position, but most of them come from a late position player. Say a flop of 9-9-2 hits the board. You check, as does your opponent. On the turn another 2 comes, and you decide to put out a probe bet to see where you stand. Your opponent could be looking to trap you if they’re holding a nine, so getting some money in the pot should tell you if he has it or not.

If you put out a bet that’s half the size of the pot or more only a good hand will call you in this situation. Each hand is different, and boards with possible draws in this need to be considered. If your opponent has nothing in their hand, a probe bets also offers the opportunity to pick up the hand right there.

 

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